Are toads poisonous to chickens?

[Birdgirl99]

Yes very nasty for a chicken

 

[MountainDan]

Just wondering if toads are poisonous to chickens.....I know they are to dogs.

Hi there! I see this post is 10 years old, but I accessed it yesterday because one of my 3 month old hens ate a toad before I could stop her. It was pretty small- about an inch long- and appeared to be the standard American Toad. Anyhow, I was worried but she’s absolutely fine today. Not sure if she has an upset belly but she seems a-ok. Happy 10 yr anniversary on your question

 

[centrarchid]

I still see chickens eat frogs and toads, sometimes with frogs where very little else is consumed. The chickens seem to process toadlets more than froglets, even thought former is considerably smaller and otherwise easier to swallow. The chickens also process caterpillars that feed on toxic plants more than something like army worms that generally consume non-toxic plants. I have yet to see the chickens tackle anything more than 1" toads (Bufo spp.) even though they will handle much larger leopard frogs. Critters like Virginia Opossums that frequently eat adult toads will skin their catch and discard hide before eating the rest. The only critters I see eat larger toads on a regular basis are water snakes and the Norther Hognose that appears to specialize on toads. I have a lot of toads, but generally the adults are active only when chickens are on the roost. Toadlets are the exception to that pattern.

 

[Birdmom2020]

I'm in NC close to the yadkin river area. My chickens pluck little toads out of the yard all the time. Not very big but they've never been sick after eating them. One of my hens will swallow them completely whole after pecking the eyes out. Kinda weird

 

[drjulian]

According to this article, chickens are unaffected by the toxins from cane toads.

https://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2013/04/04/3729907.htm

 

[cmom]

Good info. This is an older thread but still pertinent. The website you posted is from Australia but I'm sure the same applies everywhere.

 

[izzyduck]

Toads can make any animal sick, including chickens. The nodules/warts on their backs exude a whiteish milky substance when squeezed (or chewed). Toads have no natural enemies as far as I know, snakes even spit them out. My chickens pecked one to death recently and were running around the yard with it in one of their mouths. I chased the hen down and when she dropped the toad, I picked it up and threw it in the garbage. Luckily none of it had been eaten.

I just did the same thing.