leaves

My 5 pullets have been eating a safe fern plant for the past few months that they view as their favorite treat (the fern is the Arizona Feather Bush). They like this plant more than any other treat but should i continue giving it to them or not (as Im not sure it provides much benefit to them)...

In general, where can i look to see if specific leaves are poisonous or not? Their leaves similar to bracken ferns, but they are completely different plants as far as i know. Can anyone help with this?

I just raked the backyard and I have a insane amount of leaves. Can I use them in my coop and run it will the decomposing leaves give health risks? Would they be good until they get wet? Just to clarify I have 6 ducks and no chickens (yet starting to go chicken crazy). Would it be safe to use...

Hi! I’ve had chickens for 3.5 years. My first flock of 9 were all killed by a neighbor dog back in Feb this year. Have a new mixed flock of 10.5 week olds. I read somewhere at the beginning of my chickenkeeping journey that dry leaves on a dirt run mimick the forest floor, the natural habitat...

I am finishing my coop build. It is a 6X12 shed style with gambrel roof. The sides are 6 feet tall and the peak of the gambrel roof is about 8 1/2 feet tall. I am wondering, since the rafters are so high, if I should make a loft in the coop and store things like bags of leaves up in the loft for...

I will soon be a first timer with laying hens. From what I have learned, I think the deep litter method would work best for me in northern Minnesota. I also have a 20X30 foot garden with raised beds. In zone 3b, our growing season is only about 4 months (June - September). I am thinking ahead of...

I have been reading a lot about the deep litter method, as well as using dry leaves. I raked up leaves last year and shredded and bagged them. I had intended on using them in my compost but only ended up using a bit. I still have 4 bags sitting in my shed that are over a year old. Question...

I'm using pine needles and oak leaves inside the chicken coop. I have a small coop and want to maximize their comfort and appease boredom during rainstorms. They just stood there or always roosted when I was using pine shavings. With the new litter they're more engaged and enjoy digging. It...

My seven oak trees are well into their Autumn molting season and I have a couple questions. First, I collect rain for their drinking water, and because of the large amount of leaves falling on the pen roof their water is turning into oak tea. Is this in any way harmful to them? Second, I usually...

Heyo! I'm new to Backyard Chickens, and love it already... :frow I have a few questions about some treats! I have a big mulberry tree, full of ripe black fruit, and a couple of fruitless mulberry trees. We eat them, and of course share with the chickens, but I want to know if I could feed some...