keeping chickens around a barn?

[lablover]

Are there any cautions in having them around a horse barn? Mine have been taking dust baths in the broken down manure that is at the end of the barn where the horses walk in. They have also cleared out all of the poop around the sides of the barn looking for bugs.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Well, for the first couple centuries in this country, that's exactly what chicken did and how they lived. My grandfather finally bought a tractor when I was 5. I've a faint, foggy remembrance of his work horses. Chickens and barn life was just part of the kaleidoscope of rural life.

 

[donrae]

If my birds would have stayed around the barn they'd still be free ranging! It was win/win as far as I'm concerned. I never lost a bird to getting stepped on, etc. No disease problems. Chickens helped clean up any bits of feed and broke down the manure.

But noooo, they had to go and keep pooping on the porch......now they're contained.

 

[lablover]

If my birds would have stayed around the barn they'd still be free ranging! It was win/win as far as I'm concerned. I never lost a bird to getting stepped on, etc. No disease problems. Chickens helped clean up any bits of feed and broke down the manure.

But noooo, they had to go and keep pooping on the porch......now they're contained.

Yep, that's exactly why I moved their coop beside the barn fence. They're starting to spend more time there.

Great, now I feel more at ease!