Rhubarb

[JoyAnna]

My ducklings (4 khaki campbells) are still inside at about 3 weeks while their coop is still being built. When they are grown I want them to roam the yard during the day since we are in the PNW with huge quantities of slugs invading the veggie gardens. Anyway, today I came home with a rhubarb plant. I understand that only the stems can be eaten by anyone, human or ducks. So will the ducks try to eat it? Or do I have to build a fence around the plant?

 

[Mum]

I have rhubarb growing in my garden and my ducks and chickens have shown not the slightest bit of interest in it

 

[Oregon Blues]

My ducks and geese don't eat rhubarb, but I keep a very close eye on the plant and any signs of nibbles and I will fence it off.

A lot depends upon what else is available to eat. If there is noting to eat, they will eat things they shouldn't. When the grass and weeds are all gone, my ducks and geese will eat bark off the trees. So the fruit trees must be individually fenced. They actually ate my irises last year after they'd finished doing their weeding job. Nothing eats iris, not even the deer. So, the ducks will really nibble on things that don't taste good when nothing else is available.

 

[Tivona]

My ducks and geese never ate any of my rhubarb but they did do some damage to the plants last year sitting under the big leaves for shade. They kept snuggling really close the the main stalks and then when they got up it would break the stems a bit. The plants never had a chance to grow good strong stems as the ducks started doing it early in the season. Also they made the leaves pretty ratty looking by hiding under them every day.

This spring I have them fenced off so the plants can grow better stems before the ducks start hiding under the leaves. But some time this summer I plan on removing the fencing and seeing how well the ducks do leaving the poor plants alone.

 

[Amiga]

My experience is similar to Oregon Blues. With enough good forage, the ducks don't bother rhubarb, but they will go after it if it is the only green thing around. I have mine fenced off just to be sure.