Expectant chicken mommy has question about plants

[zippitydooda]

Hello,

As every expectant parent begins to survey their living quarters making their home child-proof, I have begun looking at our property for potential hazards in our yard. I began to wonder what plants would be harmful to my little darlings, and thought I might fence off those areas before they are allowed out of the brooder.

I found a few websites that give long lists of plants to avoid, but I'm kind of clueless when they give the "official" names. Any advice? (pictures would be helpful for me...lol) I suppose I'm asking for info on anything deadly.

Also, when buying shavings for bedding, are there different types? I don't want to find that I bought something that might make them sick.

31 days until my "due date".....hehehe (June 2 they arrive)!

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Anybody?

 

[debilorrah]

What are you hatching that is taking 31 days??? OH and

By the way, I have no clue about the plants, but pine shavings are best. DO NOT use cedar shavings - it is toxic to the chicks. Sorry you got buried so fast!

 

[zippitydooda]

LOL, I'm not hatching anything... I ordered some day old chicks from Meyer hatchery & they will be shipped June 1.

Thanks for the welcome! I am betting I will be spending a lot of time on this forum learning how to best care for our babies.

On a side note, did anyone else start thinking about chickens 24/7 after deciding to "adopt"? I mean, I'm even dreaming about them! It feels like someone told me I'm pregnant and I have to plan, plan, plan!

 

[BarredBuff]

I dont know of any toxic plants for chickens. But I do know not to use cedar chips in the brooder, but to use pine chips. They can be found at TSC along with your other brooding supplies.

 

[san415]

Hi
I have a lot of plants in my yard. Last year my hens had access to the whole yard and I had no problems with them eating any thing that could hurt them. New or spring emerging plants need to be protected they will rip them to shreds. This year they have a large fenced area they have to stay in, and the plants that I have that do best with them are Evergreen shrubs and trees. I also know that wild birds love evergreens, the berries can be eaten and they offer a hiding place and shade. I have to replenish the soil under them every once in a while due to the hens scratching in it. They also have a weeping cherry tree in the hen yard, they jump and grab what blooms that are within range. I planted clover to cover bare areas but I'm not sure how that is going to work yet. I also put 3 pots of herbs in the hen yard, they tore up the cilantro and the parsley. The basil they didn't touch at all. So I may try some other strong smelling herbs in their yard too.

Hope this helps. I am not sure if hens will eat plants that will harm them if they have a large area to roam around in. Mine did not. But I wouldn't put anything in the hen yard that could harm them. I think in a smaller area they wouldn't act as normal as they would having the whole yard to roam in. My yard does have plant that would harm them and they dont touch them, like rhubarb and some nightshade vines and even some darn poison Ivy.

 

[Carpe DiHen]

I was worried about the plants in my yard too so I called an avian vet and she said as long as the plants aren't in their run, they will be fine. She said if they have a good space to free range, then they will not eat the poisonous plants.

I was worried about Vinca vines that are in the yard where they will free range. I also read that azalias are poisonous, but someone on the forem said their chickens range all around azalias and are fine.

I think most the plants listed poisonous means do not FEED them the plants.

Bedding; I am using pine horse stall pellets and they work great. No smell, very little dust and clean.

I ordered my chicks in January and didn't get them till April. I understand how hard it is to wait!

Good luck and best wishes!