[lamina]

Hi, I have searched the forums and have only found one mention of bracken being poisonous to chickens.  This is contradictory to a book I have on Keeping Chickens where it recommends bracken for the Nest Box since lice and mites don't like it.
Since I live near to an endless supply of bracken - should I use it or not?
Wikipedia has a good article on bracken : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bracken
but no mention of chickens.
Any thoughts would be gratefully received.

Richard

[RichardA]

Bracken is often host to ticks that carry Lyme's disease which I understand is very dangerous for humans. Dont know about chucks though. Be careful
R

[slurp]

I have noticed my hens eating bracken [and some hosta leaves ] but not seen any  ill effects i always thought they would know what to eat and what to leave ,as i let them freerange i would have a big job keeping them clear of any bracken.I would not use it for bedding/nesting for the reasons given above

[Roughlee Handled]

...... This is contradictory to a book I have on Keeping Chickens where it recommends bracken for the Nest Box since lice and mites don't like it....

What is the book called?

I personally would not bother as a bag of dust extracted shavings costs £8 ish.  I cant remember exactly as I have not bought any for 6 months because one bag has lasted so long.  I have never had red mite in the nest box.  I have always had it on the perches.
Why bring something into the coop that you can not control the quality of and what would be on it or in it? Dust extracted shaving is just shavings and its clean.

[poultrygeist]

Our book mentions bracken as a useful litter. I think it may be poisonous while growing but can be used when cut. Not sure though.

I would go with roughlee's advice and use clean, controlled materials.

Rob

[8doubles]

Don`t take my word for it but i seem to remember reading that emerging bracken shoots are edible ?
I definately read that bracken spores are carcinogenic.

[Aunt Sally]

Some information here from Cancer Research

http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default_printer_friend.asp?page=2577

(Scouts / guides are not allowed to use it for stuffing palliases)

[Roughlee Handled]

wow.
 Note to self must not use bracken to stuff mattress anymore.

[Aunt Sally]

wow.
 Note to self must not use bracken to stuff mattress anymore.

  shut it Ruff 

[Sassy]

I know things are not poisonous across all species but bracken definitely poisonous to horses. Agree re tick problem and bracken