Rhonda, 6 weeks for us for dandelions. We are waiting for the ground to thaw to be able to till the pens and get them planted again. After they are limed, wood ashed, sulfured, planted, we'll get loads of chick weed, dandelions, and grass with the skidsteer to dump in the pens too.
Cathryn rainbowsilkies MI
From: "sidesaddle5@yahoo.com" <sidesaddle5@yahoo.com>
To: CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2012 8:06 PM
Subject: Re: [CHICKENS-101] Foraging and toxic plants
I agree with Marla--as long as the chickens (or any animals!) have access to good forage, they are quite unlikely to try the poisonous plants--although in the case of grazing animals, there are a few exceptions.
I'm a little startled at some of the items on the list, though. Oaks, for instance... Yes, a cow or horse that eats too many of certain acorns may have some problems, but we used to figure that the acorns were good extra food for them (although the milk might have a slight taste). Certainly the wild turkeys eat plenty of them! (I even gather them, shell, grind, and leach out the tannin! Better than walnuts in cookies and brownies!)
And periwinkle?? My horses love it (it grows up to the edge of the pasture), and the deer have also been known to visit right up to the house for it... Milkweed foliage, yes, but don't pass up the spring shoots, or the flower buds, for yourself--absolutely delicious! (Hmm... Another month or six weeks to dandelion greens...)
Rhonda
Sidesaddle Hall of Famer
Five-time US National Sidesaddle Champion
I'm a little startled at some of the items on the list, though. Oaks, for instance... Yes, a cow or horse that eats too many of certain acorns may have some problems, but we used to figure that the acorns were good extra food for them (although the milk might have a slight taste). Certainly the wild turkeys eat plenty of them! (I even gather them, shell, grind, and leach out the tannin! Better than walnuts in cookies and brownies!)
And periwinkle?? My horses love it (it grows up to the edge of the pasture), and the deer have also been known to visit right up to the house for it... Milkweed foliage, yes, but don't pass up the spring shoots, or the flower buds, for yourself--absolutely delicious! (Hmm... Another month or six weeks to dandelion greens...)
Rhonda
Sidesaddle Hall of Famer
Five-time US National Sidesaddle Champion
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