So do I need a pooper scooper now?

[mrsbos]

I have 3 EE pullets 6 months old. I love them, but can't believe how much they poop....everywhere. They free-range my 1/2 acre fenced backyard all day, and it's not safe to walk barefoot anywhere.

What is surprising me most however, are the extra large droppings I see every once in a while. I'm talking the size of a dog turd! I usually just hose down the poop on my back patio, and let the rest get watered into the grass, but I can't really leave the giant droppings alone on my lawn....it's just way too gross! Do any of you who let your chickens free-range the lawn ever have to go out with a pooper scooper? Again, I've only had a few of the "big ones".....but I never thought I'd be doing pooper scooper duty for 3 little chickens! (This is why I never wanted dogs!)

 

[slickchik]

well, i've just come to terms with the fact that if i let my chickens free-range, there will be poop everywhere and i cannot go outside barefoot... and i am ok with that

 

[dawg53]

I recommend you get a shovel...wait til they start digging, you'll love the little potholes they make!

 

[mrsbos]

I wouldn't mind the pot holes so much, if they didn't come at the expense of all my strawberries, chives, raspberries, flowers & shrubs

They have so many dirt/gravel/bark areas available in which to make their little dust bath holes, yet they choose to dig up my plants. I hope I can construct some type of large mobile pen for them before they completely destroy my entire yard. I had no idea 3 birds could do so much damage. I was prepared to offer them the bounty from my garden....but they're going to destroy all the plants before anything is ready to harvest!

I will have plenty of issues to address with my girls this spring and summer......their dog sized poos are just one of them. I can't fence off my fruit because it's growing semi-wild in various locations in my yard. I would only be able to fence off about 100 sq. ft of veggie garden. So I'll probably have no choice but to pen them up unless I'm out there supervising.

 

[elmo]

Bantam poop is much smaller! Every once in a while I do see a dropping about the size of a quarter, though. Most of the droppings are no bigger than our doves' droppings, although chickens really do seem to produce more of them than the doves.

 

[MareeZoCool]

My hubby and I keep a shovel beside the coop, every time one of us goes outside, we grab the shovel, and do a patrol of the yard. We don't want the poop to burn spots in the lawn.

 

[FinsUp]

We have a pooper scooper - works great! Nasty, but works great:

 

[suzettex5]

Ooooo, We have three of those kind of pooper scoopers!! (of the boston terrier variety though) Toooooo funny!!!

 

[dawg53]

Quote:
Nice shiny coat too!

 

[mrsbos]

Quote:
But of course then you have to pooper scoop for your pooper scoopers!