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

[katieadams]

I gave my girls some of the bigger leaves off the spring greens growing in our garden yesterday, some of which were teaming with caterpillars, which I thought they'd like. Then last night I read that cabbage white butterflies can be toxic to chickens - are the caterpillars too?

[Valkyrie]

I thought most caterpillars were tasty for birds except for the hairy ones. Perhaps if the caterpillars are still fairly small and green. I have picked them off in the early stages and fed them to the wild birds - they were delighted. But if you let them get too big they will devour your greens, so best to remove as soon as you see the signs - or squash the eggs. I think your girls will be fine.

 

If the butterflies are toxic, that explains why the blooming birds don't polish them off before they get to my greenstuff!

[katieadams]

Phew! They were only a cm or two long and green - I thought it was a great idea to give them to the chickens until I read the article in Practical Poultry last night! They certainly enjoyed it that's for sure! Was strange, there were only caterpillars on a couple of leaves so easy enough to just choose those leaves for the chickens!