How do people let chickens free range if they wont leave the walkways clear? I have been keeping them locked up but with the rain it just made the run more like a muddy mess only a pig would love. So within the last 4 days I have let them run free. I have 5 acres and they want to dump all over the most walked area on the hole property. Anyway to stop this short of caging them again? I do not want to track this waste in my house. I have a 3 month old and a 2 year old child. Any help here for this?
Chickens dumping all over the place.
- Thread starter Striker
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Karma
Chillin' with the herd
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We put up a fence between the house the coup and the barn that sort of forms an L and keeps them away from the drive/walkways and lawn unless they put in significant effort and go all the way around and so far none have.
Beekissed
Herd Master
I fenced off all the back of the house/yard and the dogs cleaned up any that falls there...and they do a good job. The chickens have their part of the acre to run and I keep the front and side yard for me and guests.
dianneS
Loving the herd life
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I just try not to step in it. They poop on my driveway, and its easy to see and avoid. I don't know? I guess its not that big of a problem for us, we have 14 acres and the chickens spend a good bit of their time in the horse pasture scratching in their poops!
- Thread starter
- #5
I have rabbits and they are sort of by the back door and the chickens went and scattered the nice neat pile all over the yard so I have to step in that to feed the rabbits now. Thats what drew them and following me in the house.dianneS said:
I also know not to step in it but from the damage they do in such a short time its easy to see it getting out of control. In 3 feet my lil girl just stepped in two piles. Thats annoying.
- Thread starter
- #6
Thanks everyone for the input. I am waiting for another solution though cause a fence is not in the budget and if it was I would not want it anyways. So for now I guess they stay in the run and coop. Its out of control. Too much too fast.Beekissed said:
Sunny & the 5 egg layers
Overrun with beasties
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Two words for you: Chicken Diaper 
Okay so maybe not.
I don't have much of a problem with my hens poop, my border collie eats it.
The worst part? She runs over to me right after for kisses.
Okay so maybe not.
I don't have much of a problem with my hens poop, my border collie eats it.
The worst part? She runs over to me right after for kisses. 
elevan
Critter Addict ♥
Bigger Run
Less Chickens
Fence your yard
Chicken diapers
Less Chickens
Fence your yard
Chicken diapers
pridegoethb4thefall
Ridin' The Range
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I have had the same problem for years. What the dogs dont get, we hose off- part of the daily chores.
One thing I did learn is to NEVER feed them on, off, or around the deck, or areas I dont want them going. Since I learned that, they learned there is nothing worth going for on the deck, and so, we get far less poop where we dont want it.
We also have a 3 tiered system of wiping mats outside our doors, 3 mats of different textures to ensure all uck is scraped off our shoes, AND we have a NO shoes on in the house policy. We have about 25 free ranging chickens on about 2 acres, and we rarely, if ever, get any chicken poo in our house. And we have BIG chickens- Jersey Giants= GIANT poops!
Its really not that big a deal, I have kids too- 6 of them. Ages 14, 12, 7, 4, 3, and 4 months. Its really pretty easy to teach them to not wear shoes in the house, so you dont run as much risk of tracking in any poop, and bare feet wash off really easy if poo gets on them (easier than shoes at least!)
One thing I did learn is to NEVER feed them on, off, or around the deck, or areas I dont want them going. Since I learned that, they learned there is nothing worth going for on the deck, and so, we get far less poop where we dont want it.
We also have a 3 tiered system of wiping mats outside our doors, 3 mats of different textures to ensure all uck is scraped off our shoes, AND we have a NO shoes on in the house policy. We have about 25 free ranging chickens on about 2 acres, and we rarely, if ever, get any chicken poo in our house. And we have BIG chickens- Jersey Giants= GIANT poops!
Its really not that big a deal, I have kids too- 6 of them. Ages 14, 12, 7, 4, 3, and 4 months. Its really pretty easy to teach them to not wear shoes in the house, so you dont run as much risk of tracking in any poop, and bare feet wash off really easy if poo gets on them (easier than shoes at least!)
- Thread starter
- #10
Well my dog took care of the problem. Not the way I would have but its taken care of. Sort of. He got off the chain and ate every last one of them. Stupid dog. Id like to shoot him but I just cant make myself do it. I built him a run but he gets out so I put him on the chain then he broke his collar. Then I wrapped the chain around his neck. Thats no good. He tangles the chain and or slides out of it and thats what he did this time. I dont know what to do.
