Japanese knotweed

[Stash13]

I have a ton of this stuff all over my yard. it is a big problem but my chickens love the stuff. I read that it is edible for people so shoulh be ok for chickens right???? does anyone know anything about this stuff.

 

[emys]

It is probably fine, but, just because we can eat it doesn't always mean it is OK for other species. Take chocolate as an example.

 

[Stash13]

thanks was just wondering. i get your point about the choclate. I really wanted to know cause the yard is over run with the stuff and they are the only thing i found that kills it by simply eating it to death.

 

[anderson8505]

According to the USDA site, Japanese Knotweed is not poisonous. It can be safely eaten by humans and animals. It contains vitamin C. It's incredibly hard to get rid of and no known herbacides have been effective in killing this invasive species. Grazing animals can control it's growth, so your chickens are working for you to rid your yard of this invader from Asia!

 

[JackHammer]

I know that this is an old thread but to any still wondering Japanese knotweed seems fine for chickens. It is invasive and hard to kill. I have been feeding it to the chickens as a snack when I get home from work all summer. They are fine and seem to love it.

 

[Bogbabe]

Hahahah. Ya cuz digging it up is a huge psin.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

Instead of cutting it and bringing it to the chickens, your best bet (if possible) is adding the chickens to the area it's growing.

My reasoning is that it can spread from even a small piece of the plant, and if they are around the plant they hopefully will dig up the rhisomes and eventually kill (or at least slow down) the plant.