Eating Cactus?

[Wildsky]

Ok my girls were out free-ranging today and I spoted one with a piece of cactus in her beak, I finally got it away from her and stepped on it and not 5 minutes later she had another piece....

Should I worry about this - I mean it was small but had thorns on it! ? ? ?

 

[silkiechicken]

Haven't seen a real cactus grow out of soil outside... but I know my chickens do eat black berry leaves sometimes... they have pokey stems.

 

[Wildsky]

I think she probably ate a piece - so we'll find out - she was flicking it around like crazy - I know its not poisonous - I just worry if she ate a thorny piece....

silly girl, but really I can't keep them away from the cactus - we have HUNDREDS of them - I spent the first MONTH here picking them out of the back yard so my kids didn't get spiked - and well I missed a few I guess...

 

[Buster]

I know that cactus is edible for humans, but I am not sure about the prickly parts either. I'd just watch her carefully. Maybe they know how to not injure themselves, but I wouldn't want to be the one to have to guarantee that.

 

[chickenlady]

I'd love to have this problem right now, lol, we have about 7 inches of snow covering everything!! My girls cant even get out if they wanted to. Wish I had some info for you. Good luck.

 

[Wildsky]

Well the silly girl in question is fine today - so I don't know if she DID actually eat a piece and it just had no effect or ?

Funny chicken. It would be nice to know it was OK, as we have tons of them around......

 

[Buster]

Yeah, if it were ok, you'd have a good food source. Some people have dandelions- you have cactus!

 

[Rte.66_chicks]

Mine have eaten prickly pear fruits in the past, and it didn't seem to affect them. The fruits are a favored wildlife food, too, so are probably fine for chickens.