What did you do in the garden today?

[lazy gardener]

My girls make a bee line for the rhubarb leaves when I let them in to glean the garden. they only seem to crave the leaves in the fall. I'm wondering if they know that rhubarb leaves have antihelminthic properties. Yes, almost everything you ever read has warnings of dire consequences if rhubarb leaves are consumed. It seems that the chickens don't read that stuff, and know better.

 

[chickmom3941]

We had a big 2 year old rhubarb in one of our raised beds. Last fall when we let the flock into the garden to clean up and till, they ate it entirely and dug up the roots. They didn't do that the year before and I was under the impression rhubarb could be toxic to them. It never recovered so we'll have to replant next year and keep it off limits to the girls.

Yes, I've also heard that the leaves are toxic. So your chickens were okay after eating your rhubarb plants? We purposely planted ours outside of the fenced area that the chickens free-range in, so the bad little babies couldn't get at it. They are a total wrecking crew to plants they like - everything they like has to have a fence protecting it or it will be savaged by them. Just typical chickens.

 

[chickmom3941]

My girls make a bee line for the rhubarb leaves when I let them in to glean the garden. they only seem to crave the leaves in the fall. I'm wondering if they know that rhubarb leaves have antihelminthic properties. Yes, almost everything you ever read has warnings of dire consequences if rhubarb leaves are consumed. It seems that the chickens don't read that stuff, and know better.

Antihelminthic properties? What's that? Guess I should have paid more attention in science class!

 

[dan26552]

I think for only starting with eleven plants and it being the first year they're doing pretty well. I potted 53 runners. Plus I know there were at least 80 plants last month so that means I have somewhere between 133 and 150+

 

[Pensmaster]

We had a big 2 year old rhubarb in one of our raised beds. Last fall when we let the flock into the garden to clean up and till, they ate it entirely and dug up the roots. They didn't do that the year before and I was under the impression rhubarb could be toxic to them. It never recovered so we'll have to replant next year and keep it off limits to the girls.

My chickens did the same. Loved them. Figured the hens would die. Nope. So this year I've started over with two plants.

 

[GardenTillers44]

My girls make a bee line for the rhubarb leaves when I let them in to glean the garden. they only seem to crave the leaves in the fall. I'm wondering if they know that rhubarb leaves have antihelminthic properties. Yes, almost everything you ever read has warnings of dire consequences if rhubarb leaves are consumed. It seems that the chickens don't read that stuff, and know better.

There are numerous BYC threads over the years on chickens eating rhubarb without apparent adverse effects. One poster noted they may have some gastrointestinal discomfort but we wouldn't know unless the poops reflected it. Maybe the leaves lose a little of their oxalate potency as they age. We had the same experience you did in the fall.

As for the chickens knowing what's best for them, I'll gladly donate some rhubarb to the deworming process!

 

[lazy gardener]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helminths

 

[CapricornFarm]

I worked in the garden today! Planted all the zinnias i started from seed. And an azalea and forsythia bush got planted in the flower area. I dug up the 2 areas where all the beans got eaten by the varmint and planted more peas and beans. They will probably freeze out but i have hopes.

 

[lazy gardener]

We've had 2" of much needed rain in the last 48 hours. Such a blessing.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Antihelminthic properties? What's that? Guess I should have paid more attention in science class!

Against worms = anti helmetic