Should i be worried

[beginnerchick08]

I want to build a chicken coop but i have a well. I was wondering if when it rains the chicken poop can sink into the ground and contaminate the water? The well doesn't have an open top its completely underground but i wanted to know if the poop could leak into the well. If you have any idea it would be great to hear. Thanks!

 

[Opa]

It is highly unlikely for you chickens to cause any problem. Your well is probably quite deep and the earth acts as a filter removing any contamination.

 

[mcg30_40]

No more than dog poop or anything else around that poops in the area. I wouldn't build your coop right beside your well, I'd pick a spot downhill of it.

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

It wont effect your well. I have a well too, and have never had any problems at all. But I wouldnt build my coop on top of my well. Other than that you will be fine.

 

[patandchickens]

Partly it depends how deep your well and how intact your well casing. If it is an older (or just shoddy) dug well, with no or imperfect casing, then there may indeed be an issue.

Most places that have zoning, require livestock to be kept some setback distance from wells (here, it's 60 ft) for exactly this reason. Bacteria or nitrates get into your well, they can mess up OTHER peoples' wells in the same aquifer too.

So, having chickens cooped, or free-ranged, in the general vague vicinity of a good intact well, sure. Penning them right close by the well, or on top of it, especially if it's a dug well or has 'issues'... probably not smart, not for you NOR your neighbors.

Have fun,

Pat

 

[rooster-red]

Check your local laws. there is usually a minimum required distance from any well.

 

[TXmom]

I have a well too, for the first time in my life. I grew up in the city and then moved to the country 6 years ago. I asked a lot of questions since I've never had a well before and was a little nervous. They said not to worry about anything...nothing we do on the surface will sink far enough into the soil to affect the water.

Our well is on the right side of our house, and the chicken coop will be on the left side...not because of the well, just because we want the coop near the garage and our side door.

 

[Omran]

You will have no problem what so ever, my dad inlaws, raises chickens for ever and the only water he has is from the well and he never had any problem, plus in the old days water came only from wells, and they had tons of chickens, yet they were healthier than us.

Omran.

 

[beginnerchick08]

Thank yall so much. It never occurred to me that there would be a law to how far it has to be. I'll have to look into it.