Mesquite pods okay?

[Cooptown Lady]

I'm putting up plastic fencing around a large part of my backyard so I can let out my four hens for some exercise and foraging. I don't dare free range due to hawks. However, I do want them to have some time outside their 64 sq. ft. run.

I got the idea from a post here that there's a compromise -- letting the hens out for an hour or so before sunset while being closely supervised.

The area I'm fencing for them, next to their coop, has a mesquite tree in it. Mesquites drop a lot of pods of beans over a 2-3 week period. There's no way I can keep the pods away from the hens. Do you think they will eat the pods and get sick or will they ignore?

 

[springvalley123]

I let my birds free range and there were multiple mesquites, one was huge and many pods on the ground. No problems!
Also, here's the Arizona thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/arizona-chickens.31227/page-7850

 

[Cooptown Lady]

Thanks, springvalley. That's just the reply I was hoping for!

Yeah, after I posted, I remembered the AZ thread where I should've put it.