Chickens

Do you keep livestock? Having any problems? Want to talk about it, whether it be sheep, goats, chickens, pigs, bees or llamas, here is your place to discuss.
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fruitfly
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Chickens

Post: # 294091Post fruitfly »

Is there a particular reason why chickens poo so much? It seems disproportionate compared to other small animals.

ina
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Re: Chickens

Post: # 294092Post ina »

:lol: I have no idea - never noticed!
Ina
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fruitfly
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Re: Chickens

Post: # 294093Post fruitfly »

And they drop them wherever they are, is there anything I can do to make them toilet in a specific area?

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Odsox
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Re: Chickens

Post: # 294094Post Odsox »

No.
But a good plan is to move their run to different places over your garden so they naturally fertilise the soil for you.
Especially good to let them run over your vegetable garden in winter to remove pests and manure the soil equally all over in one go.
Tony

Disclaimer: I almost certainly haven't a clue what I'm talking about.

fruitfly
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Re: Chickens

Post: # 294095Post fruitfly »

Talking of pests, and this didn't happen when I had chickens a few years ago, when these chickens pooed, within ten minutes loads of flies came out of nowhere to work on the droppings in the garden (not in the shed, thankfully). I got four of them on Friday and today is the first day I let them free range so it's not as if it was all out there for ages. Is there a tried and trusted way of repelling flies from a garden - plants, gadgets, anything.

fruitfly
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Re: Chickens

Post: # 294097Post fruitfly »

I've been dusting with the diatomaceous earth powder, hopefully will keep problems at bay.

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Weedo
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Re: Chickens

Post: # 294809Post Weedo »

any churkendoose experts out there?
What the hell are these?
black beaks, wattles and combs - grey white and black feathers - chortle rather than cluck and scream if upset
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Flo
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Re: Chickens

Post: # 294810Post Flo »

Dunno but they are rather handsome.

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Green Aura
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Re: Chickens

Post: # 294811Post Green Aura »

Ooh, pretty.
Maggie

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ina
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Re: Chickens

Post: # 294812Post ina »

Very unusual. Maybe you can start a new breed?
Ina
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)

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Weedo
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Re: Chickens

Post: # 294813Post Weedo »

Thanks, I will keep investigating. I was given these birds third hand - apparently they came from a breeder near Urana a couple of hours West of here (Google it) so no history for them.

Re Chooks pooing so much - the quick answer is that they have a very simple and rapid digestive system that results in more waste than mammals - chemical digestion is basic and supported by the process physical grinding in the gizzard. This is also why chooks need a high nutrient diet and access to grit and "gravel"; they actually have "rocks" in their guts.
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