Chickens by the Pond

[DmCrawlz]

We have just extended our chicken pen so that our 15 chickens have access down to our 1/4 acre pond. I remember hearing once that you should be careful placing chickens next to a pond because the nitrogen in their waste can kill off your fish. Any thoughts on this? It is a fairly large pond full of bass, catfish and pan fish. I'm sure it is one of those "in moderation" situations...but at what point is it too much nitrogen for the pond?
Thanks for you input

 

[Ridgerunner]

With 15 chickens and a ¼ acre pond, the fish in the pond are pooping a lot more than the chickens, even if all the chicken poop went in the water, which it will not. Do not worry about the chicken poop killing off your fish.

 

[seanengler]

With 15 chickens and a ¼ acre pond, the fish in the pond are pooping a lot more than the chickens, even if all the chicken poop went in the water, which it will not. Do not worry about the chicken poop killing off your fish.

I would tend to agree with this, I've kept aquariums for years and I just can't see the chickens having that big of an effect on your levels in the water.

 

[aart]

Agrees on the nitrogen being a non-issue....unless the chickens area is bare of vegetation and heavy rain washed a lot into the pond all at once, you could get an algae bloom. Especially if the pond is very shallow, bare of vegetation and stagnant.

I'd be more worried about the birds being scared into the water and not being able to swim out.

 

[Folly's place]

Chickens don't do well in water! I wouldn't have them at the pond. How well are they fenced from predators there? Eating frogs, snails, and crayfish will bring unwelcome internal parasites too. Mary

 

[DmCrawlz]

I would tend to agree with this, I've kept aquariums for years and I just can't see the chickens having that big of an effect on your levels in the water.

Thanks, that was the answer I was looking for...from a fish expert.

I am not worried about the chickens falling in the water. I never thought of parasites, but I'm not too concerned about it.