Arborvitaes ok to plant next to run?

[grullablue]

I would like to plant a couple of arborvitaes next to my chicken run. I know once they grow, the back side may come in contact somewhat with the chickens, so I'd like to ask before this happens (I do plan to plant these out far enough that it shouldn't be a big problem), but they aren't toxic to chickens, are they?

Angie

 

[kikescove.com]

My free range birds love underneath mine, scratching through the duff so I would think not a problem.

 

[trilyn]

Well gosh, I hope not! My chickies free range when I'm outside-and my backyard is "fenced" with arborvitae! They don't seem to eat it, just pick now and then-nothing I'm too concerned about. No ill side effects yet and we're going on 2 months so...give it a whirl!

They offer great protection from flying predators and yeah, they do love to scratch the dirt underneath them.

 

[LynneP]

You can check here-

http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/comlist.html

 

[michickenwrangler]

Arborvitaes--cultivated eastern white cedars--actually do contain a poison known as thujone but it is only toxic in concentrated amounts. In mammals, it causes uterine muscles to contract. However, it is also rich in vitamin C, where the arborvitae (tree of life) gets its name. When French explorers landed in New England, the Indians told them to drink tea brewed from the needles to cure scurvy. It worked.

In my chicken run, they have an eastern white cedar in addition to an eastern hemlock but the chickens never eat the fallen greens from them. I line the coop with white pine needles and the chickens enjoy picking through them for seeds and bugs but they don't eat the evergreens themselves.

Arborvitaes can live up to 500 years so it will provide some cover for your hens for many generations to come.

 

[CMV]

Quote:
I like this list better than the usual list that is posted. I am bookmarking it. I have noticed that chickens generally steer clear of toxic plants.

 

[antlers]

From a toxic point of view I would not worry but I still would not do it. These bushes provide a dense cover that allows predators to linger close to the fence with out fear of being in the open. You might be inviting future trouble.

 

[LadyBehir]

wrong thread.

 

[Lady Chicken Keeper]

I see this is an old post. I am wanting to transplant a Dwarf Arborvitae into our chicken run. I think they will leave it alone. It doesn't seem like something they would be inclinced to consume. I think it will provide a little shade and serve well as an obstacle in the run for deturing Hawks. Thanks for the info.

 

[Chickassan]

They are fine, bonus if you get a bag worm infestation on them chickens love eating bag worms.