Single hen

[wooky]

Hi there, I'm a newbie chook-keeper in waiting, my eglu arrives in early May (how am I going to wait so long?)... anyway, I've been reading up on the great threads in this forum and feel fairly prepared but I have the first question of what will, I'm sure, be many....

 

I've decided on the best spot for my chooks to reside but it's between a large rhubarb and even larger hydrangea bush - then I read tonight that both are poisonous to chickens. Do I have to chop the plants down or will the chooks be sensible (!) and avoid them? Any advice welcome.

[Egluntyne]

They generally know to avoid plants that are poisonous. Mine are giving the daffodils a wide berth at the mo.

 

Perhaps you could put some netting up, to provide a bit of a barrier?

[Olly]

Rhubarb is supposed to be poisonous. Mine have been snacking on it with no ill-effects, but if it's going to be within reach of their run, might be worth moving it.

 

I wouldn't think the hydrangea would be so attractive as fleshy green rhubarb leaves. Generally they're fairly sensible about knowing what to avoid.

[wooky]

That's good to know, many thanks!

[alih]

I had some lovely rhubarb on my chicken patch and before I knew it was supposedly poisonous the gannets had snaffled the lot with no ill-effects at all.....

[Mrs Kettle]

Humph! Mine have given the daffodils a wide berth in that they haven't actually eaten them. Squashed them dustbathing, tho...

 

Mine too have eaten rhubarb with no ill effects, but mostly just ignore the poisonous ones - they have ivy up one side of their walk-in run which they never touch.

[alih]

Mine have eaten the ivy too... as far as they can reach!

[abwsco]

Mine have eaten the ivy too... as far as they can reach!

 

Mine eat the ivy as well

[Dolly]

Ours have easy access to a pot of rhubarb but don't even look at it if that helps!

[Snowy]

Rhubarb and potato plants have the same kind of effects - they are toxic in large quantities and can cause long term liver and kidney damage. So they may have no ill effects at present, but probably wise not to allow them to gorge on it.

[Omletina Kyckling]

Mine have been eating my rhubarb leaves too, but I notice that they are eating the soft bits and leaving all of the leaf veins and I seem to remember reading that the veins are the most poisonous bits...