Poisonus plants

[Lucylou]

I know there are certain plants that are poisonus to chooks (Tim posted a list some while ago). Does anyone know if they instinctively know what not to eat?

My chooks live in an enclosed run & at last small shoots of Spring are poking their way through & inside the run are daffodils & rhubard left over from before.Despite them scratching everything else up these are managing to grow. The older birds I had last year didn't bother with them but they were older & had previously free ranged so I assumed they 'knew' :?

So far the daffs are about 6-8" high & they don't seem to have touched them, there are a few where the top edges have a nibbled look but I don't think this is from being eaten more from being walked on when they were poking through. The rhubard isn't having much success growing but tiny leaves are showing. Shall I leave them?

 

[dawn]

Oh no, another thing to worry about. I didn't know daffodils were poisonous and my chickens have been free ranging around mine which are just starting to flower. They haven't nibbled them, so perhaps they do just know.

 

[Tim]

I was worried when my chooks suddenly stripped whole Rhubarb leaves one day - but they were fine. They seem to like new rhubarb leaves (even though I had listed Rhubarb as one of the chicken friendly plants that they wouldn't touch )

There's a list of plants that are poisonous to chickenson the pk site - There are some of these in my garden that the chooks don't ever bother with, they seem to be pretty clued up on what isn't good for them.

 

[Anonymous]

Chooks as a rule do avoid eating poisonous plants,but,for total safety,personally I would remove the plants rather than having one chook eat them,having not read the books that say they shouldn't .

 

[Anne W]

I could be wrong but I think as far as bulbs go , it is the actual bulbs that are poisonous - but don't take that as gospel. :?

 

[Anonymous]

I know it's the bulbs that are poisonous to dogs,cats and rabbits,but,like Anne,not sure with chooks.