Eating Plants

[Pack Mom]

Good Morning,
Our little flock has finally made it to the outside coop and yesterday they walked down their ramp and into their yard. I was so excited to see them pecking the grasses and running around. However, inside their coop area we left an old rosemary bush and an azalea bush. Today they pecked at the rosemary so I decided to come in and check out if it is safe. From the list I found the rosemary is ok but the azalea is not. Have to go cut that out of there coop area. The one thing that I also found not safe was clover. We have a lot of clover in our yard, I like it because it stands up to the dogs running around on it. The girls were pecking at it yesterday and I didn't think anything about it since most farm pastures have clover.
Should I be concerned???
Dorothy

 

[Imp]

I wouldn't worry about either unless they were eating a lot. And then more worried about the azalea. If it is in the run area and the chickens are confined, they will likely be more prone to eat it.

Imp

 

[donrae]

I don't know where that "clover is toxic to chickens" thing started, but it's spread like crazy and is so not true. My chickens would be dead several times over if it were so.

 

[BoltonChicken]

Very few things a chicken cannot eat. There are a lot of old wives tales around, and don't believe everything you read about "poisonous to chickens" until you verify it. Lots of good info on this forum.

 

[chfite]

Many plants that are listed as being poisonous are poisonous to humans, not to animals. I don't think chickens will eat the bad plants if they have any choices in the matter.

I don't know if rosemary is poisonous to chickens or not, but mine won't eat it.

For all the worrying that goes on, l have to wonder how chickens survived for millennia without humans to fret about them.

The dose makes the poison. My chickens eat poke salad when it is growing. Poke salad is poisonous. They don't eat much of it, so perhaps that is the key.

Chris

 

[LarissaSlates98]

Clover DEFINETLY is NOT bad for chickens. All my chicks as young as a week up to my silkies and cochins to my laying breeds are fed clover purposley. I have found it helps there laying. Mine always lay better when they are given clover. They love it. I honestly believe if it were bad for the mthey wouldn't eat it. They don't eat certain plants that they could if they wanted to. But as far as i know clover is good for them. Chickens are hardy little things.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Clover is safe for any and all animals and poultry, you can eat it too,try some it's sweet.

 

[theoldchick]

I feed my girls clover all the time. They ain't died yet.

 

[kjfrogster41]

Fussy eaters?

Are Rhode Island Reds usually fussy eaters? My girls seem to have very specific likes and many more dislikes many of which others of you mention as loved by your hens. For example, we have loads of clover and they never touch it. However, they do love dandelion flowers. They also are crazy for comfry leaves and giant purple spotted slugs. They will eat their layer mash but only if they are really, really hungry, otherwise they just turn up their beaks at it.

They seem healthy enough and certainly are laying well so no worries there. I am just curious about others who have RIRs and what your experiences are regarding their diets.

Thanks for your collective replies.