I have owned both horses and chickens for years. I keep the chickens confined to the horse pens, because they kick through the manure piles and keep the flies down to an amazing degree - besides providing eggs and meat. Never, in all those years, have any of my horses ever eaten chicken manure. Not once. Not only that but I have a terrific health record - no colics, no illness at all of any kind. But I think that has more to do with proper feeding (grasses and a balanced diet) and proper health care. In any event I have never had any reason at all to suppose that chickens cause horses to die or get sick, or something. In fact I think they make my horses more "steady" because they get used to the chickens cackling and flying up etc. and then when they get out in the real world not much bothers them.
453032[/snapback]