Poisonous Plants

Confined chickens are more likely to experiment with any plant that grows within their reach, so take care not to plant toxic plants near the coop. Poisonous plants pose less risk to free-ranging chickens. In fact, Harvey Ussery, author of The Small-Scale Poultry Flock (Chelsea Green Publishing, 2011), says that people worry too much about poisonous plants. Ussery, who lives in northern Virginia, mentions pokeweed, explaining that the very young spring shoots are edible, but the older plants are classified as poisonous. “There have been some documented cases of chickens eating jimsonweed seeds and being poisoned,” he says. “My chickens have been in areas where it grows, but I’ve never had a problem.” Like Ussery’s chickens, my flock could get to jimsonweed (Datura spp.). The flowering vine grows wild on our property, but the chickens haven’t shown an interest. Also, our chickens routinely lounge in the shade of our toxic angel’s trumpet (Brugmansia spp.) bushes, but we’ve never seen them take a taste.

Chickens’ seeming ability to choose edible plants may reflect a protective quality built into their sense of taste. Kevin Ellis, a poultry scientist in Midlothian, Texas, says, “[Chickens] are able to distinguish anything that is overly bitter or sour.” Often, a bitter flavor indicates toxicity. Ellis’ chickens have always fared well in choosing what plants they want to eat and what is safe for them, most likely after they’ve taken a peck or two, he says.