Tired of cleaning up poop

[EggLayer1]

My husband and I decided to get some chickens and turkey so our daughter will have something for 4H when she gets older What a mistake!! The chickens arent as bad as the turkey. I am soo tired of cleaning poop off our front porch that has indoor/outdoor carpet on it, which is now covered in stains. I can tell by the looks of the piles its the turkey, not the chickens. We've tried buying the sprinkle stuff you put around thae garden, doesnt work, I tried hanging old cds around, doesnt work, right now I chase them with the broom, but that seems to be getting old, I have to push them with the broom to move them.. Its got to the point that they are all over our daughters outdoor playhouse, picnic table and sandbox that she cant even play in them...poop is all over the floor in her house. If I dont find a way to keep these darn turkey off my things, they are going!! Im always buying them new treats to lure and keep them close to there pen but its doesnt work. Please help, Im willing to try anything.

 

[StandardLover]

It sounds like they are free ranged, am I correct? If so, I would build the turkey a run built off from the coop and put some poultry or garden netting over the top so the turkey will stay in.

 

[Mum]

You are the boss here

The hens and turkeys are only allowed to wander in areas *you* decide. If its a "no-go" area, you can teach them this by fencing them in areas which they can use and poop in (just as StandardLover describes). That would be money better spent than on treats. You will still need to clean up poop (comes with keeping any animal) but at least it will be in a restricted area.

Then, when there are times when you want to sit out with them and give them free run of the garden, I would recommend the hour before their bedtime - morning poops are the largest and the smelliest by far! In fact, so big in the morning, when I let them do that, I have to go behind them with the cat litter scoop

Broom chasing isn't really recommended (other than exercise for you). Initially they will be scared but then it just becomes a game.

Good luck with setting up a foraging pen for them to explore but which preserves the nicer parts of your garden

 

[NYREDS]

When you got them you didn't know they pooped?

 

[7L Farm]

Only way to deter chickens is to put up wire where you don't want them to go.

 

[Nicole01]

I'd keep them off the porch with the indoor/outdoor carpet.

For some reason, my hens rarely poop on the porch. They hold it until they get onto the grass. Sometimes they sit on the porch for quite a while. If they do poop, I immediately clean it up since I'm right there.

I honestly don't mind cleaning the poop. Get a good sprayer for your hose. The fresher the poop, the easier it cleans. I think it's well worth it. I love my hens!

 

[speckledhen]

You have to fence them off of places you don't want them to go, simple as that.

 

[EggLayer1]

Thank you all for the comments, everyones advice will be taken under series consideration. To try to hit on everyones replies.....they are in a large double dog pen with the coop inside, the only way in or out is thru the door we use, in the a.m we open the door, at night they get shut in, so even when they are in the coop they are able to come and go in adequate grass. When I first got them the plan was to leave them inside all the time, however as time went on, there was poop poop and more poop, so giving them free range was the only answer. Ofcourse I knew they would poop, but honestly I didnt think they would be all up in my sh*t. Like I said before I knew nothing about chickens, and really dont know a whole lot more now. I dont mind poop in yard, flower beds, garden.....but when my daughter cant play on her outdoor stuff, thats an issue. I really wish we wouldnt have gotten the turkey, just last week they jumped on my cousins car hood and scratched the crap outta it (thank god shes not making us pay to get it fixed) and went in full strut and chased after our neice in her powerswheels car. They are just so sneaky about it, rarely will they go on the porch while we are home, but leave for a few hours and theres atleast a dozen piles. I would love to make a huge fenced in area for them, but I refuse to put out tons of money on fence when the only return they give is eggs. I contacted a local animal sanctuary to see if they would take the turkey, I am waiting on a call back.

 

[jeapa]

Are you serious???

Just put an add on Craig's List and I am sure you can find some homes for the chickens and turkey.

. You really should research what kind of care and housing an animal will require before you get them.

 

[speckledhen]

Thank you all for the comments, everyones advice will be taken under series consideration. To try to hit on everyones replies.....they are in a large double dog pen with the coop inside, the only way in or out is thru the door we use, in the a.m we open the door, at night they get shut in, so even when they are in the coop they are able to come and go in adequate grass. When I first got them the plan was to leave them inside all the time, however as time went on, there was poop poop and more poop, so giving them free range was the only answer. Ofcourse I knew they would poop, but honestly I didnt think they would be all up in my sh*t. Like I said before I knew nothing about chickens, and really dont know a whole lot more now. I dont mind poop in yard, flower beds, garden.....but when my daughter cant play on her outdoor stuff, thats an issue. I really wish we wouldnt have gotten the turkey, just last week they jumped on my cousins car hood and scratched the crap outta it (thank god shes not making us pay to get it fixed) and went in full strut and chased after our neice in her powerswheels car. They are just so sneaky about it, rarely will they go on the porch while we are home, but leave for a few hours and theres atleast a dozen piles. I would love to make a huge fenced in area for them, but I refuse to put out tons of money on fence when the only return they give is eggs. I contacted a local animal sanctuary to see if they would take the turkey, I am waiting on a call back.

You'd fence a dog (well, responsible owners would) and a dog sure doesn't give you that much. Perhaps chickens are not the right animal for you. Fencing doesn't have to cost that much-we fenced 2 acres on military fixed pension, a section at a time, with livestock fencing, as money allowed. It can be done.

And, though I'm not officially moderating this thread, bypassing the censor by using symbols is not allowed on BYC, so please edit your post above to remove the offending word.