cloud Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 Having let our hens roam around the garden for the first time today I've just read the section on the FAQ that lists poisonous plants and I realise we have a garden full of them. The boarders are full of daffodils and tulips, ivy in several places, the grass is full of clover, and we have foxgloves, ferns, Rhubarb elsewhere. The FAQ says "Most chickens know what not to eat...", so they are okay, right? Or does that mean 49% chickens don't and so will be poisoned? I'm thinking they are probably okay and it's my paranoia kicking in, but is there anything I need to be really careful about? Do I need to rope of the Rhubarb and foxgloves, for example? And what about the potatoes later in the year. I was planning to rope the veg patch off anyway, but how much should I worry about this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 Don't worry. I would definitely rope off the rhubarb and the vegetable patch if you ever want to harvest anything! They don't tend to eat poisonous stuff, and even when they do (rhubarb in my case) it seemed to have no effect on them. Tulips, daffs etc - no problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 my lot stripped the rhubarb to the point that I don't think it'll grow back the 2 clumps of daffs I've got trying to grow just get tramppled every time the mob get to FR as for a veg patch that can work but you need to chicken proof it with a 'safe zone' twice the distance you think is big enough between the fence and the plants chicken necks reach farther than yoy think when tasty snacks are on offer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 I don't think my chooks have read the list - they have demolished the tulips and the daffs that were coming up Seriously - they seem to be a lot more savvy than dogs at knowing what not to eat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 Mine have had access to all the plants on your list and have suffered no ill effects. They totally destroyed the rhubarb but it did grow back When they got into the potato plants they scratched the earth away and exposed the potatoes ruining them........... I do love my girls though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 you need to chicken proof it with a 'safe zone' twice the distance you think is big enough between the fence and the plants chicken necks reach farther than yoy think when tasty snacks are on offer I can vouch for that ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud Posted February 13, 2012 Author Share Posted February 13, 2012 Excellent picture ANH Keeping an eye on our girls. They peck at everything but nothing seems to be getting undue attention. We're keeping them well away from the veg patch, but I can see we need to put some serious thoughts to gating off the area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 ANH what a wonderful picture, it did make me Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 Oh that picture did make me laugh and laugh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 My new girls 2 yrs back annilitated the rhubarb leaves and when I posted on here I was told it was poisonous to them. Worried sick - they all survived but havent a clue how much would be fatal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
