morning glory - ok for ducks?

[davekrista]

My kids brought home some morning glory seeds from school, so I have a bunch and I was thinking about planting along the fence of the duck pen. Is it ok for the ducks to eat? Its not poisonous or anything to them right? I want to grow them so they grow up the fencing but not sure if ok for them to eat.

 

[easttxchick]

I THINK Morning Glory is a member of the Nightshade family. If so, it is not good for your ducks to eat.

 

[davekrista]

Quote:
hmm i will have to look into that before i plant them. I planted my garden today and was going to do the morning glory too, good thing i was too tired after i did the garden. Thanks for the info, i am googling it right now. I don't have a very green thumb but figured i would try anyway, so I will definately look into it.

 

[davekrista]

Quote:
The nightshade is also called the Solanaceae family, and morning glory is part of the Convolvulaceae or bindweed family. So does that mean its ok?

 

[easttxchick]

It says the seeds are poisonous, so I wouldn't risk it.

 

[jason_mazzy]

aren't tomatos a member of the nightshade family?

 

[jason_mazzy]

Members of the nightshade family include:
•potatoes
•tomatoes
•bell peppers
•eggplant
•tobacco
•petunias
•mandrake
•hot peppers (capsicum)
•wolfberries

Solanaceae is also known as the potato family.

http://www.suite101.com/content/nightshades-a59252

 

[toadbriar]

I know some parts of the Morning Glory plant have hallucinogenic/psychedelic properties. I don't know if birds are sensitive to those compounds, and I don't know if those compounds are found throughout the leaves etc. Depending on how much access to forage your birds have, would it even be an appealing plant in the first place? I have goats, geese, and ducks, and there are some things they just don't even glance at, because there is tasty clover or raspberry leaves to eat instead.

Nasturtium is a lovely climbing annual with similarly large leaves, and lots of pretty blossoms. It's edible even for people, the leaves and flowers are gorgeous on salads. Be careful to get the climbing variety, there are lots of dwarf versions of the plant for people who want it for flower beds instead of vines.

If you wanted a perennial that isn't toxic, there are zillions of fantastic climbing roses out there, even thornless varieties, with all sorts of colors and kinds of blooms, from little simple wild roses to big frothy cabbage roses. There are even varieties cultivated especially for the rose hips, the 'fruit' that comes after the flowers fade.

I've learned more about plants since I got my animals!

 

[Rosebud 18]

It says that tomatoes are in the nightshade family. My ducks would eat my tomatoes off the vines before I could get them. I finally started pulling the larger green ones to let ripen on the window sill. So tomatoes won't hurt them. I don't know about morning glories but I would play it safe. How about a bean vine or honeysuckle. Mine love the honeysuckle.

 

[benjoycei]

No Toxic!!! Seeds are toxic to chickens and boy do they produce alot of seeds!