[ali2]

We have a big garden with few flower beds but a lot of grass....can't call it lawn even before the chickens arrive, mind you have found  chickens are good for scratching up the moss !! - We let the chickens roam the whole garden but am a bit concerned about what to do in the summer when the granchildren are playing outside and with the poo on the grass...although we try to keep it to a minimum by raking it up there is bound to still some around.  How do other people cope in situations like this.?. Do you find it a problem?is chicken pooh a threat to children ? by the summer the youngest will be 3years old we obviously make them wash their hands before eating etc.

We have thought about fencing half of the garden off and just let the chickens roam in that bit but we would not rather do that but would if it is a hygiene risk to the children but  then again  do realise some children do grow up on farms !!

[dizzylizzie]

Hi, i have four children, lots of friends children, and im a fostercarer, so lots of kiddies around. We have 13 chickens , a cockerel and a turkey (turkey poo is yuk!). obviously you pick up or wash away what you can, the odd bit cant be helped. At 3 they are more than old enough to be made aware and asked to be careful. How often are the children around? would it be possible to get some derbis netting or similar to keep them in a smaller area when you know the children are coming? Children are hardy things..they roll around, put all kind in their mouth, pick all kinds of things up....thankfully most of them have a good immune system. Exposing them to 'germs' help them build up resistance, just be sensible, make sure they wash thier hands etc. The benifits of having them involved with animals far outweigh the risks....it will teach them compassion, responsibility, the whole circle of life thing....if they get a bit of chicken poop on thier clothes they will live

[smiler43]

I use salad tongs to pick up the poo but it's a big job when they roam the whole garden and patio.  Best to fence an area off it will be much easier to keep clean.

[8doubles]

I use one of those dustpans with the long vertical handle and a hoe for putt-ing the poo in the pan.
Saves some backache.

[IMOmimey]

I have fenced off half the garden, but for different reasons. I swap which half the chooks can have, it gives the grass some time to recover. Someone recommended it to me, to stop the land harbouring deseases, worms, mite - all the nasties.

[beulah59]

We've opted to fence off about a third of the garden ... but we're fortunate enough to have the room. It will make a huge difference to the veg patches, though! We might have some left to eat ourselves!