Aqualegia! Is it safe?

[shadegrow]

Our garden is full of aqualegia it does really well in our shady garden. In fact I replant with fancy variety's every couple of years to keep the colours changing. I never realised how toxic it was 'till i wiki'd it recently. Big question is how safe is it for our ladies? They scrubbed around in the beds last summer but 2 did die for no apparent reason. Fit one day, off colour the next & dead the day after that. I'd feel terribly guilty if I'd exposed them to an health hazard. Any advice would be welcome.

[Hilary B]

Question is, did the ones which died eat any of the stuff? (and yes it is toxic, but only if eaten.......)
There are lots of toxic plants about, probably impossible to avoid all of them, BUT most creatures don't usually eat them (there are a few exceptions, grass eaters seem to like yew, which is deadly, and when I had goats, one time they scragged the neighbour's rhododendron, and it took a week to get them recovered).

[Polly Fouracre]

I thought bluebell leaves were toxic but my hens chomp through them every year with no ill effects! Truly though, I think chickens will avoid anything poisonous.