This article discusses the potential dangers of certain caterpillars to chickens, including brightly colored ones with fuzzy bristles, monarch caterpillars, bagworms, buck moth caterpillars, and eastern tent caterpillars. Chickens are susceptible to various caterpillar species, including poisonous varieties, and it is crucial to be cautious about which ones your chickens are eating. The most common toxic caterpillars in chickens are the eastern tent caterpillar.
Chickens can eat caterpillars as they provide a source of protein that is beneficial for them but must be non-toxic and pesticide-free. However, there are some caterpillars that are not good for chickens, such as reddish with black and white spots/lines, tomato hornworms, and abundant tent caterpillars.
Chickens are omnivores and can eat just about anything, including caterpillars. However, some caterpillars may be poisonous to them, so it is best to err on the side of caution. Venomous caterpillars come in all shapes and sizes, and some look like harmless butterfly or moth larvae.
The rule on toxicity of caterpillars is that smooth caterpillars are okay, while those with spikes and hairs should be avoided. Swallowtail caterpillars, such as Spicebush swallowtails, are safe but better as pollinating butterflies. Chickens will happily devour nests of larvae of termites, vine weevil, beetles, slug, snail, and flying ant eggs.
Cabbage white butterflies and their caterpillars may be tasty snacks, but they are poisonous to chickens due to the accumulation of poisonous oils in their bodies. Gypsy moth caterpillars are not eaten by chickens, so it is important to take pictures and have them identified.
| Article | Description | Site |
|---|---|---|
| What is this in my chicken run and is it safe for … | Swallowtail caterpillar, and I believe that’s a Spicebush swallowtail. Very pretty! Yes safe but better as a pollinating butterfly. I’d move it … | reddit.com |
| tent caterpillars to chickens? | I’ve fed tent caterpillars to both chickens and ducks with mixed results. No ill effects at all – but these were free-range birds on mixed perennial pasture. | permies.com |
| A guide to naughty and nice bugs for your chickens | Chickens will happily devour nests of larvae of termites, vine weevil and beetles while slug, snail and flying ant eggs are dispatched with relish. Since many … | thecountrysmallholder.com |
📹 Painful stinging caterpillar the hens won’t eat.
Been stung by these caterpillars to many times. Quick update teaser on some trial chicken paddocks we are trying out.
What Foods Are Toxic To Chickens?
Chickens, though generally hardy, can be harmed by certain toxic foods, often surprising to many. Notable toxic items include avocado, chocolate, onions, raw potatoes, raw or dried beans, apple seeds, and tomato leaves. Avocado contains persin, which is harmful, while phytohaemagglutinin in beans can lead to serious health issues. Onions, common in human diets, are also toxic to chickens. While many chickens enjoy foraging for plants and bugs, it’s crucial to avoid feeding them harmful foods to prevent illness, reduced egg production, or even death.
Healthy treats, when given in moderation, are vital for a balanced diet, but certain foods must be strictly prohibited. Among these, avocados (including skins and pits), chocolate, coffee, tea, raw meat, rhubarb leaves, and fruit pits pose significant risks. It's essential to maintain a safe diet for chickens by avoiding these toxic items.
This includes being mindful of garden plants that may also be hazardous. By knowing which foods to steer clear of, chicken owners can ensure the health and happiness of their flocks. In summary, moderation is key, and it's crucial to be vigilant about not introducing known toxic foods to chicken diets for their overall well-being.
Can Chickens Eat Caterpillars?
Chickens are natural foragers that enjoy eating a variety of insects, including caterpillars, bugs, and garden pests. Caterpillars can be a great source of protein and entertainment for chickens, as they engage in activities like playing tug of war with them. However, caution is necessary because not all caterpillar species are safe. Some caterpillars are poisonous or carry parasites, posing risks to chicken health.
To ensure safety, it’s important to identify the caterpillar species your chickens encounter. Generally, smooth caterpillars like hornworms and tomato worms are safe and favored by chickens. These types are unlikely to cause harm and provide beneficial nutrition. On the other hand, caterpillars with spikes, hairs, or those known to consume toxic plants should be avoided. Examples of potentially harmful caterpillars include certain butterfly caterpillars, which chickens often ignore, and others that may be poisonous.
Chickens also consume a wide range of other insects such as blackflies, earwigs, coddling moths, grasshoppers, ticks, millipedes, aphids, spiders, and termites. Allowing chickens to forage naturally for these insects is preferable to intentionally feeding them caterpillars, as it reduces the risk of introducing toxins or parasites. While chickens generally accept caterpillars as part of their diet, some may show preferences, ignoring certain types like butterfly caterpillars while eagerly eating others.
