Is wild cucumber ok for chickens?

[Priscilla's mom]

I live in Northern Wi. I have this wild cucumber vine that has grown and taken over the fence around the run. At first I thought of it as a good thing as it looks like huge ivy, is natural looking and provides cover from predators. one of my lovely girls died last night and I need to eliminate anything that might not be healthy...any thoughts or info? They don't eat the vines, but I have noticed the prickly seed pods opening up the last few days.

 

[Kiki]

Can you post a picture of this plant..including the fruits.

 

[Priscilla's mom]

Wish I could, lol. I am technology illiterate. Maybe a kid can help me later. But it is a vine with huge ivy like leaves, every so often a spray of wispy cream colored flowers and every 6 inches or so there is an egg shaped prickly seed pod. In research, I found that for humans, the leaves are edible. Apparently an asian delicacy. But the prickly seed pods are not. Either way, I am getting rid of it today. I don't want to take any chances. I am also spreading lime and trying to acidify the soil. I have been dealing with coccidiosis in a batch of day old chicks that I got from a hatchery on "chick day" against my better judgement. (never again...) But this area is for my 1 1/2 years old who have been separated and have been very healthy.

 

[centrarchid]

I would not be overly concerned about the wild cucumber. Hens heavily in lay for sustained periods can have problems even under the best of conditions. Another benefit it provided was shade.

Losses to coccidiosis are likely do to infections they picked up on your end.

 

[NancyNurseCxMama]

What I've found is that the plant is toxic. It has medicinal uses, as a purgative, and can also be hallucinogenic.
Yep, I think I would try to get rid of it.
So sorry about your girl...

 

[Priscilla's mom]

I would not be overly concerned about the wild cucumber. Hens heavily in lay for sustained periods can have problems even under the best of conditions. Another benefit it provided was shade.

Losses to coccidiosis are likely do to infections they picked up on your end.

Thanks for the reply. I do know that the coccidiosis is in the soil. I mentioned it because the babies I got this spring showed signs of infection on day 7 or 8. They had never touch anything besides the new box I kept them in with new bedding and new feeders and waterers. And I am a nurse, so I was a maniac about washing my hands and keeping my older healthy girls isolated from the coccidia.

What I've found is that the plant is toxic. It has medicinal uses, as a purgative, and can also be hallucinogenic.
Yep, I think I would try to get rid of it.
So sorry about your girl...

 

[Priscilla's mom]

Thanks to all who responded. As I was removing all of the plant yesterday, I did find another vine that looks almost identical, but instead of the fuzzy cream colored flowers, it has white lillies on it. I noticed the first flower on that one. I know that one is highly toxic to humans...That one is in the nightshade family and causes halluciations. I found an article from the 1700's, a journal of an army captain whose platoon used it to make a tea, mistakenly thinking it was wild cucumber and the entire platoon was on a psychadaelic (sp) "trip" for a week and then slept for 3 days, during the Revolutionary War! Just shared because I thought it was funny. Anyway, I removed all of everything. My poor girls really seemed confused and maybe a little miffed that they lost all the good shade and hiding spots. *sigh* Mamma knows best and we don't need hallucinating mind altered chickens, lol!

 

[Rubysword]

Oh wow... That is terrifying, but kinda funny... So sorry about your girl!

 

[centrarchid]

Chicks coming in from a hatchery are not likely to be carrying a cocci-strain they are susceptible to. They could have picked up something between you and the hatchery. Otherwise quarantine efforts failed in brooder.

 

[Priscilla's mom]

Oh wow... That is terrifying, but kinda funny... So sorry about your girl!

Thanks. I am amazed at how attached I have become to these funny little girls <3