Spreading Pellitory

[snorkelies]

So our yard is TOTALLY overrun with spreading pellitory http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parietaria_judaica, which the chickens absolutely love eating.

My husband has become recently paranoid about the allergenic qualities of the pellitory, so wants to entirely eradicate it from our yard (which is funny, because I am the one who is usually excessively concerned about health and safety issues in our yard...).

The plan is to dig it all up, over and over and over again for years until it is somewhat under control. My questions are:

1) Is there any reason not to feed it to the chickens as we dig it up? My husband thinks we should just get it out of the yard and into the yard waste bin - not compost it or feed it to the chickens.

2) There is a small amount growing under our deck that can not be easily dug up, so my husband is considering using a spot treatment of roundup (pull the plant off as much as possible, then paint the round up on the stump that is left). The chickens would never free range under the deck (it is closed off so they can't get under it), and our kids would never go under there either for that matter... How much of a concern would overspray, etc be if he carefully painted it on the stumps? I am hoping contamination of surrounding bodies of water (like the Pacific Ocean...) will not be a concern based on the very small amount we are planning on using. The rainy season is just about over here, so it should be dry for the next 4 or 5 months.

3) Should we spread corn gluten meal over the major problem areas after we dig it up and before the rains start this coming winter to reduce reseeding? Corn gluten meal should be safe for free ranging chickens, correct?

 

[dawnchick]

http://www.poultryhelp.com/toxicplants.html

Your link came up as no info available for me. Above is a list of plants toxic to chickens, and yours is not on it. Mine eat some types of plants and leave others alone. Personally, I wouldn't worry about something they eat so enthusiastically.

 

[snorkelies]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parietaria_judaica
Sorry, the comma got included in the link

After talking to him again, I think he is more concerned about the seeds from the pellitory getting spread further than hurting the chickens. I would guess the chickens would do a pretty good job of taking care of the seeds, though...

 

[dawnchick]

Quote:
I would guess you are right about this. If you want to grow grass in their pen, you have to keep them out til it is up and strong, or they will eat all the seed.

 

[NitaAZ]

The roundup will not work if you just paint it on the stump. Roundup has to be put on leaves. It can only work if it is put on a leaf that is producing and moving sugar. The stump isn't making sugar, so nothing will happen.

http://www.jackeden.com/cgi-bin/sheets/viewdata.cgi?id=985745502

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

The roundup will not work if you just paint it on the stump

Actually it will.
I've done it that way before.
It works especially well on Poison Ivy​

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I think the corn gluten usually works well, to prevent new plants from sprouting from seeds. It shouldn't be a problem for the chickens.

If you want to knock down top growth, spraying vinegar on weeds works, too. Plus, you can use it anywhere, you don't have to worry if the chickens eat it or your children are exposed to it. The foliage wilts and dies. That would prevent any of the existing plants from going to seed, that you haven't pulled out, yet. I've used it on stinging nettles, here, when I didn't have time to dig right then. The wild birds seed nettles all over our place, along with deadly nightshade and bramble.

I don't think it would be a problem if the chickens ate plants that hadn't been sprayed. Although wild birds spread certain seeds, I think chickens do a better job of ginding up seed in their diet, than wild birds do. Long term, I think it's a great thing if your chickens like eating this plant. They can search out any plants you miss or that spring up and eat them for you.