Chickens and sumac - help!

[ladymist2u]

I have my chicken run (attached to coop) under a sumac tree. Its great "cover" from the local hawks and shade during the hot summers (southern California) but I just learned that sumac berries are toxic to us. I did a little search online and learned that prairie chickens eat sumac but couldn't find anything on domesticated chickens. Does anyone know? Should I be worried about them?????? The run is new this winter but saw one playing with a leaf and started wondering......

Thanks for any info
Becky

 

[silkiechicken]

Well, I don't know the answer for that... but I find my birds don't tend to eat things that are poisonous to them. Mine free range and so it is part of the risk I take as I don't shelter them from what they walk past and might want to eat. Others have differing experiences.

Most things that are poisonous will taste bad and animals often learn very quickly what is good and not if they have plenty of "other" stuff to eat and do not get desperate for food.

 

[ladymist2u]

Thanks - that's kinda my mode of thinking, too. They free-range the back yard several hours a day and have had plenty of opportunities to get to them before so.... I guess I'll just have to trust their little built-in poison detectors....

 

[cdc285]

I have my chicken run (attached to coop) under a sumac tree. Its great "cover" from the local hawks and shade during the hot summers (southern California) but I just learned that sumac berries are toxic to us. I did a little search online and learned that prairie chickens eat sumac but couldn't find anything on domesticated chickens. Does anyone know? Should I be worried about them?????? The run is new this winter but saw one playing with a leaf and started wondering......

Thanks for any info
Becky

All sumacs are not poisonous

 

[EggSighted4Life]

All sumacs are not poisonous

Welcome to BYC!

This thread hasn't been active since 2008.. I'll still take time to note that not all nightshades are "poisonous" either.

But also what a wonderful opportunity for me to correct the faulty thinking of the OP that a nice shade tree is "good cover" from hawks.. in fact they're perfect cover FOR hawks which are stealthy ambush predators who need a good place to perch while they watch their prey.