[SnooziSuzi]

Hello all,

I was told by a fellow allotmenteer that privet is poisonous to hens when I said that I wanted to put up a hedge around my plot.  This is a bit of a pain, 'cos my entire gardens at home are surrounded by it and I could easily take some cuttings to start some off in spring.

Does anyone know a) if this is true and b) of any other hedge varieties i should avoid and c) any suggestions of what i could/should plant?

[Aunt Sally]

Did they mean the leaves or the berries Suzi.

If it's the berries then trimming it will stop them forming  

[Bodger]

Your chickens wil be perfectly alright with privet hedges, they simply wont touch it.

[SnooziSuzi]

Did they mean the leaves or the berries Suzi.

If it's the berries then trimming it will stop them forming  

Don't know Aunty.  This particular person's advice is normally not backed up with any why's or wherefores so I think it's just the berries, in which case I'd keep it trimmed anyway but I didn't know if the leaves would also be poisonous

Your chickens wil be perfectly alright with privet hedges, they simply wont touch it.

That's just what I thought Bodger but i didn't want my girlies getting sick because of me  

[Bodger]

I've kept chickens around privets and so have many other people without a problem. The other thing is this, I know that privet is supposed to have berriys but I don't recall ever seeing any with any on. I love the smell of privet blossom but the ones that we have, never seem to fruit.

[Aunt Sally]

I've seen berries down south Bodger, perhaps they need a bit more warmth  

[Bodger]

Who doesn't ?    

[SnooziSuzi]

no I've seen berries on privet up here too so I'll just remember to keep the thing tidy and they won't develop.... might just let them bloom though 'cos I know the bumbliebees love them  

[Selkie]

I was going to say that - we get loads of butterflies (mostly red admirals, peacocks and painted ladies) on the privet flowers in my parents' garden.