Hi MomKat,
So in theory Kudzu is supposed to be great for chickens. I have tried to get ours to eat it but have had no luck. Our rabbits on the other hand love the fresh shoots and stems. All parts of Kudzu are edible except for the seeds/pods. It is a member of the pea family and will take nitrogen and deposit it into the soil as a green mulch. The best book on the subject of uses is called "The book of Kudzu". I found a used copy from I believe 1984.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Book-Of-Kudzu-Culinary/dp/0394734270
The leaves are supposed to have a protein content of around 35%. The root is highly medicinal and an excellent starch. It is considered to be one of the best if not the best starch known to man. It can be used in place of agar or other thickeners for candies, soups, jelly etc. It is a foundational plant for medicine for both the Japanese and Chinese dating back thousands of years. The root is used to treat alcoholism and diabetes. It is considered an alkalizing plant. If you know anything of holistic health most bacteria cannot survive in an alkaline environment so eating it will naturally cleanse and tonify your body systems.
The leaves and shoots can be blanched and eaten like spinach. It has multiple bioflavenoids in it so this makes it taste good. I have yet to try any as it only grows near us off busy highways so I am waiting to find some where the possibility of poisons in the system are non-existent.
Farmers were paid in the 30's and 40's to plant it for fodder. It actually saved the arid soil of the south by holding it in place with the extensive root systems and also the effects of the nitrogen capturing. Typically they would suggest planting between rows of corn on 10' between the kudzu and the corn on either side. On a crop rotation basis you can heavily graze it with goats to keep it in check. They love to eat kudzu and it requires no fertilizer or watering. The extensive root systems are a huge carbohydrate source that is being looked at for biofuels as well as a source not unlike potatoes for food. In other words you will never be without food as long as you have kudzu nearby.
Typical soil was found through testing to be suitable without additional fertilizer for 10 years! after the growth of kudzu vine. 2nd year vines can be used for cordage and baskets. If you pound it and wash the outer membrane you will find a very translucent vine with unreal strength. This has been used to make kimona fabrics in Japan and is considered one of the best fibers. I would probably consider it to be better than hemp in this regard. Rope, fabric, food, animal fodder etc are all uses for this amazing plant and yet it is considered a noxious weed.
Due to the ways it has to be cut and baled most farmers don't use it as a green fodder. There is one guy who runs a dairy farm that only feeds kudzu. I think it is called kudzu farms or something like that. The blossoms of the plant can be used for jelly and jams and other confections. Over 85% of all Japanese candies use kudzu starch to make. Additionally the root starch can be used to make alcohols or perhaps wine from the flowers although I am not sure on the last part.
So in my opinion this is one really amazing plant. As you can attest it can easily become a real pita due to the voracious growth but some goats can easily keep it under control. If you overgraze it enough the root stock will become depleted and eventually die although the use of poisons seems to be the best method that people have chosen even though they have little effect to this plant. The other issues of course is that animals have a hard time grazing up trees.
In any case I hope that helps.
