Free ranging around citrus trees: is this a danger?

[Squeakles]

We have just started free ranging our ladies in our garden, and we have a mandarin and a lemon tree, both currently with fruit. I know feeding chickens citrus is a no no, so I'm wondering if we need to put up wire around these trees? Or do they know that eating them is bad, and just stay away from them?

 

[Pugsabi]

Don't worry. Your birds will be fine. The no citrus thing is a myth. More than likely they just won't eat it, but if they do it won't hurt them.

https://thefrugalchicken.com/can-chickens-eat-citrus/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/why-cant-you-feed-your-chicken-citrus.274883/

 

[Squeakles]

Thank you for your reply. That's really helpful. And it's definitely reassured me a lot. I was not looking forward to having to cage the trees as I was wanting thet girls to scratch and poop around them to help maintain them.

 

[Orpingtons43]

They should be just fine! Nothing to worry about!!

 

[Pugsabi]

Thank you for your reply. That's really helpful. And it's definitely reassured me a lot. I was not looking forward to having to cage the trees as I was wanting thet girls to scratch and poop around them to help maintain them.

No worries! My girls were let out to free-range for the first time today and the first thing they did was eat some of the leaves off our pear tree. So guess what I had to Google in a hurry.