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Do chickens and deer mix?

R

Rustyblaster

Joined Apr 2009
244 Posts | 0+
Zanesville, Ohio
I have been kicking around raising some chickens again and was wondering the input of anyone that has or has seen deer in the presence of chickens. My cousin said his local wild deer eat corn from same pile as his chickens on the edge of his yard. He said they are ok with wild turkey so they must feel at home with roaming chickens. :rolleyes:



Any of you had first hand experience? It is a lot more comforting hearing from someone that has something at stake.

Thanks!
 
Rusty I wouldn't do it......chickens can help to bring on coccidiousis (spelling probably wrong) in deer and it is deadly. I lost a few good fawns last year to the disease. I was told that birds are the biggest reason for deer contracting the disease something with the deer eating the bird droppings.......I believe there may be other things they can pick up as well......hope this helps!
 
Hey Rusty!

My Vet Told me They can also get Chicken lice if they are around Chicken's.

Something to think about....

Paul

Fair Oak's Farm
 
At one time I had 300 game roosters and 50 deer in the same enclosure and did not have a problem.
 
My dad has chickens in our buck pen, with no problems. I think they help with ticks also. During fawning we try to keep them out of the fawn pens. The only thing we have found is, when you TB test you my get a suspect due to the avian TB, and have to rerun the deer. Every now and then, you have to flip some poop out of the feed bunk. Other than that, I feel they take care of the ticks real well.
 
I was kicking around maybe getting a few egg layers. A couple of you have mentioned one of the main reasons I was wanting to have chickens around. The ticks are really bad around my place and was trying to "kill two birds with one stone" so to speak. Maybe I should be more concerned with killing two fawns with one fowl!:D



I didn't think this one out very well cause Reed you make a good point about scooping up piles out of the feeders. I do have trough feeders in the fawning pen so that would be difficult keeping them out of the feeders. I don't think it would be hard to keep them contained in a coup during fawning season but still much risk associated with it by the sounds of the experienced.



Thanks yall!



Oh!... and Curtis... I'll order one sampler platter of smokies!
 
Keep them seperate Rusty!! Ive raised chickens , Pheasants and Quail almost30 years now, Dennis is right coccidia is deadly too fawns!!
 
I thought about putting a turkey or two in with the deer, but i am worried they may attract dogs or coyotes, and if they get in the pen, there will definately be deer bouncing off the fence
 
Rusty I'd try the garlic in the feed ....it supposed to work very well with ticks........that and spray your pens........good luck!
 
Keep your chickens cleaned up with a little sulmet in their water from time to time. Dust your chicken house and nest with 5% sevin dust for mites. We have had chickens and deer together for 5 years with no problems yet. I have actually seen chickens taking mosquitos and ticks off deer that are laying down. The chickens will also keep everything cleaned up around your feed troughs. Rotton and wet feed around troughs caused magots and it stinks and the deer are standing in it and I don't think that would be real healthy. 2 more cents
 
We use guinea chickens to eat the ticks. 2 per pen. pen is about 1/2-2/3 of an acre. We also mix garlic in with the food. Just started that this year. The guineas work GREAT and haven't had any kind of a problem. (knock on wood) Works well for us but I don't want to steer you down the wrong path.
 
Woody,

Do you not have a preditor problem? Chickens would not last in Texas. Just wondering, I have a state trapper and I also trap but cant ever get ahead.
 

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