toxic plants

[nancyo]

Has anyone had problems with their chickens eating toxic plants? I have some in my yard considered toxic according to the internet and my husband just brought home a bunch more bedding plants. Do chickens avoid them if toxic or do they not know? I seems like if they couldn't tell which was which there would be allot of poisoned chickens keeling over out there!

 

[CMV]

They tend to avoid toxic plants in given a choice in the matter. When free-ranging, my birds stay away from the poisonous stuff. I think if toxic plants were present in the run or around the edges of the run then they might be likely to get sampled.

I was horrified the first time I saw the list of toxic plants my chickens had free access to because my yard is full of them. Then I realized that my birds hadn't been poisoned so far and they've been around these plants for years. They just tend to avoid eating them. They may scratch them up, but no ingestion.

 

[nancyo]

Thanks and I know what you mean about 'freaking out"

over that list. I've got some plants that I'm really very fond of and would hate to see them go. My hens have their freedom to roam as they please all day, every day but mostly stay in the yard area tho they could certainly fly over or even squeeze through the fence. SO many dangers out there and I found out many, many moons ago

that crossing my fingers doesn't help.