How much should I worry about my pullets ingesting weird things while freeranging?

[charlotte-and-the-bees]

We've only been in this house for a few months now, so still learning the lay of the land with some of the plants. It seems that the majority of things growing here are toxic, of course. Cherry, wild cherry, cherry laurel, azaleas, rhodes, etc. I lopped down two rhododendron bushes and I'm wanting to redo the space with some plants they can forage on safely. I've removed the lower leaves from everything but of course stuff does drop on the ground. The solutions are either to tractor, not let them free range, or just let them at it. How worried should I be about their foraging? So far they seem to avoid most of the bad things, but I'm worried they'll find something particularly harmful delicious.

 

[KMedley]

Following! Great question

 

[Punkybrewster]

Ive had chickens most of my life in several different homes and states. I have never had a chicken poison themselves by eating toxic plants.

Actually, ive never even worried about it. They seem to avoid what is toxic and eat what they like.

Im sure there are stories of poisoning, but ive never had an issue.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Mine don't seem interested in toxic plants. They're more likely to pick up random junk like screws, bits of plastic, styrofoam, etc.

 

[The Happster]

Mine don't seem interested in toxic plants. They're more likely to pick up random junk like screws, bits of plastic, styrofoam, etc.

x2!!! Exactly the same with mine.
They don't touch toxic plants.
They love certain plants, much to my horror, such as the hollyhocks.
It's never done them any harm, but it's done the plant plenty!

The only things they will eat that are harmful are things like polystyrene ect.
Caught two of them tucking into some just the other day.

 

[AquaDuck]

We've only been in this house for a few months now, so still learning the lay of the land with some of the plants. It seems that the majority of things growing here are toxic, of course. Cherry, wild cherry, cherry laurel, azaleas, rhodes, etc. I lopped down two rhododendron bushes and I'm wanting to redo the space with some plants they can forage on safely. I've removed the lower leaves from everything but of course stuff does drop on the ground. The solutions are either to tractor, not let them free range, or just let them at it. How worried should I be about their foraging? So far they seem to avoid most of the bad things, but I'm worried they'll find something particularly harmful delicious.

Poultry seems to be good at finding out what's bad for them as toxic things will be distasteful to animals. They have to taste it first though, so if you have anything that's deadly in one bite, you should definitely remove it permanently. The only toxic plant I have are lupines, and I often see young birds take a nibble, but never the older ones.
In the end it's up to you if you want to keep them away or let them figure it out on their own. There *is* of course a risk one will disregard their taste buds and get poisoned, but then again free-ranging have other risks like predator attack too.

 

[Ryguy3684]

There is always a chance, but mine, too, avoid plants they're not supposed to eat. I had one of mine eat a strip of caulk that fell into the ground. It passed, but could have been bad. Screws and sharp bits are the only dangers I worry about as they can perforate going through the body. Just try to find any screws, or building materials you use. I have a large, flat, magnet, on a broom handle, that I can sweep over the ground when I'm cleaning up any construction on the coop.

 

[gooberhouse]

ours LOVE eating styrofoam too! drives me nuts!

Mine don't seem interested in toxic plants. They're more likely to pick up random junk like screws, bits of plastic, styrofoam, etc.

 

[Katiechickscreations]

Ive never had an issue with toxic plants and they usually spit out wierd objects. I have a magnet strip that I use by the garage so the dont injest small screws or anything like that.

 

[charlotte-and-the-bees]

ours LOVE eating styrofoam too! drives me nuts!

Oh my goodness, ours have eaten that pest insulation a few times and love it. So far no issues, but I imagine it's not good for them.