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Member
Posts: 46
Location: Edmond, OK | I have a neighbor who has round hay bales, who delivers to me within the same day, at a very reasonable price. I started using him just this winter, because everytime I needed a new bale, the weather was too bad for me to drive 45 minutes (one way) to get one from my regular hay guy. When I said something to my dad, he responded by saying he'd heard that horses weren't supposed to eat chicken-fertilized hay. Now this information came from his regular coffee shop visits, but I am really concerned if the farmers think that! But I know that my neighbor does use chicken poop, because we smell it every year when he goes and buys it and spreads it! Any answers? |
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Expert
Posts: 1205
 
Location: Arkansas | Chicken litter distribution as fertilizer is regulated by soil test, and there are sure 1000's of horses feeding on hay and pasture fertilized this way. If I was really worried I would take some hay samples to the county extension agent and let them test it, but you are probably fine. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 602
Location: md | Every body does it, including us. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 792
Location: East Tennessee, USA, Planet Earth | said something to my dad, he responded by saying he'd heard that horses weren't supposed to eat chicken-fertilized hay I believe this may be due to the risk of salmonella. You may want to chat with your Vet or local Ag Extension Officer.Good Luck. |
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Expert
Posts: 1205
Location: Arkansas | I know 3 equine vets that feed it, I will ask if they have any concerns.. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1877
Location: NY | I think that if the chicken poop is dryad that the Somalia is dead If you have chicken poop fresh on the hay then it could give the horse Somalia. I have a friend that lost a horse to Somalia two years ago the farm had chicken on the farm that used the hay room at night |
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Regular
Posts: 93
Location: Cherokee, Ia | Not to get off topic, but have a question for all of you regarding bird poop on hay. We have pigeons that roost in our hay mow, and do poop on a few of our bales. I do scrape it off before feeding, but would this carry salmonella too?? If so, I am getting out the Red Rider BB gun in the morning and goodbye pigeons!! Thanks! |
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Expert
Posts: 1877
Location: NY | I was just told by bird people that all birds carry somilia 
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Veteran
Posts: 294
Location: Fort Worth, Tx | All birds do not carry salmonella, however it is quite common. Actually, most vertebrates carry some form of salmonella. The thing about it or most diseases is that for a healthy individual there is little risk of developing it, it is mostly a danger for the elderly or immune suppressed. This does bring up a point that I have always believed in, that it is best to have a seperate, sealed, storage building for hay and feed. Most of us just store hay in a loft, or stall, etc...where it is exposed to birds, cats, mice, rats, snakes, etc (btw you are more likely to get salmonella from a reptile). Think about it..would you store YOUR food in an open space, where just about anything can get at it? Also, hay in your barn is a major fire risk. I think good hay storage is something that needs to move higher on the priority list. |
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Member
Posts: 46
Location: Edmond, OK | Okay, off the subject... I have that problem with my barn swallows, but I haven't been concerned much. They're usually there for about 4-6 weeks, between laying the eggs and the babies learning to fly. When they first appeared and started building nests, I would tear down the ones over the hay area, and left onr above each stall. They were okay with that, and I believe it does cut down on my flies and mosquitoes. However, I have a timed sprayer, so I'm not really sure. My biggest concern was keeping them from getting sprayed while going in and out of the barn, but somehow they figured it out. Do I need to be concerned as well? And another question - is somilia and samonella the same thing, or two different diseases?? |
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Member
Posts: 46
Location: Edmond, OK | And yes, I totally agree about the hay storage. My dad fusses at me all the time about having my hay in the same barn as my horses - and cat. But currently I have no option. I hope others will take that into consideration when building on new or existing property. |
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Member
Posts: 46
Location: Edmond, OK | I appreciate the information. That makes me feel alot more confident about my horses. I'm sure it can cause cancer in the long run, but I'm not sure if we can control much of that anymore, since just about everything does, including the coffee I have sitting next to my laptop. I was raised on a farm, where my grandparents raised their children. It seemed like such a hard life for them, but looking back now, how much simplier it was. Everything they ate - chickens, eggs, milk, cow, pig, garden vegetables - all came from their field, their home. I remember clearly my Grandma ringing the neck of a chicken - it was all a part of everyday living. The confinement of their produce is probably the main reason why each of them lived to their 90's. (I know there's a more intelligent word for it, but confinement was all I could come up with right now - where's my coffee?!) BTW- how do you all feel about raising my own chickens for eggs? Is the poop a factor in my horses' health?? |
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Expert
Posts: 1877
Location: NY | the farm down the road has chicken for eggs and eating, the turkey are great I buy one every year for thanksgiving, they keep the animal septet form the horse cattle and pigs |
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feeding hay fertilized with chicken poop
