Chooks and Rhubarb

[Hungry Hannah]

Hi All,

Am hoping to get some chooks soon (building of their coop and enclosed end of garden starts next week! yay!) but was wondering if I should move my rhubarb. I have read some posts that say as the leaves are poisionous they avoid it, but also some that say its ok. As well as not wanting to poison them, I still want to eat the rhubarb as have been forcing it at its super sweet and pink!
obviously thoughnow was the time to find out before OH creates the run ( dont want to have to get him to move it!)

thanks for your help

[MaureenHall]

Better be safe than sorry Hannah, I'd move it, especially if you want some for yourself

[chicken slave]

I grow my rhubarb in a pot (for now) and at the end of last season the chooks didn't eat it but they did start digging it up.
So now I have it surrounded by wire so they can't dig it up, most of my veg and fruits now have cages around to stop them eating or digging at it. It creates a perfect balance I grow the veg, they can still roam the garden and they also benefit frm all the off cuts and extras that I have grown.
It was a bit of a challenge to start with but a little bit of adaptation and we all enjoy the benefits of the garden.

[Suechooks]

I go along with all the above! The leaves are supposed to be poisonous and are on the list of "do not gives" but my chooks shredded the rhubarb leaves last year and are ok but this year will be stopped from doing so.

[HayleyB]

I agree above, Rhubarb leaves are poisonous to all animals including humans, better to be safe than sorry.

[greysquirrel]

We kept hens when I was kid and they loved the rhubarb - ate the leaves and left the stems alone. Didn't come to any harm.

[frias]

If you Google this it's still no help. Some say it's poisonous, as it is to humans. Others say chickens eat it as a natural wormer. Lots of people say their chickens have eaten it with no ill effect. Not read of anyone who says chickens were ill or died after eating it. I think I would be inclined to move it or fence it off somehow as chickens will decimate anything they get access to.

[Hungry Hannah]

thanks all, think I might move it if can find room!

[Glutton4...]

I've got room for it - you cant have too much Rhubarb lol