Are these types of ivy poisonous?

[jeremy]

I have two different types of ivy growing at the proposed site (and all over the rest of my backyard) where I want to build my new chicken coop.

The first type I believe is English Ivy,

The second variety I believe is Algerian Ivy, though I could be mistaken,

Are either of these plants poisonous to chickens?
Can I leave the foliage there for the chickens to forage and eat?
Or should I find a way to eradicate it from my backyard?

Thanks!

 

[speckledhen]

Not sure if it's considered poisonous, but I have English Ivy growing down a bank where the birds range and they have never even tried to eat it that I'm aware of.

 

[Imp]

I think Ivys can cause upset stomachs and irritate skin. But I agree with speckledhen I have it growing in my yard and the chickens have never eaten it.

Imp

 

[jeremy]

Silly me, I was actually hoping they would eat it...

LOL!

 

[PetRock]

We have ivy growing in our yard and free range most of the day. I've never seen our chickens even try it but they do LOVE the spiders and other buggies that hide in it.

 

[jeremy]

Quote:
Yup, there are TONS of bugs and huge, huge spiders in or around the ivy. I think that also may be because the property has been vacant for the better part of the last decade, so the ivy and the bugs have taken over... and now I get to move in and figure out how to make some sense of the whole thing!

As long as the plant isn't poisonous, I don't mind leaving it for them, I just didn't want to run into any dying or sick birds because of it.

 

[clio]

Hi,

I had ivy all over my fences and ground before I got my chickens, and I literally tore/pulled them up ... to me, ivy "runners" go everywhere, and start new plants ... while spiders, bugs, etc. live in the ivy, I've also read that mice and rats also build their nests in ivy ...

 

[Clay Valley Farmer]

Neither of those look to be the poison ivy I am all too familiar with, though there are something like 130 different strains of the crud. Anyway chickens don't seem the least bit affected by it, never seen them eat it but scratching about the do clear it nicely.

 

[mmaddie's mom]

I have the English ivy also and have seen the girls scratching around it, but I think for the bugs, etc. not the ivy... never had anyone sick from it. Don't think it is a problem.

 

[kathyinmo]

Looks like what I have growing around here. The chickens have not touched it. No, they would much rather eat my tomatoes, pumpkins, and grapes that were growing.