rhubarb?

[Cocotte]

I plan to let my chickens free range in the yard when they are big enough, but have some rhubarb plants.. Will they eat the rhubarb leaves, or do they know enough not to eat toxic plants?

 

[Imp]

Quote:
The very first day I had chickens they stripped ALL the leaves from the rhubarb plants, in seconds. I was pretty sure my chicken owning days were gonna end in hours. Lo & behold they were just fine. I'm not recommending it, but that's my experience. I encourage you to try to keep them seperate. And NO they do not know enough to not eat toxic or hazardous items. Although it is not common that people post that their chickens made poor dietary choices.

Imp

 

[Cocotte]

Thanks! We'll fence off the rhubarb before letting them loose in the yard.

 

[calicokat]

Ack! Thanks for the heads up -- I'll fence mine off tomorrow so I'll still be able to make a pie!!