In summary, chickens can safely eat many types of caterpillars, which contribute to their diet by providing protein and helping control garden pests. However, it is crucial to properly identify caterpillar species to avoid those that are poisonous or harmful. By allowing chickens to forage naturally and being selective about the caterpillars they consume, you can ensure their safety and health while benefiting from their pest-control abilities.
Are Caterpillars Poisonous?
Some caterpillar species display vivid colors, such as bright green bodies with red spots, which serve as a protective layer by making them appear poisonous. These caterpillars inhabit various types of trees, affecting some significantly while leaving others largely unaffected. Venomous caterpillars possess hollow, spiny barbs called urticating setae connected to poisonous glands. These spines and hairs function as defense mechanisms against predators; contact with their quill-like hairs can release toxins that cause skin reactions ranging from mild itching to severe pain, swelling, and blistering.
Notable venomous species include the Buck Moth Caterpillar (Hemileuca maia) and the Assassin Caterpillar (Lonomia obliqua). While not all caterpillars are venomous, many can inflict considerable damage on plant foliage and have developed diverse defenses such as horns, spines, and venomous spines. Generally, brightly colored caterpillars with spines, bristles, or a fuzzy appearance are likely venomous and should be avoided. However, distinguishing between harmful and harmless species can be challenging.
In regions like the UK, most caterpillars are non-poisonous, with few exceptions like the oak processionary moth caterpillar. Poisonous caterpillars can also pose risks to pets, as warned by organizations like the ASPCA. Identifying poisonous caterpillars involves recognizing their distinctive features, and precautions should be taken to prevent contact. In case of exposure, appropriate measures should be taken to treat skin reactions. Understanding which caterpillars are venomous is essential for safety and maintaining their role in the ecosystem as part of the food web.
Additionally, some caterpillar species produce toxic hemolymph or other toxic droplets, enhancing their defense capabilities. Overall, while caterpillars are fascinating and important for biodiversity, awareness of their potentially harmful traits is crucial for personal and environmental safety.
Do Chickens Eat Worms?
Chickens demonstrate a selective feeding behavior towards tent caterpillars, initially consuming a few before shifting their focus, but they return for more later. In contrast, army worms are devoured in large quantities without hesitation. Feeding Red Worms to chickens is beneficial, but caution is warranted with other types, such as mealworms, which have different nutritional profiles. Worms like earthworms provide nutritious snacks rich in protein and minerals but should be given in moderation as part of a balanced diet—mature chickens can consume 75-100 worms daily.
While worms pose a slight risk of parasites, such as gapeworm, the benefits of worm consumption generally outweigh these risks. Chickens are natural foragers and thrive on worms, which significantly contribute to their dietary needs. However, they may also contract worms from eating infected snails, slugs, or contaminated feed and water. Regular worming is crucial to protect chicken health, as some types can cause severe damage. Chickens thrive on a varied diet that includes worms, which are abundant in essential nutrients.
Both earthworms and mealworms are popular among chickens and serve as high-quality protein sources, though environmental factors and economics can affect worm meal incorporation in feeds. Overall, worms are a nutritious and integral addition to a chicken's diet, supporting their omnivorous feeding habits. It's essential to ensure the foraging area is free from past contamination to maintain their health.
📹 11 Ways To Accidentally Kill Your Chickens
Welcome back to The Happy Chicken Coop, the hub for all things poultry-related! Today, we’re addressing a subject that might …
I’d like to add for hawks, if you’re in an area where you know crows or ravens are nearby, if you leave out food they like (pretty much anything you’d feed a chicken, peanuts I’ve heard are a favorite, I’ve used bits of old bread) in an area where they can easily see it, you can convince them to make your yard part of their territory and they’ll help keep hawks away. I haven’t had a single hawk attack since the crows moved into this area.
Appreciated this; thank you. I’ve been keeping hens 20-some years. I’m mindful of overfeeding treats like scratch, but in the winter when they need a few extra calories, spreading a little scratch on a couple of boards right when they come off the roost is an easy way to check each bird’s behavior. If everyone is active and eating, great. Birds who aren’t are worth a second look. (Bonus: The pecking and soft talk of hens first thing in the morning has to be one of nature’s sweetest sounds.)
