Chickens eating corkscrew willow bark

toetoe

Songster
10 Years
Aug 3, 2009
122
2
111
Ferndale
I was given a whole cut down tree of corkscrew willow branches last week. Today I started peeling off the bark to make things out of it and after about 5 min. of peeling I looked down at my feet.
There were 3 of my chickens eating the peelings.
I was told that willow bark was nontoxic to birds but I feel I just have to ask people here to make sure I have not poisoned my girls.

Dose anyone know?
 
Wow..No I don't know for sure, but, as you may know willow bark is a pain reliever closely related to aspirin. So, if I had to guess, I would imagine that no only will it not hurt them, but it might actually feel good to them.

There have been studies that show that chickens will favor eating or drinking things that make them feel better.

If your hens survive, which I suspect they will, try offering one or two of the same birds some more willow bark a few days later. If they take a pass, it suggests it didn't agree with them. If they go for it, it means they like it and it may actually be making them feel better.
 
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