Potato plants and chickens

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LisaChick1

LisaChick1

Songster
5 Years
Jul 10, 2014
145
15
106
Carmel Valley
So I'm planning my vegetable garden which will be fenced off from my flock, but I'm going to be planting potatoes. Problem is the best place for planting them is right near the fence where they would get full sun and there's great soil.... but I'm weary of the plants growing through the fence a bit and the chickens eating the greens off for them... I have heard bad things about chickens eating green potatoes of course but also that the plants can be toxic etc. My question is, Would the flock know instinctually not to eat this.... It would really benefit our family to grow this crop and there aren't any other areas I have space or proper light to grow it, but I do not want to put my chickies in danger. Does anyone have experience with growing potatoes around chickens and if it is dangerous or if they would naturally pass it up? Again it would be fenced off but potatoes get large and I'm sure some greens would like through the fence.
Thanks in advance
 
As long as they have access daily to plants which are acceptable for them to eat, I wouldn't worry about it a bit. If you're terribly concerned, you could put a plastic barrier of some sort between the potatoes and the fence.
 
Hi there!
So I ended up fencing my chickens off away from the garden and I let them free rang outside of our fenced yard now so they can't touch the garden... But this is what I found on it (link below) says chickens should not have access or be fed plants part of the night shade family which does include potatoes and tomatoes... But says if they do free range they'll most likely avoid it as they aren't dumb... But if cages near it and there's not much else available they'd likely go for it and it is toxic supposedly but I personally don't think a little would do anything.. Hope that helps!!!
1f603.png


http://www.keeping-chickens.com/poisonous-plants-to-chickens/
 
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All those "tater" bugs that your little chickens will pick off of your potato plants could result in some seriously overweight chicks.
tongue.png


In other words, don't worry about your chickens, they'll be fine, but you'll more likely have to stand guard over your "tater" patch just to prevent
your chickens from killing the vines.
lau.gif
 
Ok, I'm going to try it out... Nothing ventured nothing gained. I was thinking potatoes because they never bothered the plants in my garden when they range but the fruits always got ate, figured this way they won't get to the "fruit" since its underground. They aren't penned up very often so I think I'm going to try it and if it doesn't work I'm only out about 5-10 dollars.
 
I was just going to do it and then purely by accident seen a list of poisonous plants and thought maybe I should check. I had my doubts about the list though as half the plants listed are on our property and my chickens have eaten navy beans on many occasions and everyone is healthy and happy.
 
SD Bird Lady said:
I was just going to do it and then purely by accident seen a list of poisonous plants.... I had my doubts about the list though as half the plants listed are on our property and my chickens have eaten navy beans on many occasions and everyone is healthy and happy.
Click to expand...
Yes, hens do grow fat and sassy on navy bean vines, but if your chickens are like mine, I bet that they have gas.
gig.gif
 
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LisaChick1 said:
So I'm planning my vegetable garden which will be fenced off from my flock, but I'm going to be planting potatoes. Problem is the best place for planting them is right near the fence where they would get full sun and there's great soil.... but I'm weary of the plants growing through the fence a bit and the chickens eating the greens off for them... I have heard bad things about chickens eating green potatoes of course but also that the plants can be toxic etc. My question is, Would the flock know instinctually not to eat this.... It would really benefit our family to grow this crop and there aren't any other areas I have space or proper light to grow it, but I do not want to put my chickies in danger. Does anyone have experience with growing potatoes around chickens and if it is dangerous or if they would naturally pass it up? Again it would be fenced off but potatoes get large and I'm sure some greens would like through the fence.
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Hi, I haven't read the responses carefully but here is my 2 cents:

My chickens were turned into my very small potato patch when I gave up on my garden one year, and they ate everything. They even dug up a potato or two and ate them too. No ill effects that I could tell. But yes they are supposed to be a poisonous plant to humans at least.
 
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