toad frogs in coop

[wanttobefarmer]

I don't know if this is the right place for this question but I've noticed a few large toad frogs in my coop. I use pine shavings and DE in my coop for bedding. The toads hide under the pine shavings where they are practically invisible. I accidently kicked one is how i found out they were in there. I'm assumming that they are in there to eat flies. It doesn't bother me and actually the flies seem to be less. The chickens don't bother the toads. I have a 12x12 foot coop with 14 chickens and probably 3 large toads. The coop always stays open and i have a really large run for the chickens. My question is are the toads bad for the chickens?

 

[Wolfwoman]

Um is it a TOAD or a FROG, two separate species, and some are poisonous, depending on which one.

 

[sgtmom52]

Toads secrete a foul tasting, irritating substance from their skin and usually chickens and most other animals won't eat them. If they are frogs the chickens may eat them and it should not hurt them and would be a source of protein. I have actually seen my chickens eat small toads with no apparent ill effects.

 

[Mark & Nique]

Howdy,

I've noticed that toads hop out of our (actually, our chicks' pine bedding) when it is heaped to the sides. I put in 1/2 galvanized netting, so they cannot get in.

The poisons in toads are very small, mostly centered in their skin, so your chickens would have to eat A LOT to become ill.

 

[wanttobefarmer]

Sorry in louisiana we say frog for frog and toad frog when we are specifically talking about a toad. Don't know why but we do. Your confusion makes sense when i saw you were from Alaska. I realize toads can be poisonous or that they secrete poison in their skin i just didn't know if anyone else had experience with this.
Quote:

 

[wanttobefarmer]

Cool i don't mind them in the coop, especially if they are controlling my flies, I guess i have nothing to worry about, Unless the chickens start licking the toads....... I actually like having this symbiotic relationship going on in my coop.

Mark & Nique :

Howdy,

I've noticed that toads hop out of our (actually, our chicks' pine bedding) when it is heaped to the sides. I put in 1/2 galvanized netting, so they cannot get in.

The poisons in toads are very small, mostly centered in their skin, so your chickens would have to eat A LOT to become ill.​

 

[SPRING CREEK FARM]

I just came across this post, and I have noticed the same thing in some of my coops. Whenever I go into my "duplex" coop, I always notice at least one or two frogs, toads, whatever you want to call them. I consider them to be more of a toad because their skin looks rougher, almost warty looking. They scramble out of my way whenever I come near and the chickens don't seem to care if they are there or not. Maybe they really are helping with the fly population...I had not really thought about it!

 

[Wolfwoman]

Quote:

LOL!! Well my hubby's from the south (Mobile) and I've never heard him say that...lol

Yep, some of them can be pretty nasty!

 

[dieselgrl48]

I don't know much about frog's.I guess we have a few different varietie's here in Virginia.We actualy had one of the cute green tree frog's last year living in the maple tree and on our swing near our small pond.We have some Large pond frog's here along with basic lil brown frog's.We had one 2 summer's that had young in our front yard and she actualy brought the young out at night on the walk and we held the babie's and played with them.We found one about a week ago in same area I picked it up and stuff.We lost a lot of the frog community when we had so many duck's and geese as I suppose they ate all the babie's in the creek before they became frog's.I love the froggie's.They eat the bug's and stuff and most likely harmless.Frog's are AWESOME

 

[JasperCountyNative]

Quote:

more fun to say "toad frog" here in Mississippi