Ortho Poison Ivy spray and chickens??

[Jennn27]

My chickens have figured out how to clear the fence and get out into the big yard. Which is fine, because we have a big place and they always come back. BUT, the problem is that we are constantly battling poison ivy and oak around our place. If I spray the Ortho spray on the poison ivy and oak in the evening after they are locked up, will it harm them the next morning when they are out and pecking at the ground for bugs? Everyone but my oldest is allergic to the stuff, and I actually have it now, so I really want to kill the nasty mess!

 

[Jennn27]

No one??

 

[Ridgerunner]

First I’d read the label on that spray and see what warnings are there. Then I’d see what the active ingredient in the spray is and do a bit of internet research in it. I hate to make any recommendations without knowing what the active ingredient is and all that.

I would not expect it to cause a problem though if you are selective in where you spray. Don’t drench the entire back yard just get the poison ivy or oak and try to limit where you spray. Some of those herbicides are pretty nasty but dosage is important too. It is highly unlikely they will eat enough of that spray to harm themselves.

I agree you need to get rid of that poison ivy and oak. You have to set priorities and the risk to you and our kids far outweighs the risk to the chickens. You probably will have to spray several times to wipe it out, and even then the birds can spread seeds and reintroduce it. It is a pain in many ways.

Good luck!

 

[Jennn27]

Thank you! I have researched some, and I was planning to read the bottle. Lol. Just wondering if anyone had any personal experience with it.

 

[drumstick diva]

I have only used Roundup for poison ivy and tough brush killer. Ortho stuff has never worked for me or spectracide. I get the concentrate and use with a hose sprayer bottle. It's cheaper and easier this way if you have some area to treat.

I only do the just outside the perimeter of my yard - because we are next to the utility easement with unchecked growth. The Round up stuff has always worked for me but it is not a rapid kill. If says something like the weeds will start to show affects in a few hours. I have never seen that. I usually get all

for a week or so, thinking I wasted my money on old product ( Walmart tends to bring out the old stuff it didn't sell from the year or so before) and you don't know unless you email the company with the lot numbers.

Just hang on - then you will start to notice severe browning of treated weeds, and poof one day they are brown and blackened to the ground. You probably would get a quicker kill rate if you can spray when the plants are still small. Our weather stays cold, rainy and erratic for so long, weeds are pretty tall before I can zap them. It also causes me to use a lot more spray due to size. It will also kill English buckthorn (bush or saplings) wild berry vines, etc. etc.

I think it is safe to walk around anyway once the spray has dried. I don't think chickens would nibble on any of that except wild berries. You could call the no. on the product and get advice from them.

 

[Jennn27]

Thank you! I have used the Ortho before and it worked for us. But, I will sure to try the Round-up if it doesn't work this time!