I accidentally killed a chicken That was sick by giving it water with a syringe. Not aware that they have a hole in their tongues. She took it fine, but the last one I was going to give her evidently was too much or too fast and she threw it up and choked to death very quickly . Was devastating to watch and will never forget that vision.
What a great article! Thank you so much. A lot of people don’t realize how awesome chickens are. You have no idea how many times I’ve heard someone tell another person who has lost a pet, “Oh, it was just a dog/cat/chicken.” Animals are absolutely incredible. Every single one of my chickens are amazing and I love them. Thank you for making this article to help keep our babies safe.
lol my male rottweiler raised and cleaned up after my baby chicks. we had our neighbor’s puppies behind our house, sneak under the fence and chase our (now grown chickens) all around the yard. my rottie cornered the 2 puppies and corrected them, they were so scared 😭. (they were returned safely to their owners !) he also gets along with our bunnies aswell
I had my chickens get out of their run and eat my roses, which are okay. However, one got into my front yard where my hydrangeas grow and ate a bunch of petals and she just laid down and after a few hours she was dead. So I make sure that none of my landscaping is deadly for chickens: no hydrangeas, azaleas, allium, daffodils or tulips, or wisteria. I have lots of hostas and roses. They can also have a lot of the flowers that you grow in your vegetable gardens such as marigolds, nasturtiums, petunias and zinnias.
another strategy is: don’t feed your chickens inside the coop. The coop is just for sleeping and laying. keeps the coop a lot cleaner too; u know, if you have that option. Also I planted my apple trees in their ranging area, and they often eat windfall apples, but never the seeds they always leave the core. They can also eat milkweed and poke weed and bitter nightshade berries. As long as you’re feeding them they know what they can, and can’t eat.
Cannibalism. Chickens in an overcrowded coop will kill and then eat each other in a neglected coop, usually the smallest and most shy in the flock, or the one hen that’s different color. My neighbors consistently say it’s weasels but we don’t have any, or raccoons, but here’s no sign of entry. But the chicken that dies has usually been bullied because they take a 5 chicken coop and buy more chicks so there’s 15 in there. And they don’t clean the floor so they live in a constant cloud of methane. And there’s 6 broken down nesting boxes for 15 hens and one roost bar that’s only 5 feet long. The bullied hens never get up there and live in the methane cloud all winter. Winter is the worst. The water freezes over because the boy doesn’t want to put on his boots and check on them and I find the food dispenser empty at least once every two months. I feed and water them and I’m just the renter neighbor. They’ve had about 25 hens in the time I lived here and always lose enough down to six, after which she buys more chickens because she thinks they’re cute and pretty. Fortunately, they seem to be coming around after all my badgering, cleaning up the coop a little, and allowing them to free range at least twice a week (we have eagles). Thank goodness they’re realizing these are living creatures utterly dependent on their captors and not just egg factories. I was afraid I’d have to call animal rescue on them. But anyway … cannibalism. Chickens will do it without a second thought.
For anyone just tuning into this, LISTEN to your chickens. I heard my chickens going crazy…and sometimes this is nothing. But I’m sad to say…this one time they were going crazy because one of their sisters was caught by her leg in the fence. She died. Upside down, caught by her leg. I was devastated. They were trying to tell me something and I didn’t listen. 😢 It only takes a couple minutes to check on it when they go crazy. I could have saved her. Don’t make my mistake!
I left a bowl in the chicken run since I was busy doing other things to go back and get it. When I came back to get it one of my 2 month old chicks was suffocated underneath it. 😱😱😭 we have all of the above toxic wild plants and flowers including tons of elderberry and our chickens seem to never have a problem with any of them. Like you said, chickens are smart about what they can and can’t eat.
I lost two chickens by drowing in my sheep livestock waterer, despite putting in a ladder. Two separate instances. I also lost one that I could not find anywhere. I looked for hours. She had fallen behind the hay bales (very very narrow opening) and couldn’t get out and died. I only found what was left of her after I used most of hte hay stack. If I had only thought to move the hay bales until I could see all the way to the bottom!
