chickens and english ivy

[phishinchicken]

we have a lot of ivy in a natural area on the back of our property. i am thinking of building our coop in this natural area over top of the ivy. i know over time there will no longer by ivy there and that is fine with me. my question is, should i remove all the ivy before introducing the chickens or should i just leave the removing to the chickens? can/will they even eat ivy?

 

[jforsness]

My chickens don't touch the ivy in our yard. They do eat the raspberry plants though

 

[phishinchicken]

so it won't make them sick or anything? i guess i could take a weed trimmer to it and get it down to the ground. i just could not find anything on the subject.

 

[jforsness]

They typically won't eat toxic plants (they tend to be bitter). I was worried in the summer when the B's were eating the potato plants, leaves only. Potatoes do contain toxins, but they were fine. Observation is key first, watch what they snack on and if they are affected. Also, ivy leaves are tougher than what they like, so that is also a deterrent.

Chill, but be mindful

 

[phishinchicken]

i am really hoping that they can pick the heck out of it so it wont come back.

 

[crazyhen]

English ivy can cause a lot of problems with their intestinal tract. Also causes dermatitus, I'd get rid of it first. Jean

 

[phishinchicken]

i don't think i can rid it 100%. should i reconsider my location?

 

[estpr13]

My chickens have done well with the English Ivy in my back yard. They ignore it when there are other green plants around. In the middle of winter they will eat at it because it and the honeysuckle are the only green things around. I have observed no ill effects, but there isn't that much of it around, and they get plenty of feed.

 

[digitS']

I don't find English Ivy (Hedera helix) on several toxic plant lists but here is what Purdue University, Plants Poisonous to Livestock and Pets has to say about it:

"TOXICITY RATING: Low. Although reported to be very toxic in a few scattered reports, this is not a frequently encountered toxicosis.

ANIMALS AFFECTED: Cats, dogs, birds, other pets."

I really don't think chickens should be right on top of it and expecting them to eradicate it doesn't look, at all, like a good idea.

Steve

 

[4DSISU]

They typically won't eat toxic plants (they tend to be bitter). I was worried in the summer when the B's were eating the potato plants, leaves only. Potatoes do contain toxins, but they were fine. Observation is key first, watch what they snack on and if they are affected. Also, ivy leaves are tougher than what they like, so that is also a deterrent.

Chill, but be mindful

By being mindful should I get rid of the ivy the ?