The Grass Doctor

Is lawn fertilizer bad for chickens?

Is there any danger to our free-range chickens if we spread grandular fertilizer on our lawn? Will they eat it and leave it alone, or should we keep them locked up for a while? Or should we not spread it at all?

Public Comments

1. It is dangerous because they will eat other animal poo and get sick, like we do when we do the same.
2. probubly
3. Don't spread it at all- chickens don't have hands, they explore with their beaks (by pecking at things- similar in a way that a baby wants to put everything in it's mouth) and it is entirely possible some will be swallowed, although generally the birds quickly work out what is edible and what is not. Best not to take the risk.
4. i can bet money every chicken will see the little fertilizer things and peck at them and eat them. this would either kill your chickens, or make them very sick. it's best to not spread it at all, but if you NEED to spread it, either look on the package or call customer service to see how long you should wait before putting animals back on that land.
5. Yeah, you might as well put rat poison in their feed. That's pretty much a death warrant. This is just common sense. The only "fertilizer" you can/should spread is cow/horse manure. That's the safest thing. Plus, even if you spread it and "lock them up for awhile", there will still be resedue. I would avoid any chemicals, and things un-natural.