Can Poison Ivy Kill Chickens?

[ThePigeonKid]

I was at a convention and I was wearing my Backyard Poultry shirt and when a person asked me this question. She said that her chickens ate Poison Ivy and then died. So I was wanting to find out so that I could tell her tomorrow. Thanks so much! TPK

 

[centrarchid]

I do not recall seeing my chickens eating poison ivy despite having them free ranging extensively in wooded areas with abundant growths of the stuff. Nor do I recall having birds die from something that I thought was poison ivy related. Owing to how chicken forage / browse, it is easy in most instances for them to identify toxic plants and stop consumption before they are seriously poisoned.

 

[Kikiriki]

I wonder if they have the same variation in reactions that people do? My sister was hyper reactive to poison ivy and I have never had a rash, despite romping everywhere she went as kids, and as an adult trekking through the woods without even knowing what it looked like. i am sure Ive contacted it, though... My sister would get the rash and then spread it all over herself through just the secondary contact. It can cause a reaction in mucas membranes, too.

I do think it could kill a chicken if she had an internal reaction, but that is just supposition. I have nothing to back it up.

 

[centrarchid]

Some animals eat poison ivy. White-tailed deer and goats both do, apparently without ill effects.