Could a privet hedge be poisonous to hens

Oliveview · « **on:** August 03, 2008, 18:05 »

We are looking at hedging for our side of the garden, the hens are fenced off in their garden. They would be able to peck through the fence at the hedge as it got bigger. Is it poisonous to them?
Pamela

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #1 on:** August 03, 2008, 19:11 »

The berries are poisonous but you rarely get them on a hedge as it gets clipped.

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #2 on:** August 03, 2008, 19:15 »

This was written for horse owners:

Privet (Ligustrum spp.)

This is most frequently grown as a hedge. However it is usually avoided because it has a disagreeable odour when bitten. The toxic glycoside is present in all parts of this plant and the berries are particularly poisonous. Privet poisoning though rare, can cause death within four to forty eight hours, so no chances should be taken with privet. Fence off privet hedges and prevent access to hedge clippings.

I don't think chickens would try the leaves so as long as there are no berries I thinkyou'll be OK.

Oliveview · « **Reply #3 on:** August 03, 2008, 21:16 »

We could put a barrier of the green Â´tarpaulineÂ´type of thing at the bottom of the fence I guess, that would stop the hens pecking then. I did have some spring onion type onions growing on my side of the garden, but the hens stretched their necks through the chainlink fence and chewed any green they could get hold of :shock:
BTW I sold 2 dozen eggs today

Gave away a dozen yesterday too... just got a cracked egg left in the fridge, start the week anew

Pamela

suedavies0117 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 17, 2008, 09:13 »

we got our hens one week ago and were planning to let them free range in our garden from today as we were advised by the breeder to keep them in their run for the first week. I have just come across this post and am now really worried as one side of my garden is enclosed by a huge privet hedge. the hens would have the whole garden to roam in including my flower borders so would they still try to eat privet?. My garden is wildlife friendly and most plants are native to England.
thanks
sue

chickenlady · « **Reply #5 on:** August 21, 2008, 12:03 »

my girls have all stripped the lower leaves from my privet hedge and they have had no ill effects from it!!!

SnooziSuzi · « **Reply #6 on:** August 21, 2008, 12:07 »

Quote from: "suedavies0117"

the hens would have the whole garden to roam in including my flower borders

HI Sue, welcome to the forums and welcome to Chickenlady too

I think that if you are going to let them roam the garden you should take lots of pics of it looking nice - in 6 months you won't have a thing left and will have big holes in your borders where they've *ahem* rearranged it to their liking

Debz · « **Reply #7 on:** August 21, 2008, 13:11 »

My girls eat the privet hedge when they are out in the garden and it hasn't affected them.

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