Milkweed and monarch caterpillars?

[Brightdays]

I saw one of our hens eating young monarch caterpillars and even pecked a hole in a milkweed leaf to eat one.

Anything I should be watching for? I’m not even sure which hen as they all look the same to me.

I am going to fence off the milkweed. I really never thought they would eat the caterpillars or the plant. New hen owners, I’m still learning.
Thanks

 

[eggsandhens]

Are you concerned for the hen? Or the monarchs?

 

[Brightdays]

Are you concerned for the hen? Or the monarchs?

Both. We have a really nice patch of milkweed this year and I feel bad that the caterpillars are being eaten. I’ve never seen this many. I also don’t want the hens to get sick. We only have 4.

 

[eggsandhens]

Both. We have a really nice patch of milkweed this year and I feel bad that the caterpillars are being eaten. I’ve never seen this many. I also don’t want the hens to get sick. We only have 4.

I’ve never heard of a chicken dying from eating a monarch butterfly/caterpillar, so I would assume it’s fine, but milkweed can be harmful/poisonous to chickens, so I would definitely protect the plant