How close to a well can the coop safely be?

[aart]

Hi folks, I'm pretty certain I know the answer to this question based on reading the threads. However I just want to throw out the scenario to doublecheck since I'm new to chicken owning.

I recently moved my coupe from the field to behind my home. This way I can run a light to the coop. It's probably about 10 feet away from my well. It is a drilled well about 220 feet down. I have 8 chicken and only plan on keeping them there from now (November) until (March). At which time I will move them back to the field. In about a month and a half the ground will be nearly frozen and most likely it will have snow on it so I don't anticipate much seepage.

So given the description above would any of your chicken owners be concerned with water issues.

But it will seep during thaw....best to check your local codes.

 

[Birdinhand]

I would say that if you do a deep mulch method and keep it roofed so that no water gets into the mulch, then clean it out periodically and compost it further away and put the compost where the plants can get at the nitrogen, like in your garden, then you should be all good. Chicken poop is worth thinking about, it can be more pathogenic than other horse or cow. the nitrates can be an issue with any animal if there were a way for them to get into the ground water, but that usually takes a lot of waste. human waste in comparison is the most pathogenic to us, so another order of magnitude altogether.

I've studied waste management informally, especially natural systems like the reed bed system in Acada CA. when the waste is spread out and mixed with composting material, the nitrogen cycle is sped up and transformed into the least toxic form and made available for plants. if you have a good bit of vegetation it will typically speed up it's growth to match absorption with rate of production.

 

[RobtWright]

Nearby chickens could possibly contaminate a water well. It depends a lot on the type and construction of the well and many factors are involved. If test results indicate contamination, what are the chances that your chickens are the cause? There's no real, practical way of knowing. All you can do is relocate the chickens and test again. In some cases, it might just be easier to install a filter and a UV light on your well's output.

 

[Hokum Coco]

have a shed hoping to use as a coop approximately 20 feet from the well head.

My well head had to be 25 feet from my septic tank. To conform to Town Planning regulations in Canada.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

I would get a copy of your well log, if possible. That will tell you how deep the well is cased from surface (assuming it's not a hand dug well). In Montana you are required to set 25' minimum of steel, although this wasn't always the case.

Have you ever had a water sample taken? It's always a good idea to know what exactly is in your well, anyway. But if anything came up, you could have it retested down the road to know if you've got nitrates (or bacteria) in your well. Just a thought...

Another thing to think about with regards to your well in relation to your coop: You may want to install, or have someone install, a water tight cap. As a general rule the more animals you have the more bugs, mice, assorted creepy crawlies you may possibly have. Not something you want to have crawl up under your well cap...and then drink

 

[imnukensc]

Hi folks, I'm pretty certain I know the answer to this question based on reading the threads. However I just want to throw out the scenario to doublecheck since I'm new to chicken owning.

I recently moved my coupe from the field to behind my home. This way I can run a light to the coop. It's probably about 10 feet away from my well. It is a drilled well about 220 feet down. I have 8 chicken and only plan on keeping them there from now (November) until (March). At which time I will move them back to the field. In about a month and a half the ground will be nearly frozen and most likely it will have snow on it so I don't anticipate much seepage.

So given the description above would any of your chicken owners be concerned with water issues.

I wouldn't be worried at all.