Chickens and Ivy

[jeremy]

I recently purchased a home that I'm planning on moving to later this year with my small backyard flock. The entire back yard area is covered with a blanket of thick ivy that we're going to have to get rid of (somehow). It climbs all over everything- the fences, the ground, up the trees. It's literally everywhere. I do plan on putting the girls up towards the back of the property.

Does anybody know if the ivy will be harmful to the chickens? I know there's a mix of English Ivy and what I think is just a Common Ivy variety. I'm trying to find a picture of what I think it is.

Thanks!

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

I don't remember ever seeing anything saying ivy was bad for them?

But to get rid of it I would recommend goats

 

[SC_Hugh]

My 4 chickens and I have almost removed all the ivy in our backyard. I always thought ivy was tough to pull out too, but in our sandy soil, it came out pretty easy. I pulled it by hand and with a hoe, peel it back and watch the chickens go to town. I didn't encourage my chickens to eat the ivy (they ate a little bit), but rather all the bugs that are living under the ivy. I just keep filling up my green waste container every week with ivy until it is all gone. I have a few more weeks to go...

It has been a huge bug feast to say the least,

Hugh

 

[digitS']

English Ivy (Hedera helix) doesn't sound like the most wonderful stuff for anything to eat. But, there doesn't seem to be a large chance of critters actually eating it other than cattle and, maybe, puppies. Merck Veterinary Manual doesn't even bother to mention it.

Canadian Poisonous Plants Information

Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine

ASPCA

Chickens would probably scratch it up but it would take a brigade of chickens to eradicate it from an entire backyard.

Steve