4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Omletina Kyckling]

....I do hope wisteria is ok for chickens as my girlies seem to have developed a taste for it. They've built a chain whereby they line up and take turns to jump up and pull at the flowers - the more agile ones (leghorns, cresteds) are doing this whilst the more sedate, matronly ones (bluebelle, welsummer) are waiting for bits to fall their way.

 

Do you think we'll get purple, scented eggs?!

[Omletina Kyckling]

OOps, I've found listings which say it is poisonous such as this:

digestive upset caused by alkaloid toxins. Nausea, repeated vomiting, stomach pains, severe diarrhoea, dehydration and collapse

 

I wonder if this is like rhubarb though, because that is always listed as poisonous and mine ate a lot of rhubarb leaves this year, and they ate the wisteria last year and were fine.

 

Silly girls....I'll have to keep an eye on them....

[katieadams]

Do you think we'll get purple, scented eggs?!

I hope so, because ours would be parsley flavoured then!!

[Mazzarina]

They do seem to have an instinct for avoiding things that will do them real harm. I'm wondering whether it's the leaves that are nasty, and the flowers are OK? Whatever the case, it sounds like they're a determined lot... I'm picturing chickens climbing on one another's backs in formation (like those motorbike stunt drivers) to get to the best flowers

[Omletina Kyckling]

Here is a photo of Britta (who seems to be the most determined) "in action" jumping up for a flower (they are now getting to be more out of reach!! Apologies for the quality of photograph, but it was taken with my mobile 'phone camera, through the patio door, complete with petals in beak!!!

 

[Budgies]

Oh bless her, look, action chicken!!

[Mazzarina]

She's very graceful, isn't she? It looks like quite a balletic jump!

[Saronne]

Very good photo! Mine do a similar thing with my young apple tree's blossom. I've had to temporarily fence it off. They'll probably go for the apples next!

 

 

Saronne