Herbaceous predators

[StrawberryMoon]

Hello! I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this question. If not, I apologise. I am new to chickens and my first chicks (Faverolles) are four weeks old now. I have settled on a movable coop and run system so they can tour all around my 10 acre property while being reasonably well protected from predators. My big concern is poisonous plants. I have been studying up on plants that are poisonous to chickens and which ones I have on my property. I'll go through each time I move the run and try to rid the area of these plants. But what if I miss one? Do they have any sense of what they shouldn't be eating? Is there any forgiveness in this at all, or if I miss one small hemlock seedling will they eat it and die?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Most animals won't eat poisonous plants, they tend to not taste well. I wouldn't worry unless it was the only thing they were being fed, or had access to. I have what's considered poisonous plants all over the place and none of my animals have been poisoned. I believe it happens by extreme accident, or because the animals aren't being fed enough so they will eat anything. I personally wouldn't worry about it.

 

[StrawberryMoon]

Most animals won't eat poisonous plants, they tend to not taste well. I wouldn't worry unless it was the only thing they were being fed, or had access to. I have what's considered poisonous plants all over the place and none of my animals have been poisoned. I believe it happens by extreme accident, or because the animals aren't being fed enough so they will eat anything. I personally wouldn't worry about it.

Thank you, that's great news! Do you know which poisonous plants you have? I wonder if some are more appealing than others. I have pokeweed, American nightshade, and poison hemlock.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I know we have lots of nightshade, and I have grown Monkshood, and foxglove, to name a few intentionally planted poisonous plants.