Posted by Vicki V. on April 10, 2001 at 02:49:20:
In Reply to: Re: Chickens-more questions posted by melissa on April 09, 2001 at 15:37:31:
I certainly cannot attest to chickens keeping the insect population down, but that's because we are in SW Florida and I think we have almost every insect known to man... Everyone told me that guineas were great for fleas, and quite honestly that's about all I can say they are good for! I do seem to notice the fleas are down, but we still have those darn red ants like crazy. I also have ducks, which are very "messy" and seem to attract flies - chickens don't help with that either. I do see my free rangers eating worms and they have even gotten a few small snakes (yuk), but that's better than the snakes getting them. My chickens will also attempt to go after frogs, but usually the frogs manage to get away somehow... I generally wouldn't think of keeping the chickens and goats together, at least for roosting purposes, unless you've got some area where they can lay that the goats can't get to. Plus, depending on your location, you'll have to make sure you have a good worming schedule; chickens will pick at the goat pellets, get worms, poop, put more worms back in the earth, goats eat of the ground, etc., etc. This might be a good question for Gary - I have chickens that fly into the goat pen, can't help that, and have one right now that has chosen a corner of the covered goat area for her nesting area - you can't hardly prevent that. Are your bantams booted - or smooth legged? Another thought is that many of the booted ones can't "fly" as well as other birds, although very rarely I will find one of my Mille Fleur's out of the coop, and the only way for them to get out is to fly out. Anyhow, geez, I've rambled. Good luck - ask Gary his opinion!
Vicki V.