Chooks Aloud Posted August 19, 2006 Share Posted August 19, 2006 Hello all I am collecting my Eglu and Chicks in a couple of weeks and would appreciate any help existing owners may be able to give me. One of my worries is I know that rhubarb leaves are poisonous, do I need to stop the chicks eating these when I let them roam, or do they just leave them alone? Any replies from anyone who has rhubarb in their garden would be appreciated. Many Thanks Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard and Jo Posted August 19, 2006 Share Posted August 19, 2006 I think it doesnt taste very nice so they would very quickly learn its not edible but I am not sure. That was a fat load of help - sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted August 19, 2006 Share Posted August 19, 2006 I read on another forum that rhubarb leaves are sometimes eaten by chickens as a diy worming measure I have no idea whether or not that's true, but I can tell you for sure that my hens completely ignored my rhubarb leaves for ages, they ate everything else in sight.... literally, but I got fooled into a bit of false security along the lines of "at least the rhubarb'll be fine ", and then they struck.... rhubarb leaves chomped away. Like you I worried along the lines of whether they might have poisoned themselves on them, and stumbled by chance on this thread on the grow your own forum. I'll see if I can find a link for it. This is the thread where I found the rhubarb leaf comments, http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grapevine/showthread.php?t=608 Just in case any of you have any time to surf yet more forums It's an interesting place to visit though.... I only guest there from time to time, but have picked up some useful tips on gardening and chicken keeping. Oh, and I forgot to say that my hens showed absolutely no ill effects from their rhubarb leaf feast. They have been wormed again since though.... just in case Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bradders Posted August 19, 2006 Share Posted August 19, 2006 Mine eat rhubarb leaves too - they started before I wormed them and seem to have developed a taste for it since chomping through the rest of my veggies! Good job I have a number of thriving crowns! Niether hen suffered any ill effects... except for may be making them even more precocious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted August 19, 2006 Share Posted August 19, 2006 I actually tried feeding it to them before I knew it was poisonous and they refused to eat it (phew!) You could maybe fence it off if you are worried. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted August 20, 2006 Share Posted August 20, 2006 My chooks completley ignore the rhubarb so I've never worried. Sounds like they can handle it anyway so it's your rhubarb that should be worried Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
