Yew tree over chicken run? Dangerous?

[patandchickens]

Yew is second only to oleander for "most poisonous" honors. A single mouthful can kill a horse. (And, in many cases, *has*.)

Thus it is NOT COMPARABLE to privet, ivy, etc etc etc (all the less-toxic poisonous plants).

Yes, chickens mostly leave poisonous plants alone; but with yew, only a very small amount is required to kill ya, and for chickens IN A RUN (as opposed to free-ranging) it is reasonable to expect them to eat whatever becomes available.

Of course everyone can decide what their personal risk-tolerance philosophy is, I'm just saying, yew is DIFFERENT than other poisonous plants, you can't evaluate the risk the same way.

Pat

 

[cgmccary]

Yes, I agree that Privet & English Ivy are fine. Yes, I agree that Yew falls in the category with some of the mushrooms (a number will kill a human with only a mouthful), and those black & red grasshoppers. Chickens will leave those things alone unless they are very, very hungry.