Vegetables (to grow!!) with chickens!!

[daisychook]

Hi I am relatively new to gardening, and was going to make a bit more effort this year. I have chickens and a small veg plot on which I want to grow a few fruit and veg. As I have this partly in shade I was thinking Rhubarb but the leaves are poisonous and so I think these are a no go in case the chickens escape their run (which they do on times!) and help themselves.

Can anyone confirm this is right and also let me know if there is anything else I should avoid...

Thank you!
Tracey

[di]

You're right, rhubarb leaves are poisonous to them(as they are humans), chickens do tend to have an inbuilt sense of what's poisonous to them...as did we years and years ago.

If you're going to be making an effort with your veg growing, I'd suggest you either make your chicken run more secure in fence in your vegetable patch...they'll make a quick job of either digging up or eating what you take a lot longer to grow.

[super trowel]

I don't know if this helps,
But I grow my onions in my chicken run.
They don't like to eat them, but love scratching the sets up.
When they do this I just push them a little deeper.
As for the rhubarb, I have loads and my chickens don't go near it (unless they have a dust bath under it )

[elizajay]

I have loads of rhubarb and mine also dust bathe under it and chew the leaves in moderation. Doesn't appear to do them any harm and I understand it may make the digestive system unwelcoming to parasites. They also nibble on potato leaves, also in moderation.

[chris]

Mine eat my rhubrab, aubergines, tomatoes and potatoes (leaves) and have suffered no ill effect to my eye (unless they have bad stomaches - but it doesn't stop them).

You can either secure your chickens totally, or fence your veg off - they'll eat anything that takes their fancy

[daisychook]

Thank you all for your replies, my chooks are fenced in but sometimes the critters manage to escape (obviously seen Chicken Run...!) and end up eating my veg. Bless them... !!!!

[squibbs]

Rhubarb leaf poisoning (oxalic acid) is a little over-hyped a person would need to eat 5-7 kg of leaves 11-16lbs to get properly poisoned as opposed to just sick. Chickens will peck at the leaves but like most people say never get unwell on them.

For me the only way I can grow veggies is in the polytunnel. The blueberries, blackcurrants and gooseberries are outside but need netting if I want to keep them for myself.

[di]

As Elizajay said, a little rhubarb can 'make the digestive systen unwelcome to parasites'. Although you should obviously keep an eye, could be that them having a nibble or two is to keep the worms at bay.