Who free-ranges chickens w/horses present?

[ThreeBoysChicks]

I will say, if your horses have not seen chickens, make sure you introduce tem where the chickens are around, but not under their feet. Until the horses get comfortable with them.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

I had predator problems until I put horses with them. When I rotate the horses elsewhere they come back. An there gone again when the horses come back.

 

[FunnyFarmer]

Mine mix happily. The chickens come running when I feed the equines to get the bits they drop & scatter and they do a great job of shredding and spreading around the manure.

I do have two donkeys--when my big gelding (is he still called a jack after he's been fixed?) is grumpy he will chase chickens, but he's never caught one. He doesn't like some kinds of dogs and will go straight for them if they come in the pasture--and I don't have predator problems around here. (At least, not since the chicken-killing dog went away to live with my MIL.)

Erika

 

[Guinea Goonie]

We have two big horses and 8 miniature horses. The chickens are always in the pastures with the horses. Every once in a great while a horse gets preturbed at one of the roosters. It is a heads down trot nad the chicken is GONE

Other than that it is eventless. The chickens will of course take any grain they leave behind, no problem.

 

[cmom]

ours ignore the chickens and the chickens happily scratch in the manure.

 

[Appytaz]

I was worried the first time I saw the chickens walking under the horse - but he was fine with it. Now the mini donkey is another story - He loves to chase the chickens. He is not out to hurt them- he just likes to see them run and scream

. But, he lets the chickens share his breakfast each morning - so it seems they have it all worked out within their little group.

 

[horsejody]

My chickens and horses ignore each other. Chicken help a lot with parasite control too. They especially love bot flies.

 

[EllyMae]

I found out just by chance that my gelding could care less what runs through his pasture, lol. One evening when I was taking my young flock to their coop to roost for the night, one of my roos(just a youngster at the time) got spooked and ran straight for Joker's paddock...Joker's reaction was...slowly raise head and watch the rooster freak out and run past him, then resume munching on hay.

 

[buck-wild-chick]

Chickens LOVE the little presents that the horse leave behind. They make awesome manure spreaders !

 

[RockyToggRanch]

Mine get along fine as well. During cold spells, it's not uncommon to find 3 or 4 chickens on a horses back. They know how to keep their toes warm! The horses actually seem to enjoy it.