I do a weekly health check on all our chickens. These are some of the questions from my health assessment: Have you had any changes to bowel or bladder elimination? Have you been feeling like life is not worth living? Are things you used to enjoy doing no longer pleasurable? Have you used any tobacco products in the last week? How many drinks have you had in the last week? Do you wear a seatbelt while in motor vehicles? Have you seen a dentist in the last 6 months? Do you feel safe in the coop? Are there any firearms in the coop? How many hours per day do you spend on social media? What are your main sources of news? Have any of the other chickens expressed any extreme views or conspiracy theories such as humans wanting to steal their eggs or eat them? Have any chickens mentioned possible violence against humans? If you encounter an extremist chicken, do you know how to report them to the humans? Would you feel safe doing so? Are you aware of the ‘Segregated for Safety’ program the humans offer to avoid retaliation? Is there anything else the humans could be doing to facilitate your laying more or gaining weight? What are the 5 nicest things humans do for you? How have humans improved your life? Which human is your favorite, and why? What 3 things can you do to help the humans? Do you feel qualified to apply for the ‘Superior and Gifted Chicken’ program taking place behind the barn? What 5 things can you do in the next week to make you better qualified for the ‘Superior and Gifted Chicken’ program?
You left out a very destructive chicken killer, the Bear. I just had a black bear kill all 8 of mine, 2 Roosters, 6 hens. I had an upper enclosed coop with a hardwired bottom coop with an exit door into an outside pen area. The upper coop had hardwired doors on it with lift up doors to open in the summer and close down in the winter. The Coop design worked really well for 4 years allowing the chickens to stay warm in winter, cool in summer, locked up while I was gone and freed when I was home. Then one night while I was asleep around 3-4 am the bear ripped the door off the upper Coop and apparently some of the birds got caught others went down in the hardwired part of the Coop and the bear ripped it open getting them. I found a place in the woods with feathers and all sixteen sets of wings were left. I’ve been wondering if it was more than one bear since all of the birds were killed and eaten.
i had a bunch of whole mixed grains i gave to my mum to feed my chickens when i went on a trip. I came back and my mum told me she cooked thr grains into porridge and ate it herself, and said that the chickens can find their own food. The chickens laid less eggs than they used to for that time period. Shes never looking after my chickens again, and yes, this is the same woman who said goldfish doesnt need food either, they eat particles in the water. Guess who’ll be living in a nursing home by herself (she is quite malicious and refuses to learn unless she faces consequences)
Me, a chicken owner who has thrown tomatoes apples and just about everything out into the yard for them to snack on. I’ve also emptied out my espresso machine puck into my garden and turned around to see that our ladies had just completely obliterated that puck in seconds. They were…very active that day. Hubby has also been out enjoying an afternoon bonfire with friends and spilled some IPA on the ground and they drank it. None of them died, all of them had a great time. I’m not saying you’re wrong. Maybe I have some really hearty ladies…idk.
My chickens live in a winter-free country together with parrots and rabbits. The only enemy is the bad chicken feed from the shop. I have now deleted that. Now I only feed boiled potatoes, rice, some oatmeal, salads, papaya, grapes and banana. The aviary is huge and the floor is covered with grass. In an extra part of the aviary there is a compost heap and stones and wood to turn because the delicious worms and termites are underneath. Sometimes a rat snake snakes its way through the aviary, but I’m always quicker at collecting the eggs. I have 2 plastic tubs in the aviary that always provide clear water through aquatic plants. the chickens love it
Lost a chicken to a hawk and had a couple of other near misses. Then we strung a thin red ribbon back and forth over the run, in random zig zag patterns. I’ve seen a hawk flying overhead, sometimes causing the chickens to squawk, but it did not come down. Not sure if this will last through snow and ice or will have to be rehung in the spring; will find out soon!
YOU CAN ALSO USE HALF BAKING SODA, AND HALF CORNBREAD OR HALF CHOCOLATE CAKE MIX. PUT IT IN A BAG FIRST AND SHAKE IT UP TO MAKE SURE ITS MIXED THEN PUT IT IN A CONTAINER THAT YOU PUT HOLES IN SO THE RODENTS CAN ACCESS AND OTHER ANIMALS CAN’T. IT ISN’T DANGEROUS TO OTHER ANIMALS AND THE DEAD RODENTS ALSO AREN’T DANGEROUS TO OTHER ANIMALS . IT WORKS.
I cook for my girls on a bi weekly basis one week their diet is supplemented with cooked rice and veggies and opposite weeks is fruits and salad greens! They love watermelon rinds! I leave a lot of the red fruit on the rinds 😋🐓diatometious earth food grade is used every six months on their body’s as well as dusting the coops. I don’t use poison on mouse control, my cats don’t harm my chickens and catch mice with ease!
