Please HELP! IS my Silkie Intoxicated!?

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ChiaraAlh

ChiaraAlh

In the Brooder
Apr 10, 2015
18
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Hi everyone, I have a week old Silkie, and I caught her eating some fern leaves I've got in my garden (don't know how much of them) but she always runs towards it and pecks the leaves, and of course I always take her out of there., she seems to like them. I'm afraid she will die from intoxication (I read somewhere that ferns are toxic...). She doesn't seem to be able to poop, but she's eating and seems fine for now... any suggestions? Please help, I love her so much I'd be so devastated if something happened to her...
Here is a photo of the fern I have:



And here is my little loved one a week ago:
 
I've read that ferns are toxic to mice, rats, horses and cattle when ingested, but I've never heard of it bothering chickens. Is your Silkie just pecking at the leaves, or actually ripping bits off and eating them? If its just pecking, I don't think I'd worry too much about it. If it is bothering you, either move the fern or don't let the chicks in that area just to be safe.
 
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She actually eats them, and really seems to like them. Anyways I'll have an eye on her and see if anything happens. She pooped and it was kind of green. So I guess i don't have to worry about it since she is getting rid of it!
 
If the fern was really toxic and a tiny chick ate some, it would be showing definite signs of poisoning by now. I've never heard that ferns, with the exception of bracken ferns, are toxic to chickens, and your chick is obviously fine, so I would just keep the chick away from the fern to be on the safe side going forward. When chickens eat something toxic, it affects them very quickly.

Use this as a learning opportunity to read the list of plants toxic to chickens so you can make your yard safe for them. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/627282/comprehensive-list-of-poisonous-plants-and-trees
 
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Good to know that. Thank you so much azygous. I definitely will give it a read. Great advice!
 
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Hi there ChiaraAlh

I have four of those ferns in my garden. My gals used to peck at them but lost interest pretty quickly as there were much more interesting things to peck and eat. None of them appear to have suffered any immediate or lasting damage from them.

As suggested, if she is obsessed with it, I would move the fern or keep her away from it for a while and she will probably find something else that takes her fancy.

Good luck with her, she is a little cutie!
 
Hi Telia, I decided to move ir somewhere else just in case! Since she doesn't seem to lose interest in it I don't really have another choice. And thank you very much:)
 

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