Woody nightshade and electric fencing

[kelidei]

My chickens cannot free range at the moment--- but I am thinking about getting a movable electric poultry fence to keep chickens in and dogs out. First has anyone used this type of fencing? Does it really work? Advertising says it does but I am looking for real life experience--- secondly, I have Woody Nightshade in various places around our property. I know Deadly Nightshade is ---well--- deadly but it seems that the Woody variety is not quite so toxic and very bitter--- does any one have experience with this brand of Nightshade? Will chickens eat it? If I have to get rid of it it appears an herbicide is the only solution since it is a noxious and aggressive plant--- I have not used any herbicides or pesticides on my property since getting my chickens--- not sure I want to but don't know what else to do--- any suggestions? Thank y'all!

 

[feathersnuggles]

Don't worry. My chickens eat all the ripe (and partly ripe) nightshade berries around our yard. If chickens can free-range, they know what they can eat, and they know when they can eat it. I only worry about chickens that can't free-range and forage a wide variety of plants, because chickens DO have a desperate need to eat a variety of weeds and greens and they will eat most anything, in desperation. I've known people who penned up their hens and tossed in the same set of weeds for them, day after day. In that case, there's potential for poisoning. You have to work harder & provide a wide variety of weeds, because if they aren't offered, penned chickens can get a toxic overload of something. My hens run around & nibble the following "poisonous" plants around our property: honeysuckle, buttercup, nightshade, laurel berries, cedar fronds, etc... but they also eat little bits of fennel, dead nettles, sunchokes and lots of grass, weeping maple leaves, chickweed, miners lettuce, dandelions, rocket, and kale from the garden (to name just a few I've been able to identify). I've stopped worrying. Supposedly chickens hate the mints and onions? But lo, my hens nibble tiny "medicinal" bits of both these plants, from time to time. They taste everything, even the rhododendrons and the rosemary plants.

I don't know about the electric fence, not having used one. I DO know a friend who installed one after a number of her birds were killed by raccoons and other things. Once they hit the fence, felt the electrical charge, screamed in pain...those creatures never came back. She swears by it, and can leave her chickens in there without worrying for their safety (except from above).

Don't spray your nightshade. I've even eaten the berries (after I saw the chickens gorging themselves) - and I'm still here I think, LOL! It's pretty easy to pull out if you want to remove some. In our neck of the woods probably the only thing I'm nervous about is deadly hemlock. Now that's one thing the chickens will NOT touch. Me neither. I pull it out, tho. I don't spray.

 

[Imp]

I pretty much agree with feathersnuggles, except I don't think eating it would be a good idea. Although it takes more than a taste to hurt you. I like nightshade, attractive vine, pretty flowers and jewel red berries. I had it growing on the fence in the shade and made the mistake of telling the neighbor what it was. She got concerned about her dog, and that ended that. Lol!

Imp

 

[feathersnuggles]

Quote:
Dogs are not as smart as chickens! That reminds me. Speaking of poisonous plants, I have a TON of lily-of-the-valley; they spread like mad. Supposedly, if you have a dog they say you should remove all lily-of-the-valley plants from your yard, because it's very toxic and can poison a dog who, apparently, will eat at it. I've left it alone, because there is so much of it and because I like how the flowers smell. The chickens dig around the stuff, tearing it up for worms. I don't think they have tasted much of it, even though it looks pretty ragged.

I've eaten quite a few ripe nightshade berries, btw. I am a little deranged.