Yep heat lamps can totally be dangerous I should know because I lost 7 animals plus my coop, food and supplies to a fire two months ago right now I just use the heating plate don’t worry about heat lamps right now because it’s summer but securing the heat lamp is one thing definitely gonna fix when the coop is done
Old heat lamp bulbs can explode and cause fires. I replace the bulbs every three months, if used only at night, and monthly if used 24/7. I use the older bulbs during freezes to save sensitive trees and plants that aren’t in coops or barns. For new hatchlings, I now only use brooder plates…because they also love the security of being underneath the plate. Even with the plates, do NOT pile up hay or wood shavings to where it touches the plate….it’s not necessary. A thin layer of shavings is sufficient to absorb droppings (which should be cleaned once or twice daily. Raccoons can/will reach in and grab chickens too….and kill them by trying to pull them through the wire. Foxes jump and climb like a cat…and can jump up to six feet high…so a four foot fence will not keep them away. Best deterrent for predators is a well trained dog…Pyrenees and Maremmas are bright white and visible deterrent.
I remember seeing an episode of something like 20/20 cant remember like 30 years ago of a kid that developed a brain tumor. His mother sought after a fix. Eventually she heard about apple seeds. Kid ate apple seeds daily and his tumor vanished. Ever since then when I eat an apple, I eat the entire thing minus the stem.
Here are 2 more. 1. having too many roosters. In 1 flock you should only have 1 rooster, even 2 roosters in 1 flock is too much and they fight each other every time, and if you have more than that they may gonna try to jump on 1 chicken as a pack of roosters, so when there are 10 roosters that means hell for chickens. So keep the rooster count low. 2. dropping food above the fence to them. If you have small chicken try to give them food not above fence, otherwise you may gonna hit 1 of them and have the chance of it being fatal if you giving them water melons and similar big or bulkier foods. So be careful giving them bigger foods.
Iv seen alot of peope recommend diatomaceous earth and not really calrify how little should be used. I personaly use general purpose sand. Its super dusty. Put it in a wide low edge bin, a kiddie pool or an already dirt spot in your yard and bring the chickens over 2 or 3 times a day (however much they seem to enjoy) They love it and cluck like nuts when they do it. Hope this helps.
Super helpful. We had two dogs kill numerous hens even though we trained them. A dog is a dog and it’s their nature to kill hens. I also once left twine in the coop and the chicken got entangled in it and was hanging upside down on one of the hottest days of the year. She survived but I felt so bad!! 😭😭😭
1- Farmerboy Ag sells safety lamps that wont catch your coop on fire. Use thick glass bulbs to prevent shattering. 2- If you don’t trust your dog, keep them away. simple. you don’t need to bury wire mesh – just lay it on top of the ground, affix to a fence, min 18″ from the fence. 3- Racoons – Hot wires help a lot. Same as movable electric net fence. Wacky Wavy arm men help with hawks on 15-30min intervals. 4- Newer rat poisons wont kill birds. Keep baits away from birds, and clean up dead animals. 5- Chems… i’ve watched chickens drink gasoline and hydro oil and survive it. not saying they should drink it… Chickens like shiny, so yeah. clean up nails. 6- Auto waterers. Hauling water is miserable, and freezing weather stops them drinking. 7- Chickens are incredibly dumb, but generally they wont eat things they don’t like. Potato and Tomato is fine to feed. 8- Neglect… Don’t neglect your birds. 9- Garden plants… again, chickens will generally not eat things they don’t like. Jimson week, and Devils trumpet are halucigenic thru toxicity. so, they’ll go wack then die. 10- Mites, treat with sevin dust or bifenthrin. Gape worm – Worm your birds with levimisole when each time the grass comes on, and goes(spring and fall). Red spider mites, burn down the coop. 11- DE doesn’t work for anything. Don’t use it. huge waste of time.
Ive seen elderberry listed as toxic in several articles and on a few online lists, but all the real world accounts say that their girls were fine living with an elderberry shrub in their run for a decade and other similar accounts. I think there is something more to look at with this issue given the disparity between the literature and real life.
I used heavy gauge wire mesh with a 6″ bend facing out on the bottom 2′ of the coop, which I buried 6-8″ below the ground. If an animal tries to dig around the perimeter they hit that mesh and it stops right there. I’ve seen several attempts over the years but haven’t lost one to a critter yet in 8 yrs.
