Composting when you have chickens

Quote: That still doesn't mean much...Was there a tox screen? Did the blood tests show that some chemical in a potato caused some sort of poisoning that ultimately killed the chicken? Chickens (and all other animals, including humans) can die of many many causes, and no matter the cause, there are always traces of undigested food in the body.

My chickens have eaten potato peels without issue. I also assumed that animals wouldn't touch plants from the nightshade family, but mine and my friend's chickens have surprisingly nibbled the leaves of various nightshade plants without issue. Also, I pick up kitchen waste/scraps from a small local vegetarian cafe and they throw lots of avocado peel with chunks of avocado in there. There hasn't been an issue with the avocados in the compost either. To me, this just goes to show that the chickens naturally know what they can and should eat.
 
That still doesn't mean much...Was there a tox screen? Did the blood tests show that some chemical in a potato caused some sort of poisoning that ultimately killed the chicken? Chickens (and all other animals, including humans) can die of many many causes, and no matter the cause, there are always traces of undigested food in the body.

My chickens have eaten potato peels without issue. I also assumed that animals wouldn't touch plants from the nightshade family, but mine and my friend's chickens have surprisingly nibbled the leaves of various nightshade plants without issue. Also, I pick up kitchen waste/scraps from a small local vegetarian cafe and they throw lots of avocado peel with chunks of avocado in there. There hasn't been an issue with the avocados in the compost either. To me, this just goes to show that the chickens naturally know what they can and should eat.
I agree with this. I have a rhododendron that my chickens like to use for shade. They picked up a few leaves and spit them back out, but otherwise don't bother them. I have a momma hen with chicks, and they're smart enough to avoid eating them too.
About the potato thing, wouldn't the potato need to be digested and begin going through the intestines for the toxins to be absorbed?
Mine have eaten some raw potato as well. I feel like it would take quite a bit to kill an adult chicken!
 
I agree with this. I have a rhododendron that my chickens like to use for shade. They picked up a few leaves and spit them back out, but otherwise don't bother them. I have a momma hen with chicks, and they're smart enough to avoid eating them too. 
About the potato thing, wouldn't the potato need to be digested and begin going through the intestines for the toxins to be absorbed? 
Mine have eaten some raw potato as well. I feel like it would take quite a bit to kill an adult chicken!


Good point, the potato would need to have been at least partially digested... I wonder if the chicken didn't CHOKE on the potato? :D sorry, but who knows for absolute sure?

Rhubarb, oxalic acid, takes a LOT to build up to harm them but they know not to gorge; they peck here and there... Wonder berries, tomato, peppers, all members if the nightshade family, and yes, they seem to know that only the RED tomatoes, or the RIPE berries are suitable, much to my chagrin lol... Larkspur, nettles, and kochia are ignored but they will self medicate on wormwood and dill.

They know what they can eat, I think... But they did eat all my hilled potatoes to the ground, TWICE. And they evidently LOVED them, all still alive :D
 
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My birds snack on tomato leaves when given the chance. They dig potatoes for me, but, I've never seen them eating any part of a potato plant. They love mashed potato and french fries. They will absolutely NOT eat potato bugs or larvae. But, they LOVE tomato horn worms.
 

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