mad.hen1 Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Help! Yesterday morning I let my hens out and almost immediately one had pecked up a yewberry which had dropped into their run from a nearby tree. The tree has never been a problem before but I assume the branches have grown and by sheer bad luck, one of the berries was able to land in the enclosure. I have read that the berries themselves are not poisonous, but the seeds within them are. Apparantly birds are able to eat yewberries without effect as the seeds pass through their systems and them go on to produce new yew trees. However hens have crops.. which I assume may mean the seeds get ground down which I fear may prove fatal to the hen. Anyone know how long the digestive process in the hen is? She is Ok so far, 36 hours later. Thanks lots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilda-and-evadne Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Anyone know how long the digestive process in the hen is? Seems to be 8 hours in laying hens, 12 hours in broody hens. http://www.poultryhub.org/index.php/Digestive_system If your hen had ingested yew seed that had been ground up in her gizzard, she would be dead by now, I gather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad.hen1 Posted August 30, 2009 Author Share Posted August 30, 2009 Thank you for this - am reassured. Death to the tree! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 All birds have crops so if they pass through birds-the seeds should just pass through the hen the same I would imagine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Chickens do learn pretty quickly what they can and can't eat. If you want to clear your chicken run of all things toxic, there won't be much left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 Mine all seem to eat yew berries without any problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
