Elderberry for chickens

[CandeeLand]

We researched elderberries and chicken's, everything I found said they're NOT toxic to chickens, so we planted 3 different types (one I don't know the type of) one is John's and the other is Adam's.

I was researching artichokes and came across this list (https://www.poultryhelp.com/toxic1.html), on this site someone posted and it showed Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis L.) as being toxic. I think we're ok, but wanted to run this past you all, for sanity sake...

Making sure our garden will not be toxic to our hens.

Thank you for your help & wisdom,

 

[Perris]

My chickens enjoy elder berries; I think what you read was misinformation.

 

[CandeeLand]

Thank you!!
That’s what my research a while ago showed and then saw what was on the link.

 

[Perris]

I looked it up on MyFoodData; small amounts of several vitamins and minerals, and lots of vit C, so the chickens' instincts are good, as usual
https://tools.myfooddata.com/nutrition-facts/171727/100g/1

 

[FrostRanger]

Good to know as I planted John and York elderberry bushes this year and I'll have plenty to share once they start producing

 

[Bird Mama 6]

I was wondering about elderberry because I want to set up a foraging area that has a large elderberry bush. My research said the ripe berries are OK but everything else; roots, leaves, unripe fruit, stems, etc., could be toxic. Could...I think I'll put blocks down to block access to roots and/or prune and fence off the lower part of the bush.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

those lists are NOTORIOUS for their inaccuracy.

and fwiw I just added elderberry to my free range pasture. I also have bracken fern (appears on that list), have deliberately seeded clover (popular in many/most poultry pasture seed mixes), alfalfa? REALLY?? if I could grow it here, I would. Pigweed (amaranth) is another the birds enjoy from time to time. Sudangrass sadly didn't grow well for me, I've tried twice. Again, ITS fine.

a bit of general advice: Given options, chickens will not eat to excess anything likely to be harmful to them in the short term. Maybe they try it - they explore their world with their beaks, after all - but then they pretty much ignore it for the rest of their days.

 

[Perris]

I was wondering about elderberry because I want to set up a foraging area that has a large elderberry bush. My research said the ripe berries are OK but everything else; roots, leaves, unripe fruit, stems, etc., could be toxic. Could...I think I'll put blocks down to block access to roots and/or prune and fence off the lower part of the bush.

you don't need to intervene; the chickens will only eat the berries, and forage for insects on and around the bush, without coming to any harm. If you fence off the lower part you will deprive them of that opportunity.

Here's one of mine harvesting berries last year