AJuff Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Cooked or uncooked? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 I wouldn't risk it. Whatever happens don't give them any rhubarb leaves, because they are very poisonous. But even the stems are poisonous if taken in large quantities. According to this page http://www.rhubarbinfo.com/rhubarb-poison.html 145 pounds of rhubarb would cause death in a human. So I reckon that under two pounds of rhubarb would kill a hen. If you do give it, I would cook it first and only use small quantities, as it is bound to cause diahorrea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Mine pinched the rhubarb when they broke into the fruit cage and didn't suffer any illness but mine are gannets that eat anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 the only thing I had growing in the run area when the girls arrived was a massive rhubarb plant... before I realised it was supposedly poisonous they had snaffled the lot...it hasn't even dared push up any stalks since and they are all fine and dandy a year on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Mine have now eaten all the ivy (their first choice was bindweed) as I guess they hadn't been informed it was poisonous. (One very healthy nettle stands tall.) At first I thought they were just picking off the bugs from the ivy as someone in the forum had suggested, but then--shock, horror --twas all gone! This evening the boldest two (Biccie and Toffee) decided to hop up into the kitchen. Since the garden (read weeds) has been wiped out, desperate times = desperate hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 I would still advise henkeepers to be cautious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisastyal Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 just too add my views to this i was lead to believe that although rhubarb leaves are poisonous to most other animals its actually good for chickens, it has a medicinal affect???????? i gave some to mine but they didnt really take to them but they did eat them and they are still around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 Or you could keep it all for yourself and make a nice crumble? Or some rhubarb schnapps! Much better idea than feeding it to chooks Mrs B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
