Is this groundcover toxic to chickens?

[Gargoyle]

I want to fence in an area outside my run, give the chooks an additional playground, but there is a lot of this groundcover. Can anyone identify it? Is it a variety of ivy?

And, most important, can they eat it or is it toxic?

 

[Pullet Surprise]

Looks like Myrtle to me, but have no idea if it is toxic to chickens. Should have a blue/purple flower on it in the spring.

 

[TXchickmum]

-looks a bit like our Asiatic Jasmine. -stuff trails like crazy and is excellent ground cover. My chickens perch on it, but don't eat it. -not sure if it is toxic (or if it is indeed what you have).

 

[Gargoyle]

here are a couple more shots. It's mostly on the ground, but it does climb a foot or two up the tree trunks. Yes, it does look like Asiatic Jasmine.
The ASPCA site says that jasmine, star jasmine (also called confederate jasmine) and madagascar jasmine are non-toxic to Horses, Cats, and Dogs, so that is a good sign.
However, cape jasmine (gardenia) and Paraguayan jasmine are toxic to all of those animals.

 

[Pullet Surprise]

Yep, that's periwinkle or what we used to call myrtle. Somewhere on here there is a post with a link to a very comprehensive list of toxic plants for chickens,

 

[Gargoyle]

I found this chart: http://www.poultryhelp.com/toxicplants.html
It shows jasmine as toxic and periwinkle as hallucinogenic! Yikes, don't if it's either of those I either need to pull it all out (there is a lot of it) or rethink this run addition. I don't want my chooks trippin' on drugs.

 

[memphis]

It's vinca. Vinca Major if its over 18", Vinca Minor is about 8" tall. Both have blue flowers in spring and is considered a non-native invasive spreading ground cover. Asian in orgin. Your chickens will be fine. Maybe they will eradicate it for you!

 

[Gargoyle]

OK, that poultryhelp site chart says that vinca is periwinkle, and contains hallucinogens. Of course, I never heard of anyone smokin' periwinkle, and it wasn't a particularly "cool" plant in the hippie 1960's, so I have my doubts about that. On the other hand, eating it might make the chickens extremely happy and playful.

I know we had little purple flowers in the spring, but I'm not sure if it was from the same plant.

 

[Pullet Surprise]

I don't think I would worry to much about it being hallocinogenic, it's unlikely all parts of the plant are so, could just be flowers and/or seeds.
Now if you catch your chickens drying it.....well....you might have a problem then.

They will probably just peck at the leaves if they do anything at all.

 

[TXchickmum]

here are a couple more shots. It's mostly on the ground, but it does climb a foot or two up the tree trunks. Yes, it does look like Asiatic Jasmine.
The ASPCA site says that jasmine, star jasmine (also called confederate jasmine) and madagascar jasmine are non-toxic to Horses, Cats, and Dogs, so that is a good sign.
However, cape jasmine (gardenia) and Paraguayan jasmine are toxic to all of those animals.

We have Star Jasmine and Carolina Jessamine (Yellow Jasmine) as well. The chickens aren't interested in any of it. I do know that the Carolina Jessamine is supposed to be toxic, and kept an eye on 'em when they first started scratching and roaming about due to that. (looks like yours could be Asiatic Jasmine or the Vinca that was mentioned above which does make a lovely bloom) Anyway, good luck with your run decision and plans!