Chickens and livestock

[horsechicklc]

Where we are planning to keep our chickens is to let them free range. Problem that I can think of is that they may get into the areas where we will have the horses, goats, cows etc. the major issue is that the cows that we will have are going to be used to make cheese. My question is if the cow eats a pasture that chickens have gone potty in, will they get super sick or is that not an issue because the chickens Are not being raised like commercial chickens?

 

[donrae]

They'll be fine. If you have enough space to have good healthy pasture, the cows/horses won't eat the grass that's been pooped on, they'll smell it and move to another patch. The chickens, however, will love scratching through the big animals' poo and scattering it all over the place.

 

[horsechicklc]

Is there such a thing as chickens having too much free area to range in?

 

[lazy gardener]

No. The only issue I might see is concern about predators, but with your other farm animals, your chickens will actually be less at risk to predators than a yard without grazing animals. MmMmMm... eggs and cheese!