How to raise Backyard Chickens: Re: [CHICKENS-101] Foraging and toxic plants

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Re: [CHICKENS-101] Foraging and toxic plants

Most (but not all) poisonous plants contain substances that taste bad. Some things taste bad to mammals but not to birds. This is nature's way of getting birds to eat certain berries and pass the seeds out and distribute them. I would not worry too much about chickens eating poisonous plants if they are foraging on their own. If you pick something and throw it in to them, you might want to check online first to see if it is poisonous. I'm pretty sure you could Google the name of the plant and the word "toxic" to check.

Kathy

In a message dated 2/26/2012 4:25:35 P.M. Central Standard Time, goatsnchickens@yahoo.com writes:

I picked a big armload of milkweed this afternoon and was going to give the greens to the hens, but I decided to check online first to make sure that they are okay for hens to eat. I haven't found a definitive list of plants that are okay, but I did find a link (see below) of forbidden plants.

Now I'm confused, I live in an oak forest, so there's oak on and completely surrounding my property. The back hill is covered with Oxalis which the chickens have been eating daily since they were small), milkweed, clover and other unknown weeds. The side yard has been planted with Vinca (Periwinkle) which grows right up to the side of the run. There are tomato plants in the backyard, and callas and ivy grow in the front. So basically my yard, like many others is filled with plants that are listed as poisonous. I don't have a lawn or hayfield , Does this mean that I have to keep the chickens in a sterile environment and purchase everything they eat to keep them from getting poisoned?

How do you guys deal with foraging and toxic plants?

Link:

I found this link: http://www.poultryhelp.com/toxicplants.html#O

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