Lulabellx1 Posted June 26, 2010 Share Posted June 26, 2010 Hi All I have three lovely White Sussex hens who have been free-ranging in the afternoons for the past two weeks. I have read that Rhubarb is bad for them but was under the impression that the chickens wouldn't pay it too much attention to it. Well - not my girls! They keep going back to it every now and then. Anyway, I guess my question is this... Is it soooooooo bad for them that I should remove it from my garden. Or will they eventially get the idea that they dont like the taste (apparantly, it shouldn't taste good to them??) Also, we have had two shell-less eggs, one yesterday and one today from Charlotte (the other two are laying healthy eggs). Could the Rhubarb be a part of this or do you think it is because she is just coming into lay? She only started laying three days ago. Thanks all! Lu x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 26, 2010 Share Posted June 26, 2010 I don't think they will ever go off it - it is supposed to be poisonous, but mine have eaten quite a lot with no ill-effects, I'd advise fencing it off somehow though, or you will never get any rhubarb next year - they will eat it down to the ground! Generally they seem to know what's ok to eat and what's not, this is one exception. I have not heard of anyone's hen actually being poisoned by rhubarb, but it's best not to take chances. The hit-and-miss eggs are most likely due to her being new at laying, rather than the rhubarb. It can take a week or two for them to settle down into a laying pattern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igobarefoot Posted June 26, 2010 Share Posted June 26, 2010 Mine have been eating my rhubarb too, much to my surprise! Henny penny laid a softie too recently - her first one and she was really poorly with it. I hadn't put the two together as they've all been happily munching on it with no other I'll effects. To be on the safe side though I've bought a rubharb forcer today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted June 26, 2010 Share Posted June 26, 2010 I've got mine fenced off but my lot have worked out how to get at it and the last lot of spuds I planted as soon as the new leaces come on the get eaten Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted June 26, 2010 Share Posted June 26, 2010 I give mine rhubarb and yoghurt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickychick Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 Mine completely ignored the rhubarb for the first 2 weeks they were here, then stripped all the leaves yesterday - right down to the leaf struts. The rhubarb now looks like some rather sad, broken umbrellas. I was planning to leave it in the part of the garden that's going to belong to the chickens but I think I might move it now! (at the moment they've got the whole garden during the day, but they've dug it all up and pooed on it (yes, I know, experienced chicken keepers are laughing at my naivity- I just didn't expect them to do it so quickly!), so they're going to have to be happy with just half of it, so we can sit on our lawn again. They all seem fine today - if anything, slightly more perky (and they were pretty perky to start with!), but that might be because I've been giving them citrocidal for a couple of days to combat runny noses. 3 proper, firm today but i will keep an eye out for soft ones over the next few days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roobaloo Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 I give mine rhubarb and yoghurt. fully grown stems should be perfectly fine (though be aware that most people use a lot of sugar when cooking it...) The leaves are toxic to us and to other animals...however, the lethal dose is quite high compared to the amount of toxin per leaf but obviously it's better not to risk it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 Ours don't like rhubarb but do strip it right to the ground. So now we've had to move some and fence the rest off. They are miffed, but then they have just had a WIR palace built so they really can't complain (well, they can complain because they're chickens ) I think once they get the taste or just the liking for pecking it, you can't dissuade them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meganymoo Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 It is poisonous because my friend lost 2 chooks to eating ruhbarb but mine always go near it without eating it but you still have to be careful!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 Not poisonous to mine! They really enjoy it, grated mixed with yoghurt.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roobaloo Posted July 27, 2010 Share Posted July 27, 2010 Again...The leaves are toxic...the stems (the red stalks) are fine. The toxin in the leaves causes decreased kidney function...so while your chooks may seem fine eating them, the damage may already be done. After a prolonged period, this may cause renal failure and death. It's really not worth the risk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickychick Posted July 27, 2010 Share Posted July 27, 2010 thanks Roobaloo, will definitely dig it up and move it out of the chickens' area before it gets any more leaves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
