Free ranging with Kids

[sophiegnr]

Hey everyone!! Quick question about letting your chickens out to free range in the yard. How do you manage the poop? We have 5 hens and they are mostly contained in their own fenced area but when we are outside we like to let them come out with us. But we also have 2 children and 2 dogs. How do you get over them pooping in the yard area where the kids and dogs also play? We have a small yard and so it grosses me out! I usually try to keep the hens over in an area where the kids don’t play but they always want to come and be near us.

 

[nuthatched]

Don't your dogs poop in the yard too?
Your yard already gets pooped on by birds, bugs and other animals, chicken poop is just more noticeable.
You can keep the hens in the run.

 

[sophiegnr]

Don't your dogs poop in the yard too?
Your yard already gets pooped on by birds, bugs and other animals, chicken poop is just more noticeable.
You can keep the hens in the run.

Yes the dogs do poop in the yard but not where the kids play, we have trained the dogs to potty on either side of the chickens fence so they don’t poop in the main yard area. I know we can just keep the chickens in their fence but they “ask” to come out when we are out haha, they are friendly birds and we like their companionship I just didn’t know what other people did to keep the yard area cleanish.

 

[nuthatched]

Yes the dogs do poop in the yard but not where the kids play, we have trained the dogs to potty on either side of the chickens fence so they don’t poop in the main yard area. I know we can just keep the chickens in their fence but they “ask” to come out when we are out haha, they are friendly birds and we like their companionship I just didn’t know what other people did to keep the yard area cleanish.

Just watch where you step. ;]

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I feel this. I don’t have an answer except fences. Which worked at my last place—chickens and dogs got the backyard and kids got the front. Now I have no fences but I have lots more space so I try to feed the chickens all their treats and food as far from the front yard as possible. Does it keep the chickens from pooping out front? No. But it minimizes it.

 

[BugStalker]

You could try laying a small enough netting, or a tarp or sheet over main areas before letting them out, and clean the rest up with, say, a pooper-scooper or even rake them to the side. I have also used larger pieces of compostable paper/cardboard/leaves. They will try to dig under the covering, if it isn't staked well. I mostly just protect a few areas. Nature does a pretty good job on the rest over time in most cases. I guess I try to minimize the total time spent preparing for them and cleaning up the yard and myself/others afterwards.

 

[sophiegnr]

Just watch where you step. ;]

Haha yes it’s more the kids I’m worried about bc they want them out with them but also like to run around barefoot and driving their little cars around so I don’t want poop everywhere!! I guess there’s no getting around it really, just feel like I see all kinds of stuff online where people’s kids hold chickens and they roam the yard so wasn’t sure how they handled the poop or just don’t worry about it!

 

[sophiegnr]

I feel this. I don’t have an answer except fences. Which worked at my last place—chickens and dogs got the backyard and kids got the front. Now I have no fences but I have lots more space so I try to feed the chickens all their treats and food as far from the front yard as possible. Does it keep the chickens from pooping out front? No. But it minimizes it.

Good suggestion!! I may try to put a little fenced area where they can be with the kids when they want to be out but keep an area of the yard for kids only.

 

[sophiegnr]

You could try laying a small enough netting, or a tarp or sheet over main areas before letting them out, and clean the rest up with, say, a pooper-scooper or even rake them to the side. I have also used larger pieces of compostable paper/cardboard/leaves. They will try to dig under the covering, if it isn't staked well. I mostly just protect a few areas. Nature does a pretty good job on the rest over time in most cases. I guess I try to minimize the total time spent preparing for them and cleaning up the yard and myself/others afterwards.

Yes good suggestions I also don’t want to spend a ton of time cleaning up before or after especially since they have their own large fenced area but we do enjoy having them out by our chairs and things! I have done pooper scooper and it works pretty well!

 

[Mrs. K]

I put a lot of hay in my chicken run or yard. When I want to be with the chickens - go into their yard. Your kids can have special shoes for this. Then when they go out, they take the shoes off- this will keep your people yard cleaner, and really your porch, or patio, outdoor furniture. They won't be dragging in chicken poop into the house on their shoes.