Ragwort.

[bluemoon]

I know that ragwort is lethal to grazing animals, is this also true of chickens? And if so could someone post a clear photo of it as I haven't a clue what it looks like. Are there any other plants I should be aware of?

[Flummery]

There you go - taken by me last summer for no other reason than I thought it looked so jolly. Certainly toxic to horses but as I heard, only in its dry form, as hay. They appear not to eat it when it's fresh. Could be wrong about this (have vivid imagination!). Don't know much about chickens but I know there are plenty of people here who do.

[muckdiva]

No idea about chickens, but wash your hands after handling it yourself - it's toxic to humans too.

[SarzWix]

Ragwort is highly poisonous to livestock and should be controlled
in grassland. Cattle and horses, along with pigs and chickens, are highly
sensitive. Sheep, goats and deer are more tolerant. There is no
specific treatment

.

Taken from http://www.sac.ac.uk/mainrep/pdfs/tn...tpoisoning.pdf

[Tigerella]

Hi

Looks like the plant that a saw lots of caterpillars and then black/red moths on it.

T

[Paulottie]

Stripey black and orange caterpillers? also found on grounsel? Name eludes me at the moment. Ragwort is a lot like grounsel, really. only its 3ft high, you cant really miss it in flower and then ever after you will recognise the leaves as well. As Flum mentioned it is more dangerous/difficult to detect in hay.

Back in the 70's most country folk used to pull up ragwort to stop it seeding(on ministry advice). I often still do, so as it was drummed in as a kid. But then this government couldn't give a tinker's cuss for the countryside. I don't know how big your estate is!!! or how far your chooks roam Bluemoon! but I shouldn't worry too much: I think that with these 'ah,fluffy bunny' half wits at the helm, Vermin are far more likely to do for your chickens.

[shirlthegirl43]

The stripey caterpillars turn into the red and black cinnabar moths

[yoanbob]

its bad for chooks but they dont tent to eat it, however it is still illigal to allow it to florish on your land, and the roots can be hard to get out, dont think anyone has told the highways agency as it grows in abundance on the motor way

[bluemoon]

I've been seeing this stuff everywhere all my life, but didn't know its name. If I see it now I'll remove it, just to be on the safe side and to prevent it setting seed. Sorry about this, the closer I get to Chicken Day, the more panic stricken I'm becoming. It's one thing to sow a row of veg and hope for the best, but I really don't want to make any dreadful mistakes with my new girls.