I have 6 dogs. 3 are large breeds. G. Shepherd, Husky, and English lab/chow mix, and one of my small dog is a rat terrier which is a known killer breed. My husky is a straight killer (possums beware 😅). My husky was bringing headless chickens home for a while. We live in the country and don’t know where the nearest chickens are? Anyway we have now had chicken for 2 years and all my dogs protect and are super gentle with my gals and rue. My shepherd especially has taken to being their protector! He now prefers to sleep outside and watch the property.
One of my girls have gape worm and I love her so much ( she might be my favorite) her name is Reese she had gape worm for abt a year or so before she was coughing sneezing gasping for a lot of air we got medicine but it didn’t work much but did something we gave her yogurt bc she wouldn’t eat at all. Idk what we put in there water but it was to take the worms out, anyways she is still living she is at the lowest pecking order so I do have to keep my eye on the others. But I do limit the time when she runs if she runs too much she start coughing so I either separate her or I’ll give her water and pat her back to kinda help and just hold her in my lap til she’s ready to go back and eat more gras and be a chicken. Edit: so sorry it’s long (I said a little too much but that’s alright lol(
Heres my only tip i can give. I live somewhere that is cold in the winter and HOT in summer. I feel like my girls did worste in summer and had some rough days in over 100 degree weather. On days that were too hot a great way to cool them down was to use a cheese grater on a cold cucumer. The amount of water and how cold it is, is a great summer treat
11:45 Glad to hear about DE. I suppose it isnt good for human breathing either… I bought a huge bag of it +have been liberally dusting their bedding + around the coop walls. I am paranoid about insects feeding on my feather babies. Please give me some suggestions of how to eliminate misquitos from drifting into the coop + feasting on my little 14 chicken flock. I myself am ferociously attacked ( + so know they must be also bitten throughout the summer nights) whenever I check them at night, +after I turn them out into their run while I’m cleaning their coop. Non poisonous, yet effective sprays or whatever you suggest are my first desire, but if those attempts fail, I may resort to some sort of fog pest bomb. I dont think the chickens can see the skeeters to eat them so I really feel bad for them .
My chickens, turkeys, foul get 100% of our leftovers we do not go through anything or sort through anything. They get it all and choose what they want and what they don’t. We’ve been doing it this way for 30 years & We have never had an issue with anything dying, and at that point it’s survival of the fittest.
My farm has elderberry everywhere. Both red and black. The black makes an excellent jelly mixed with crabapples. Elderberry twigs are poisonous however. Children used to get poisoned making whistles out of them, so like rhubarb leaves you need to plant outside runs not in runs where everything gets eaten. Mostly good advice and as a poultry owner and breeder for 70+ years I recommend not expecting the cute commercial coops you can buy at the farm store to keep raccoons out. I have had them tear the siding off a barn or shingles off a roof and they would laugh at those coops.
People dont like it, but the best and quickest way to discipline your dog on to not kill/chase chickens is to beat her/him with a dead chicken. I have a husky, and if you know anything about dog breeds, huskies are very well known for being difficult to train, and she now lives harmoniously with/around the flock, even goes out of her way to run off other dogs or cats that enter my property.
Also overcrowding. If they are overcrowded & you’re even so much as late on their care, they will start to peck each other and try to kill each other. I watched one give another the “peck of death” (behind the neck) & it killed her nearly instantly. It took her a half a second to cause this kind of damage. — mind you, these ones weren’t overcrowded; the one who died was the weakest of the flock & the hen was getting rid of her. They are brutal
Chickens are pretty smart, and they fed well you don’t have to worry about them eating bad things. For instance, mine have been free roaming in my yard several hours every day for years and years. For that same amount of time I’ve had 25 skip laurel bushes in my backyard. Skip laurels are poisonous. Every bit of that plant is poisonous. My chickens are fine.
We used rubber coated hardware cloth to cover our entire run and it’s buried about 10″ under ground inside and out. Nothing gets in. Hawks have broken their necks hitting it at full speed and not even a snake can get in. Our baby chicks are in our house in a playpen until they can go outside. We enjoy them while they’re in the house.
When I first started raising chickens I had some problems but fortunately I had a very understanding supplier. My first dozen didn’t last but a day or two. When I called them they said no problem and sent me another dozen. Same thing, they only lasted a day. When I called again they said, we will replace them but maybe we can help you. I said great… because I couldn’t tell if I was planting them too deep or watering them too much.
