pesticide use

[fizlett]

Please help! I live in the city with small yards. Today my neighbor is outside spraying who-knows-what (he said pesticide) on his backyard grass. I don't know how much spray is getting through the chain link.
My husband put the 3 chickens in the coop--it is a pretty small outdoor space 2 or so feet x 6 feet in the coop. They are usually ranging in our small yard.
Now what? Keep them locked up? Don't eat the eggs? How long?
He was apologizing, "Well sorry if this kills your hens!"

 

[lizanne]

Ug, I hate that. Most of my concern is that the poison bugs that aren't dead yet will come over and the chickens will eat them. Is there grass the chickens can get to, that your neighbor sprayed? I would dig up and get rid of the grass in that area if you can so the chickens won't eat it. I would also see if you can find out what type of chemicals he is using, and look them up to see what you are dealing with.

 

[chfite]

Well, you cannot control everything. I would give it a day or so and mow the grass along the fence line, and rake and discard the grass from there. Water well along the fence line to wash off anything that will wash off. Then let them out.

I would imagine that any poison would kill the bugs quickly.

Such a mean-spirited comment would come only from someone without honor who is beneath contempt. Perhaps you could plant some bushes along the fence that would restrict any future drift from his spraying.

I doubt that what he did would cause a problem with eggs.

Chris