[Scrambler]

Hi All .My chickens have been out in the garden and have eaten the leaves to our Rhubarb,One of the chickens is looking a little off colour..a little quiet..are the leaves poisonous..? any advice greatly recieved..Thanks

[gracie]

I have read on here previously that you shouldnt give chickens rhubarb leaves but if they choose to eat them where they grow it is ok. Or at least some people's chickens do eat them and have been fine. Apparently chickens wont choose to eat something in the wild that will hurt them.  Sorry that i dont have a precise answer, i can only comment on other peoples experiences. Hope she is soon picking up and back to her usual self.

[bygrace]

I believe rhubarb leaves are poisonous to humans, but not sure about chooks.
I saw a list of what treats to give and not to give somewhere recently, but can't remember where!!
BG

[helens-hens]

From everything I have read, yes it is toxic to chickens. Having said that there are many reports not just from this forum but others that hens appear to eat it without ill effects.

I would keep an eye on her and also try and prevent them getting any more in the future (if there is any left!). It may be that eating a lot over a long period could do them harm. I would play on the safe side and fence it off.

Hope this helps.

[min200]

Mine eat them with no problems.  They only get the odd one though!

[Scrambler]

Thanks for the wise words..I think i will fence the rhubarb off just in case..

[outercircle]

I had a bucket of rhubarb leaves on their way to the compost bin that left near the run and they seemed to be disappearing. Later, I noticed that one of hens stretching through the fence, yanking a leaf through and gobbling it up. She nearly dislocated her neck reaching that far and despite me worrying as I thought they were poisonous, she was absolutely fine.

[SMS6]

All my research about Rhubarb leaves seemed to be saying that Chickens will go mad for them and they don't do any instant harm but are not good for them in the long run.  I think they can cause kidney damage or some such.  The same goes for sorrel apparently

I've fenced mine off anyway just in case