Are burdock leaves safe for chickens

[acerguy]

So this morning while checking in on the little cluckers I happened to grab a couple of big burdock leaves to throw in the run. I had been giving them other greens from the garden but now that we've had some hard frosts there isn't much left EXCEPT for grass and burdock. Anyhow, they devoured them right up. Then something in the back of my head suggested that burdock wasn't a good thing to eat. Did a little googling and it shows up on at least one list of TOXIC things for burds. Not sure if they were referring to the leaves, the roots, or both. Yet I also read a couple of post on here about people giving it to their chickens. Anybody have any experience with this? Thanks!

 

[kla37]

Mine love leaves from my bloody dock plants.

 

[Chickenwithnobrim]

No idea. My chickens went from ignoring all the burdock completely to suddenly devouring it all- even leaving food early to eat it

 

[Skunkwoman1]

Burdock (Arctium lappa) is regularly eaten by my free range chickens. We eat the root a stalks as as kitchen vegetable. Butterbur (Petasites) is toxic to the liver of animals and that includes humans.

 

[Nstamenov]

So this morning while checking in on the little cluckers I happened to grab a couple of big burdock leaves to throw in the run. I had been giving them other greens from the garden but now that we've had some hard frosts there isn't much left EXCEPT for grass and burdock. Anyhow, they devoured them right up. Then something in the back of my head suggested that burdock wasn't a good thing to eat. Did a little googling and it shows up on at least one list of TOXIC things for burds. Not sure if they were referring to the leaves, the roots, or both. Yet I also read a couple of post on here about people giving it to their chickens. Anybody have any experience with this? Thanks!

From this article leaves are fine for them and in fact can be nutritious.
https://chickenpets.com/diet/burdock-leaves

 

[Nstamenov]

Here is another article stating the young leaves are best to feed them. Before the plant flowers. Older leaves can have too much nitrates.

"Burdock (Arctium spp.) is a nuisance in pastures. Its flat leaves spread widely, killing everything else; its burrs tangle in animals’ hair. But young burdock leaves, cut before the plant flowers, are rich in protein and minerals. We feed tender small burdock leaves to our rabbits, who tolerate them, and larger leaves to our goats, who relish them. Chickens and cows also will eat burdock leaves, up to a point. Older leaves may accumulate excessive nitrates, so don’t feed them heavily.”
I’ve listed the link to the article which also gives some other plants that are considered weeds in the current culture that are great for livestock animals & chickens.

https://www.offthegridnews.com/how-to/7-invasive-weeds-you-can-turn-into-livestock-feed/