I was born into a sustenance farm, I’m 43… I’ve had chickens for 43 years. We give our chickens avocado and cashews every autumn. Never had a problem. We do it to help fatten them up and help them through the molting process to prepare for winter. Also it’s not uncommon for them to get into the tomatoes and rhubarb… we have potatoes but they don’t seem interested in the tops and don’t dig deep enough to get to the tubers. They will also eat our carrots, corn, okra, etc. but that’s neither here nor there, since you didn’t mention them. My point is these ‘bad for them foods’ people talk about have had no noticeable effects on several generations of chickens… so I question the conventional knowledge on what foods are toxic for chickens. I’m not say’n don’t be careful with potentially dangerous foods, but don’t freak out if they happen to get into them. And Rhodie Reds (Rhode Island Reds) seem to do just fine being intentionally fed avocado and cashews (the article didn’t mention cashews but people often advise against that as well)… I’m not say’n you should feed it to your chicken (don’t sue me if you do, and something happens, that’s on you)… but it’s how my grandma, my dad and my siblings and I have fed chickens for the past 43 years without incident, so… there’s that.
Chickens have been eating potatoes and tomatoes and rhubarb out of compost piles for generations. My family has generations of farmers going back to my grandfather’s grandfather and more. I’ve been farming small scale for decades. The general rule is and always has been feed everything but chickens to chickens and everything but pigs to pigs. Of course folks with animals should be aware of what plants are growing but it’s not difficult to keep the few little things out of your animals reach. I’ve never vaccinated any of mine either. As I was taught, i give my chickens oregano and thyme in their daily food to keep them healthy. A little cayenne pepper keeps them laying. A little apple cider vinegar in their water. Pumpkin or wormwood to keep worms at bay. I’ve always used the deep hay method in and around their coop. Eliminates smell and keeps chickens happy and a great thing to add to your garden at the end of the season to keep the dirt fertile for growing.
Something that I think is quite important is not watering your chickens with troughs (especially in ground ones) I recently put in an in ground trough and one of my hens died from drowning in it and the other was being chased by a predator and fell into the trough and then was killed, even though you don’t have to fill them as much I would still steer clear of troughs as in my opinion each chicken is precious, please try to spread this word as if you went through the work to buy a trough or burry a trough you won’t want to get rid of it.
So, when my seven chicks were in the brooder, the heat lamp exploded and fell. We were very lucky it didn’t catch fire AND that my dad had just finished the chicken coop. I don’t know what might have happened is dad hadn’t built the coop that day… We moved over the chicks quite in their early state. I am very glad I still have my chickens!
Chicken fires: Owners get blamed for ‘improper use’ but it’s just as likely chicks hop up there when it’s off or turned down, and when the chick is large enough to practice. They poop on it and their feces ignites like a fertilizer bomb. The fire still starts at the lamp, but maybe the owner catches a break in blame game. Other coop owners complain about having to clean the lamp off because the chicks won’t stay down after they’re old enough to get feisty. Some days you missed a spot.
I raised my last batch in my room in a “puppy playpen” I actually went out and identified weeds that were safe, harvested them and fed them to my chicks. Two weeks later, they are outside and tend to ignore weeds I have not cut for them. I only keep one now, and she stays in my room, so yes, I know from day to day….and poop to poop….how she is doing! We’re going to do some cricket training soon! I want them to hunt. So a kiddie pool and 100 baby crickets should be fun to watch!
I thought I had an impenetrable hen house. 10×13 metal shed with wood framed floor. My dogs got in by busting the closed doors off the slides. Killed most of them. I built framed doors with hardware cloth and that kept them out. But husky’s are smart and tenacious. Later after the flock was rebuilt, one of my girls literally ate through and pulled the siding off including the screws. Again, rebuilt fixed. Now I have them rotating the yard. The dogs go first. Then I lock them up in the kennel. Then I let the chickens out. Back and forth until night fall. I don’t leave them together for anything. Constantly look for soft spots in security. If an animal gets in there they will wipe you out. Many now how bad this is and how long it takes to re-coop the lose.
PS As a general rule, Elderberry is indeed toxic, with ONE exception… the AMERICAN Elderberry (of which there are 3 cultivars) are 100% non-toxic. You DO NOT have to boil or otherwise cook the AMERICAN Elderberry. You can eat them fresh, dehydrated, frozen, freeze-dried, or cooked. ..whatever floats your boat—just make sure you’ve got one of the three cultivars of the “American” Elderberry❕
You obviously live in a warmer climate than I do. Yes, adult chickens DO need additional heat when it’s -45F windchill. They can survive, but they’ll freeze their feet and combs, leaving them not just unattractive, but sometimes crippled. Also, if they are in a climate less than freezing, then the eggs can freeze as well.
