Lice is a huge problem for donkeys due to their thick fur coat. Sanitation issues from chicken droppings can pose health problems for horses such as infection from Salmonella, botulism, candidiasis and histoplasmosis (fungal infections) and even streptococcus.
It is common for chickens, ducks, and other poultry to carry Salmonella and Campylobacter. These are bacteria that can live naturally in the intestines of poultry and many other animals and can be passed in their droppings or feces. Even organically fed poultry can become infected with Salmonella and Campylobacter.
Not only is intestinal upset a worry, she said, but some chicken-feed additives are highly toxic to horses and can also cause severe diarrhea and heart damage.
Not only is it okay, it is actually a good idea! Keeping chickens along with horses is a time honored tradition that certainly can be manageable, and even beneficial – here's why: Chickens are opportunists. When a pellet or kernel falls, they'll be there to pick it up.
Toxins: Endotoxins, which come from the cell walls of certain bacteria, are a component of poultry dust. Exposure to endotoxin causes acute respiratory symptoms, including a cough, shortness of breath and lung function impairment. Poultry workers with existing lung problems are even more susceptible.
Poultry can shed germs in their droppings (poop). Wear gloves when cleaning bird cages and poultry houses. Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after contact with the poultry or their environment.
Worms can be picked up from the feces of other chickens or birds—including wild birds. Often insects act as the intermediate host by carrying the worm eggs, which are then deposited in the chicken after they ingest the insect. In general, worms can be found in the respiratory or intestinal tract.
In horses, the bacteria are transmitted through contaminated feed or water, or by direct contact with infected individuals or surfaces that have been contaminated with manure from an infected individual. Mice, barnyard chickens, pigeons, and wildlife can be sources of Salmonella.
“A multitude of potential diseases can be spread from birds to horses, although few are directly transmitted,” noted Laura Petroski, B.V.M.S, a veterinarian for Kentucky Equine Research. Mosquito-borne diseases such as the Eastern, Western, and Venezuelan encephalomyelitis and West Nile virus serve as examples.
This is the first documented case report of dermatitis associated with the poultry mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) in a horse. It occurred in a 16-year-old horse that was in contact with domestic hens. Clinical signs consisted of severe pruritus, with self-induced hair loss mainly on the head.
The only concern for foals and young horses when eating manure is getting infected with internal parasites.
Fruit seeds and pits:
Some fruits – such as apples and apricots – have pits or seeds which contain cyanide compounds, which are toxic in extremely large quantities. Large pits can cause choke, so it's best to remove them before offering your horse fruit such as peaches or nectarines.
Farms produce millions of tons each year. Like other animal wastes, poultry litter is a natural choice as farm fertilizer.
So, can you use chicken manure for lawn fertilizer? Absolutely. Other than the fact that your lawn may stink a bit (yes, even if you use pellets), chicken manure is one of the best organic fertilizers in the world.
Poultry manure contains all 13 of the essential plant nutrients that are used by plants. These include nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), chlorine (Cl), boron (B), iron (Fe), and molybdenum (Mo).
Sanitation issues from bird droppings can pose other health problems for horse and humans too, including Salmonella, botulism, candidiasis and histoplasmosis (fungal infections) and even streptococcal infections.
How do horses get Salmonella? Horses may acquire the bacteria from other horses or other animals. Transmission is by the fecal-oral route, which means manure from one animal (not necessarily a horse) was ingested by another – this usually happens when the manure contaminates a feed or water source.
Influenza A viruses are endemic (can infect and regularly transmit) in 6 animal species or groups (wild waterfowl, domestic poultry, swine, horses, dogs, and bats) in addition to humans.
Diarrhea develops 6–24 hours after the onset of fever; feces are fluid and foul smelling. Affected horses dehydrate rapidly, and metabolic acidosis and electrolyte losses occur as the horse deteriorates.
In many horses, illness caused by Salmonella runs its course in five to seven days. After this period the horse slowly recovers, although it may take several weeks before manure consistency returns to normal.
Kathleen Crandell, Ph. D., senior nutritionist for Kentucky Equine Research, comments, “Poultry litter is generally not recommended for use in fields that horses will be grazing or used for making horse hay because of the increased risk for salmonella contamination.
Though chicken manure can be great for a flower garden, it is not the kind of food you ought to feed your composting worms. Chicken droppings are relatively dry, contain high levels of salts, off-gas ammonia, and offer far too much nitrogen to put into the worm bin “fresh”.
Roundworms are the most common type of intestinal worm; they look like spaghetti and live in the intestine of the bird. They can affect chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese. There are several types of roundworm e.g. hairworms, threadworms, but the most common is the Large Roundworm.
In addition to these valuable wellness benefits, apple cider vinegar for chickens is often used in an effort to prevent worms. Some worms can attack a chicken and cause it to become vulnerable rapidly. Apple Cider Vinegar's low pH destroys germs and worms.