Single hen

[OwenLdn]

Hey everyone,

 

As you may or may nor know I got my first chickens last weekend- things are going great although I don't get much time to see them at the moment apart from first thing in the morning and when I just get in- but by then they are ready to go to sleep!

 

So this weekend am going to spend some time with them and was thinking if it was a nice day to let them have a run around the garden. I have tried to make all the fences secure as best I can- so that shouldn't be a problem- however im wondering about my 2 cats- they (and I guess the neighbours cats) use the garden as their toilet and its never been a problem up till now as I let it break down naturally on the beds- however my chickens will be scratching around all over the place and im worried that they might eat cat poop!

 

Am I being stupid here - or should I be trying to go and try to pick up any bits I can find?

 

Thanks

Owen!

[Falkor]

I am afraid my three chooks seem to hunt out where my three cats have been to the loo I am not sure that they eat it but it still isn`t very pleasant is it! Downside to cats is the SMELLY POO!

 

I poo pick the garden every day and have one bucket for the chicken poo (this goes onto veg bed or compost heap) and a kids bucket for the cat poo.....this goes straight into the bin.

 

I also make sure the girls are wormed regulary just in case.

[Old Speckled Hen]

My chooks have free ranged all day for8 months and they are all OK.

I do worm them with Flubenvet every six weeks or so.

Cat poo is more of a danger to you and your children, than it is to chickens, which is why you should poo pick and wear gloves when gardening.

When I had a suburban garden I dug a sandpit for my cats which they and others I suspect adored. It kept the poo in one place and made it easier to dispose of.

Mind you the hens would probably use that as a dust bath so perhaps not.

[The Dogmother]

My hens don't eat it, but the lurcher does!

[OwenLdn]

Thanks guys!

 

I did buy some de-wormer- forgotten its name off the top of my head- the one from Omlet- “something-X” so will make sure they are getting this regularly.

 

I will do a bit of a hunt around and get rid of as many as I can before they get let out- normally it gets flicked over the fence into the abandoned garden behind! (Don't tell anyone!) but since its been winter haven’t been out there as often.

 

Thanks for your help! And admissions into your girls naughty habits!

[Falkor]

You might want to check out this thread re worming your chooks

 

viewtopic.php?f=41&t=4619

 

I give verm-x (liquid version) but after reading this thread i got some Flubevant too and use this. My three also get a bit of Diatom too.

 

Cats get wormed too