Horses and chickens mixing

[Morgaine]

Well after too many years, we finally have enough land to bring home my old horse from my parents house. My question is how well do horses and chickens mix? He's a bit older now (17) but being a TB is still spooky at times. Chickens aren't going to try to roost on him or anything are they? In case you can't tell, this will be my first experience with chickens, lol. I thought because the chicken coop/run will be right next to the horse corral, that letting them free range at times in there would be good because they can pick through the poop and get the grain. Good idea/bad idea? Have any of your horses stepped on your chickens or anything?

 

[slyfoxpeeps]

I have both, the chickens will discover the horse feed after awhile and go running when you feed the horses, but I've never had any problems and we have TB's. HIGH STRUNG! The chicken are out when we ride too.

Sylvia

 

[CovenantCreek]

Chickens can actually help desensitize a spooky horse, and provide a bit of company for horse being kept by himself. Just try to keep their poop out of his feed. Oh yeah -- they're also really good for deconstructing manure piles so fly larvae have less room to hatch (if they do hatch, they get gobbled up).

 

[Morgaine]

Thanks for the replies, I had the sudden thought that I was going to have to build the coop in another place after finding the perfect spot for it. Because of neighboor's dogs, I don't think I will let them free range all the time, but I thought once a week or so while I'm there. Magic's been around chickens some, but he has very sensitive skin and I knew if one landed on him he would freak, lol. Now, how about keeping the chickens off the jumps, any advice there? They will move off, right lol

 

[Standard Hen]

They mix just fine, I have Thoroughbreds and they do not seem to mind the chickens at all when they are in the paddocks. All my animals coincide very well!

 

[RockinCircleC]

The only thing that you might want to be concerned about is the chicken droppings getting on the hay or in the feed. If you can keep that from happening, there shouldn't be a problem. I had a friend who decided to get rid of her chickens because they used to nest and roost in her hay loft and a horse of hers came down with EPM. It wasn't for sure linked to the chickens, but she didn't want to even risk it again so the chickens had to go. They were given to another friend.

I am just now planning on adding chickens to our place and will be taking every precaution to minimize cross-contamination of the chicken feces onto the horse feed. I look forward to the chickens helping along my horse composting process, though! Now let's just hope that the dog and cats and local predators don't take out my chickens!!!

 

[Wynette]

WELCOME, RockinCircleC!

If your horses are anything like mine, they eat their food pretty quickly. I feed mine their grain in their stalls before a.m. turnout and in the evening when I bring them back in; there wouldn't even be FUMES for my chickens to eat (although I don't let mine freerange). Roosting on hay would be a problem, I'd think, but if given an alternative roost that they really like would be a good way of resolving most of the poo issue, I'd think.

Good luck!

 

[RockinCircleC]

Quote:
Thanks!

Mine don't get any grain at all (I have a Cushings/IR mare). When they get an additional ration it's either pelleted hay or beet pulp soaked well into a mash.

I can't wait to get my chickens, but it will be a while since we don't have a brooder built yet, and no coop/run, either. It's something I have been wanting to do for about 5 years now and I am finally getting motivated enough, especially after that fiasco of the school lunch meat thing. I want to KNOW where my food is coming from and raising chickens for eggs is just the tip of the iceberg for us.

 

[Wynette]

That's GREAT! You sound really motivated!!!

I've not had my chickens even a year yet, and I absolutely love them! Each day that I check for eggs is such a huge event! Mine aren't laying that well now - I'm only getting 4-5 a week (only 1 of my 6 laying), but that's okay. They're all getting a good break, and in a few weeks should start up again. Yippee! I can't wait!

 

[Wildsky]

My horse used to be TERRIFIED of chickens

Now we have chickens living next door to her, and she couldn't be bothered, my chickens don't yet free-range - I got to get a fence up - but they have been out with me out there, and Rosie (the silly horse) couldn't care less....

She's had them next door to her now for 4 months or so....