First time garden and complete fail.

[dmc129]

I want to let my hens at it and am worried if anything can hurt them.

 

[chiques chicks]

I can't say nothing will hurt them, but I slow my chickens free range after I'm done harvesting. I actually have my garden right next to the chicken run and have a piece cut out I can open when I want to leave them at it. My garden has a high fence to keep critters out. The chickens love it, they clean up the weds and plants, fertilize the soil, and turn the dirt. Win win.

 

[dmc129]

Tomatoes that are weak and still green are okay?

 

[chiques chicks]

There are lists of what is safe and what isn't. I don't look at the lists. I have a plant I know is p poison that grows in their run and they don't eat it.

I believe tomato plants may be on the dangerous list, but mine live tomatoes! I think they eat them green, red or rotten. I also think mine leave the plants alone.

Mine eat small quantities of things I think are on the no list, but after 4 years, who am I to stop them. It seems to be more an issue of eating too much of certain things that cause the problems. It shouldn't be their only food. Cabbage is an example of a treat that can be harmful if overdone, I believe. Fine as a treat, not good as a primary dirt

 

[shortgrass]

Chickens are actually pretty smart when it comes to eating things that could be dangerous... Most toxins have to build up in order to cause harm, ie, rhubarb leaves; it takes quite a bit to get a toxic dose of oxalic acids...

Tomatoes are members of the nightshade family; they are poisonous when green, but mine don't bother them until they get RIPE, same with the leaves; they don't eat them. I have numerous known poisonous flowers and herbs, some especially for the chickens(wormwood) and they either don't touch it (larkspur) or sample and leave(nettles).

They WILL however, scratch in the mulch, so be prepared for dirt baths and mulch parties

 

[Arielle]

Most toxic plants are bitter is my u nderstanding. Even my horses and sheep do not touch night shade.

 

[copper2]

Sorry about your garden, happened to me last year, now my garden is thriving!