newmeadows Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 We have just got 3 chickens and a Cube (last week), every thing is good except we can't believe the amount poo they produce. We already let them free range all day but they must leave 50+ lots of poo on the garden. The garden is large so not too much of a problem but still a worrying amount of poo for the kids to crawl in! My question is will the chickens always poo this much or is it beacuse they are new, not Egg laying yet or eating too much of the garden! Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 Welcome to the forum. Yes, chickens do poo a lot. I can't say I noticed a decline after they started laying either, sorry. The rain will wash most of it away. On a dry day on the lawn, get one of those springy leaf rakes and gather it up, or hose it away if there isn't a water ban. You stop noticing after a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egg Lou Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 I have four girls and have to poo pick my lawn ever day..as well as run...poo trays...and blasting the patio with the hose! It only takes a few minutes and I'm in the habit now but it is a bit shocking to start with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 Lawn mowers tend to chop the poop into tiny little pieces and then you dont notice it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutrix Farmers Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 Welcome newmeadows. The quantity of poo took me by surprise too. Now I feed my girls bokashi bran I find it is easier to collect. The bran stiffens the poo so unless the girls tread on it, it stays in neat little piles. We poo-pick the lawn every evening which only takes about 5 mins, and the girls like to follow us round pretending to help We also use a lawn rake on dry days to break it up into powder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 I keep a large plastic scoop on the patio and play "fling the poo into the flowerbeds" every day or so. It's great fun, unless you get your trajectory wrong and it ends up stuck to the harling . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 i have to poo pick the grass every day because of kids , the bran works wonders but you still get those curry ones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hasnett Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 i poop scoop everyday too - i just water the poop in and i must say my lawn loves it. my problem is the flies....any tips on how to keep them at bay? i use citronella in the run but that just seems to make them hang around the garden instead! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachel m Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 they certainly do po a lot!! i have made a home-made scooper from an old milk container with a handle and have a trusty stick to walk around the garden and s"Ooops, word censored!" them up, only takes a couple of minutes, more at the weekends when they are out for longer. they never seem to poo as much in the run, but when they get out they go wild! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Yup, they do poo a lot. My dog used to help clear it. but it made him unwell so not recommended. Luckily I have a large garden and no children living at home so it's not really a problem. The rain washes it in and a quick hose-pipe session helps. Unfortunately, it's all part of the joys of chicken keeping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chucknette Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Hi I actually enjoy clearing the poo! Once I have put the girls in their run for their evening treat before bed, I go around blasting the poo with the hose pipe ( very satisfying!) I call it me time. Every body has come home had their tea and plates all washed up. Then I go out into the garden to clear up, its really nice especially on these evenings. The only time I dash out there is if the window cleaner is here as I dont want him skidding on anything! ladder and all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 I have a reasonably sized garden, so I tend to use the chicken netting to create an area for the girls to free range in, and we move this around every couple of days to give the girls new shrubs to demolish and new lawn to eat. I go around each evening with the hosepipe and blast the poo. The fact that I know where the chickens have been (inside the netting) makes this really easy, I also use the hose to blast the ENORMOUS dollops they leave on their perches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 my problem is the flies....any tips on how to keep them at bay? There have been a few fly threads recently - go into search, put "flitrap" in and you'll get loads of threads which might be of help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jess Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 rake rake rake every day and every night rake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Look on it as a positive - bung it on the compost heap - on the runner beans next year - which you can then enjoy with your Sunday dinner soon after! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 I poo pick the run every day, this minmises the flies. You could also try some citronella oil - when I had my eglu I used to put some drops of oil on some kitchen roll and put in the poo tray, I also slid a couple of pieces under the summer shade of the run. The garden poos - I go out 2-3 times a day with the hosepipe and blast the poos to oblivion! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
