The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: doganjo on July 20, 2010, 10:27:09 pm

Title: Do hens know what greenery they can eat?
Post by: doganjo on July 20, 2010, 10:27:09 pm
I found holes in the leaves of my rhubarb and I had no idea what was doing it until this morning when my friends and I took a stroll round the front garden before lunch. I had introduced tehm to my ducks and hens an let them out to free range.  As we turned back there were the hens tucking into teh rhubarb leaves.  I thought tehywere poisonous to us - is that the case and are they poisonous to my chickens?  If so they are all going to be dead tomorrow ::)
Title: Re: Do hens know what greenery they can eat?
Post by: Sandy on July 20, 2010, 10:48:13 pm
Mine ate every green thing in thier bit of garden and they are still here!!!!! I did give them nettles but then found they were an irritant for chickens...interesting ???
Title: Re: Do hens know what greenery they can eat?
Post by: sheila on July 21, 2010, 12:17:31 am
Mine won't touch nettles and will make a detour around them. I wonder if they get stung like us?
Title: Re: Do hens know what greenery they can eat?
Post by: andy harris on July 21, 2010, 07:30:10 am
I did have some rhubarb till my hens got it they distroyed it and they are fine.i give my hens lettuce and gabage they love it.
Title: Re: Do hens know what greenery they can eat?
Post by: doganjo on July 21, 2010, 05:49:11 pm
I've confined them to their run today just in case and will move the rhubarb to the back in the next day or so.
Title: Re: Do hens know what greenery they can eat?
Post by: Fergie on July 21, 2010, 08:25:38 pm
I've confined them to their run today just in case and will move the rhubarb to the back in the next day or so.

I was going to reassure you that it's unlikely they would eat enough rhubarb to poison themselves (as in the other thread) but I've just realised that you're probably wanting to move the rhubarb to avoid the chickens from destroying it.  We have segregated the veg area where the rhubarb is with some orange barrier netting to keep the chicks out - because it is loose & floppy they don't like crossing it.  (cheap plastic barrier netting & fixing rods from screwfix).

John
Title: Re: Do hens know what greenery they can eat?
Post by: doganjo on July 22, 2010, 12:08:26 am
I was going to reassure you that it's unlikely they would eat enough rhubarb to poison themselves (as in the other thread) but I've just realised that you're probably wanting to move the rhubarb to avoid the chickens from destroying it. 
John
  No, you're right, John. I was worried about them poisoning them selves because I lost 2 ex batts last week for no apparent reason and you wouldn't believe the size of the holes in the leaves.  I'll move the rhubarb on Friday and won't let them out tomorrow, just in case.