Sulcatas and chickens do not make good roommates. If you have chickens, it is recommended to house your chickens separate of your sulcata tortoise. Although, it is a low risk, there is still risk involved in housing the two animals together. The most common problems are pecking and pooping.
Chickens Peck
Although chickens are not considered a predator to sulcata tortoises, chickens are not always friendly. Chickens will peck and kick. They are like mini velociraptors. And if you have roosters, the situation could worsen.
If may be shocking to hear, but chickens can gang up and kill a whole lot of animals. If the chickens don’t gang on up on your tortoise, they could in the least peck and pester, which can cause stress and injury.
Consider your tortoise trying to sun bathe or sleep and a chicken walk up and peck his eye. Although tortoises can gain speed and momentum, chickens are likely faster.
Chicken Poop = Parasites
Chickens poop everywhere. Sulcatas are opportunistic feeders and will try to eat chicken poop. If you are housing your sulcata and chickens together, it’s a matter of time before your sulcata tortoise eats chicken poop.
Even if your tortoise doesn’t intentionally go after chicken poop, the chickens will poop on everything. Your tortoise will try to graze on grass and take a bite of poop. He’ll try to drink water, and drink contaminated water.
Not only is it just gross that your tortoise could eat chicken poop, but your sulcata could get parasites.
If the chickens are in an open space, the tortoise may be ok, however in a smaller area will have a higher density of tortoise poop.
Space
The more space you have, the better off you’ll be. Although, it’s still not the most ideal situation.
However, if you’re using a chicken run, sulcatas can easily dig under or push out of a chicken pen. The tortoise could escape and release your chickens. You would have to reinforce any walls to the enclosure to make them tortoise-proof.
Salmonella
Both tortoises and chickens can carry the salmonella bacteria. You’re generally more likely to contract salmonella from chickens than tortoises. However, it’s possible that tortoises and chickens can pass the bacteria amongst each other. Although, salmonella is the least of your concerns when housing tortoises and chickens.
