Chicken friendly plants.

[puddle_drinker]

I was hoping someone would have a suggestion for plants my chickens won’t be interested in destroying or eating and that are not toxic to them.

My chicken run is thick forest of Nettle and Golden Rod in the summer. The chickens will pick a little at the mature Nettle leaves but generally don't destroy them.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Keep in mind that chickens are not stupid. They are smart enough to be chickens. That is to say, smart enough to keep the species going. I've said before and no doubt will again, that if chickens were stupid or careless enough to eat toxic plants, they'd be extinct by now. Ours range in areas where there is a wide variety of weeds, grasses, forbs and who knows what, over which I have no control whatsoever. They've been doing this for 13 years and so far none have keeled over dead from eating something toxic. I don't worry about them. Nature is smart.

 

[StinkyAcres]

My chicken run is thick forest of Nettle and Golden Rod in the summer. The chickens will pick a little at the mature Nettle leaves but generally don't destroy them.

The nettle survives in my chicken pen too...Not the most pleasant plant to have in your run...Although it is edible for humans.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

The nettle survives in my chicken pen too...Not the most pleasant plant to have in your run...Although it is edible for humans.

Only cooked, right?

 

[StinkyAcres]

Only cooked, right?

No, I believe it is edible uncooked, but cooking it neutralizes the stinging acid.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

No, I believe it is edible uncooked, but cooking it neutralizes the stinging acid.

I don't think we have it here anyway. Encountered it once in Montana (yowch!).