Chickens

[oxford1]

I am a new keeper of domestic chickens, I want to find out if weed and feed on my lawn, slug peletts and other pestisides will harm my chickens?
Many Thanks

[beejay1124]

i would think that these would harm your poultry--the chickens will eat the slugs anyway-tasty titbit for them

[alfieblue]

Hi oxford 1!

I am no expert as i always say but i would never use pesticides of any sort in my garden and def not slug pellets, - no way!!

My pup lives with me and others (cats, foxes etc ) visit my garden and enjoy it. I have a wonderful array of wildlife that deal with the slugs etc. As for my lawn - yes - it gets weedy and patchy but i just get to it and rake it and hoe out the weeds. Bit of elbow grease and some grass seed and its sorted.

How many chickens have you acquired?

Would it be possible to fence off a good run for the chickens around the chicken house? They will be perfectly happy scratching and pecking all day long providing they have a good stretch of ground to do their thing.

Do you have any literature that you could refer to re keeping chickens - think you will find some good pointers.

What are you feeding them on?

All of these points are relevant.

But please - no pesticides of any kind!!

[alfieblue]

Ps - Dont forget to accommodate the chicks with adequate housing, a good sized run (or letting them roam in the garden without the pesticides), shade, water and a good diet.

Hope all goes well.

[alfieblue]

Pps! They also like dust baths!!!! :o)

[sophie_1003]

ooh, we have chickens, aren't they lovely?? are your's laying eggs and what are their names? sorry don't know the answer to your question, will get my mum to answer if she knows though!

[slinkycat]

Sophie's mum here! Welcome to the wonderful world of chicken keeping! I'm still a novice myself, but I'll be brutally honest - if you like a perfectly weeded and pristine lawn, forget it, as for slug pellets, you won't need them cos the chooks will destroy the vulnerable plants faster than any slug ever could (plus they'll also eat the slugs) I've been away for a couple of weeks and my Dad has taken care of the chickens, and the kids let them out for their normal foray into the garden.
I got back to find that the bluebells had been decimated, the gravelled alpine area on the patio is now a kind of gravel pit (minus alpines) and in their own haphazard way the chooks had helpfully attempted to earth up my emerging potatoes :-)
Having said that, I wouldn't be without them, and I wouldn't risk putting down potentially harmful chemicals, have fun!

[alfieblue]

Hi slinkycat (sophie's mum)!

What a sensible answer you gave and I agree with you. I do not keep chickens but my pup manages to rearrange my garden as your chooks do!!!

I also agree with no pesticides - who needs them?

Envy you - freshly laid eggs from the girls every day - absolutely wonderful!

Best wishes - alfieblue :o)