Plumber07
New Member
My girls leave Twirltle alone but can chicken poop be harmful to him? I try and move his outdoor tractor around every few days to get better food.
Russian tortoise and chickens
- Thread starter Plumber07
- Start date
Hello and welcome to the forum. I've read that birds and tortoises together aren't really a good thing, but that's really a question for more experienced members here on the forum. It's a good question though. I don't know if it's the bird droppings or the fact that birds aren't sure what a tortoise is. I've seen a dove that probably thought my tortoise might be a snake. But stick around I'm sure you'll get some good answers.?
Plumber07
New Member
Thanks, they don't bother him other than looking in to his enclosure, it's the poop that made me think about it.
I honestly don't know. I do have birds in the same room as my tortoise though. They can't get to him. Probably your tortoise is safe because the chickens can only look and not harass. The chickens are probably trying to figure out what s/he is. I still would rather see what other members here think though. Best wishes.
Minority2
Well-Known Member
Yes tortoises will get parasites from eating other animal poop including chickens. They should not share uncaged living space or even outdoor areas because the chickens can always poop on the plants, flowers, and grass which can accidentally be eaten by the tortoise.
Plumber07
New Member
I'm pretty sure they are just curious. It's pretty funny to watch you can see the chickens wheels spinning trying to figure it out. We have wild turtles here so they are use to them in our compost bin and around the property.
Plumber07
New Member
How far away do I need to keep them? What parasites, so I know when to move who and for how long?
What other animals does this include? I have dogs, cats, chickens,and goats.
The wild turtles seem to stay in the compost bin which is about 100 ft from my chicken coop. 2 have been here for 6 years and winter in the compost bin which contains poop. Are box turtles just more hardy?
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Minority2
Well-Known Member
Tortoises deserve their own separate permanent space. They should not be in contact with any animals because there's always a chance of either party becoming violent towards another. Go on youtube if you want to see a tortoise bite a dog or get slapped around by a group of dogs or cats.
I don't know the specific parasite names. What I do know however, is that the vet will likely know if things become serious enough for you to need to visit one.
Plumber07
New Member
The other animals can't get to him. His outdoor pen has 10 gauge chicken wire. I was more worried about cross contamination with poop, if it happens.
I agree. I watched a dove check out my Russian and I knew why. She thought he might be a snake. I knew what was up because I also watched chickens and geese run off a pretty big harmless snake just by checking her out. I have lids covered with hardware cloth on my tortoise's enclosure for that reason. Other predator birds would take off with him. So would other predators. I even padlock it if he's outside and I need to go shopping. I don't trust him or predators.? If you have a big tortoise it won't be so bad.
Plumber07
New Member
The cloth is over 16 inches of 1x8s so they can look but not touch.
Pastel Tortie
Well-Known Member
Bottom line, keep the dogs and the tortoise from eating anybody else's poop (or even their own). From a poop standpoint, most of us are probably thinking intestinal worms and internal parasites. There could also be bacteria and anything that passes through an animal's system (including medications) thrown in.
As for other parasites, it depends on what biting, bloodsucking creatures may already be present on your property. Many parasites are host specific, but a starving bloodsucking parasite may resort to feeding on a less preferred animal if that's all that is available.
I wouldn't skimp on fecal checks for your dogs and cats at their annual vet visits, and keep up with flea prevention.
Pastel Tortie
Well-Known Member
The wild box turtles are probably interested in earthworms, isopods, insects and other invertebrates that are attracted to and help break down stuff in your compost pile. It sounds like they have a good deal at your place, where they can come and go, and even over-winter safely.
Are the wild box turtles more hardy than your captive Russian tortoise? Well, they're native... They're adapted to the normal, typical local environment, as long as there isn't anything weird or toxic introduced that would upset the balance. There aren't any native tortoises in your part of the country. Your Russian tortoise will never be as naturally (genetically) well adapted to your local environment as those wild box turtles are. It just means you have to be more careful and pay attention for potential hazards that wild box turtles might not have to worry about. Good thing your Russian tortoise has you.
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- Jun 25, 2014
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My tortoises and chickens have been around each other for years with no problems. I have seen many other people in the facebook groups who also have an open yard where the animals can mix. My tortoises have never been interested in eating chicken poop, and I have never seen the chickens pooping on plants except for the lawn.
Minority2
Well-Known Member
It may not have happened yet with your tortoise but doesn't mean it cannot happen to you and or other people. As I've mentioned above, you can easily find YouTube videos and tragic stories in various forums depicting the wounds and results from tortoises being attacked by other animals. The cause can be a number of reasons. Sometimes it is the tortoise's fault for being overly aggressive and biting other animals in an effort to display dominance.
The problem with this is that other animals such as a pissed off cat can easily out-maneuver a smaller tortoise, flip them over, and take their time killing said tortoise by swiping at the exposed neck. If a smaller tortoise pisses a dog off enough by repeatedly nipping at their legs or biting the dog's testicles that dog will use it's teeth and completely maul the tortoise until the tortoise permanently stops moving. It's that easy and that fast which is why members warn new owners to prevent their cats from being able to get into their tortoise's indoor enclosure. It's simply not worth risking when there's enough examples out there showing how dangerous the results can be.
Chickens poop on the lawn. Tortoises eat the lawn. Personally, I wouldn't allow chickens to be pooping on my tortoises' dinner table.
FB is not the standard for tortoise care. Quite the opposite.
I've seen lots of people driving drunk on YouTube. Doesn't mean I should do it too.
Letting tortoises live in and around other animals is a recipe for disaster, and I've seen it end in disaster many times. The tortoise should have its own area, separate from the other animals.
