[poultrygeist]

Can anyone give a positive ID on this shrub please ?

We think it may be Euonymous but are not sure. If so I need to remove it from the chook run because apparently the fruit is poisonous.
Took me half an hour to drag it in and plant it too !!  :?





I can take more photos if required.
Thanks if you can help.  

Rob

[naturesparadise]

i think your right
http://www.sweeneylandscape.com/html/image/Shrubs/images/EuonymousPatens.jpg
i would take it out better safe than sorry

[poultrygeist]

Apparently it's only the fruit that's poisonous but yes, it does seem to look that way doesn't it.

*.

I'll put that one in the front garden and find something non-toxic to plant.

Rob

[naturesparadise]

what about a conifer they look nice plus wont drop there leaves and wont kill your chooks

[poultrygeist]

We were trying to re-use what needed digging out. That was coming out anyway so thought 'wouldn't it look nice in the chook run'.

How silly were we ??!!!

I'll have a walk round the garden and see what I can dig up. It's a shame cos they were enjoying walking round it and inspecting every leaf.

Don't want anything above about 4 feet tall or 3 feet wide.
Hmmm. Annoying.

Rob

[Trillium]

Agree that you've got a euonymous there. But not all varieties are poisonous. However, better safe than sorry. Do avoid yew and hemlock as well.

[poultrygeist]

Thanks both.

I'm struggling to find a suitable plant. All our other shrubs are too big.
We have hundreds (thousands?) of bulbs but of course most are toxic and they would decimate the foliage no doubt. They're loving it as something to peck at and wander round but can't take the chance.

Rob

[chrissie B]

we have a bush just like that one it gets pretty orange berrys on it and white flowers as well , it wil get big we have to beat ours  back with a big stick    
chrissie b

[Aunt Sally]

My chooks have a euonymous  and a verigated laurel in their digging garden.  They tend to leave things alone which are bad for them.

[poultrygeist]

They've been picking the leaf tips off the lower twigs and dropping the bigger bits but I think they ate the smaller bits.

It's apparently the berries (according to a US website) that give them cardio problems. I know the hen heart races so I didn't want to risk anythig that would excite it any further !

I can't even remember what the berries look like. We were still in a caravan in the front garden this time last year so this year is teh first full season with all the plants.

We're bidding on a conifer on ebay in Boston which finishes this evening so we have a backup plan at least !  

I think the bottom 18 inches of it will be kept neatly trimmed so I doubt anything will be within easy reach anyway.

Thanks for the advice people. I knew I'd get sensible answers.

Rob