Are these okay to plant inside birds enclosure?

[BabyPea]

Hybrid Willow Trees,
I would love to plant some but don't know if this is toxic for the peafowl.
Anyone know or have planted this?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I don't think willow would be a problem. Are you planting them for shade or forage?

 

[BabyPea]

I don't think willow would be a problem. Are you planting them for shade or forage?

I want to plant for shade, and I know I will need to put a fence around it as it grows, but I don't want to plant something that they could peck at it and its toxic.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

There is no way to know for sure but in my experience with birds is that they don't eat things that are bad for them given a choice. If the willow is the only thing they have to eat, they will eat it but kept with fresh feed, they won't. We have a lot of pokeweed here and the chickens occasionally eat many of the poisonous parts with no negative results.

 

[TinyPeaPea]

Can't find this information anywhere.

From what I can glean, willow is generally nontoxic to humans and pet birds. They even reccomend you give willow bark to certain hookbills to relax them/as a painkiller. There is a compound in the bark called acetylsalicylic acid which has an aspirin-like effect but I'm not sure this will be a problem as it needs to be extracted/chewed out of the bark.

There is mild toxicity reported in cats and dogs but only if they ingest the bark.

 

[TinyPeaPea]

I found this old post by casportpony

It lists acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) as an approved medication for Peafowl.

I am not a vet and am merely referencing information that is readily available.

Should be fine though.

 

[BabyPea]

Thank you, I appreciate the info.

 

[Midnightman14]

They probably won't eat it and it is non-toxic but they probably will tear them apart if they can.

 

[Midnightman14]

There is no way to know for sure but in my experience with birds is that they don't eat things that are bad for them given a choice. If the willow is the only thing they have to eat, they will eat it but kept with fresh feed, they won't. We have a lot of pokeweed here and the chickens occasionally eat many of the poisonous parts with no negative results.

Birds have no way of knowing what is good or bad just what is available and what tastes bad. They will happily eat indigestible things such as pieces of plastic and styrofoam.

 

[KsKingBee]

I want to plant for shade, and I know I will need to put a fence around it as it grows, but I don't want to plant something that they could peck at it and its toxic.

I planted arundo on the west side of our pens for shade, not inside of the pen but on the outside so it gives them shade all afternoon and evening. It does need to be cut down every winter but it is very hearty, looks nice, and provides a nice wind break. You need to be careful of planting anything, especially bamboo inside of the pens. Fast or tall growing plants will grow through the top netting and tear it to shreds. BTW, peas love to eat bamboo and arundo.