Milkweed seed pods

[Ruth Ann]

My big wild milkweed plants have huge seed heads
I want to feed to the chicken. Are they ok...or are they toxic for the birds?

 

[jennh]

I would not feed them to your chickens. I don't know whether they would eat them even if you gave it to them. Sometimes they instinctively know what they shouldn't eat. Mine NEVER eat poke, which I have lots of young seedlings of. I also DO have milkweed, and they never seem to go near it, so they might not even eat it. That being said, I wouldn't even try.

Jen

edited for spelling ;o)

 

[Imp]

If you google it, most the hits say toxic to birds. mildly toxic to animals. Can cause dermatitis.
Sounds like it may not be a good idea.

Imp

 

[Muggsmagee]

I don't have the answer to your question, but DO have a thought. The Monarch butterfly caterpillar eats the milkweed plant...the butterfly is poisonous to birds because of this. I would just think to keep my chickens away from milkweed (seeds and everything)...but would like to have that definitive answer also!

I did however come across a blog that read that you can pick the tender shoots of the milkweed in the early spring, and fry them up in butter to eat! But I digress....

 

[Ruth Ann]

Well I will leave them alone then...
No need to take a chance.
I have plenty of other snacks for them.

Thanks

 

[nifty50chick]

Thanks for this post Ruth Ann,
I had no idea

My place is covered with them, i will be sure to remove any that my gang can access.