2:00 i gues i am lucky with the dogs at my chicken ren. My mom owns a chichu and a chiwawa. (Whatever its called) And when i come there and say to the smallest one(chiwawa). Imma go fead the chickens. It will instantly stand up from joy jumping around and cry so i take her with me😅. When at the fence i just pick her up and put her in there with them. (Own 12 chickens 2 roosters) She just casualy walks around straight next to them. My rooster is like 4x her size she just walks over to sniff his ass and then proceeds to follow me to the coop😂😂 First time she did run after it bit she did not want to catch it it was more a running game for her. Told her to stop and she never did again. Most amazing part is i ones whent to check out the ren to make sure fence is still oke. And the wind blew over the part that i use to enter it. I have a field that is 60 wide and 100 deep. (Meters) So i was at the end and the dog next to me and i look back and noticed 2 of them already found the enter/exit. I start running back the dog was like HOLD UP WHAT YA DOING?! 🤔 So she started running after me and noticed 3 of them already outside the field at that point. She just automaticly whent into drag mode passed me like i was running in slowmotion😂 In my mind i was like wtf how you that fast?!?!😱 People that own one know what i mean you cant outrun it🤣 While i am halfway she already out and just out of nowhere starts running around them like a border collie pushing and barking them literaly back into the fields.
I’m very new to chickens, the laying chickens… KFC I’m quite familiar with. 🤷♂️ Five days ago I walked into a feed store, early on Thursday, the chicken receiving day, (they’re gone within an hour, Rhode Island Reds), and let the fine lady behind the counter, well… “I’d like a chicken.” “You’re in luck, we have nine left, that is unusual for this breed.” “Okay, I’d like eight chickens, please.” Chickens, eight. 🤷♂️ Now what do I do… I am as unprepared as I am a dolt. 🫣 I’m old, a man of leisure… Eight chickens. 😳 I asked the chick, (no pun), just how do I keep these chicks alive for… for as long as it takes me to uncork myself from this recliner and, and discover I know nothing about a chicken…(s) So, picked up the red heat bulb to insert into the newly purchased… bulb holder, a chicken water bottle, pine shavings and two kinds of supplements to put into their water. They are roughly eight days old, no eggs yet but I’m always the optimist. I put my eight chickens in a plastic tote which I’d set up for them… And immediately, (looking down), I set up a larger tote… and will be setting up an even larger tote tomorrow. …right after I clean chicken butts. 😬 I believe I heard them called ‘vents’, and as an aging man… I get it. 😏 When I began this diatribe I believe I had a question… it now appears to have vanished into the ether somewhere. So… Nice website, great information shared, thank you… New subscriber. 👍
You can use pressure treated wood to stop rats & mice from chewing into a coop & we trained our older dog to leave the birds alone with a shock collar & it took less than a week. Lol they would have to eat a ton of apples to be harmed by them generally chickens know what they can’t eat. Vets in most places will not see chickens
Not all dogs need to be trained to leave chickens alone. We have 3 small dogs, two shihtzu and one chihuahua and only one has ever been an issue with the chickens. The other two have never tried to kill or attack, and we never trained them not to. Some dogs simply dont care, depends on the dogs nature.
Cats are cheaper than poison and traps. My cat deters and kills all rats and doves and keeps other cats out. I live in Australia, so we don’t have the other animals just possums as big as a medium dog, but they are nocturnal. I have a staffie who is straight out of the dog door if he hears anything at night. He LOVES his chickens’ eggs and poo so they have become a food resource and are protected with his life. He even kills swooping crows. Use animals instead of buying poison that also kills our planet. My animals don’t need constant exercise because they have a job. The cat will eat eggs and the dog, and they are really healthy. The chook poo keeps my garden going really well. The whole system works together.
I find this a bit confusing because I’ve been feeding my chickens tomatoes for as long as I can remember and they’ve always been fine, and are STILL fine. They are healthy, happy, and all that. Also, one time, we accidently fed our chickens chocolate cake without knowing the toxin until LATER. They were actually completely fine, but PLEASE don’t feed your chickens chocolate as we’ve made a mistake! We’ve fed our chickens potatoes scraps as well, and they’re okay. Still, like this article, maybe it’s not the best to feed them these foods.
. Please don’t buy those pre made chicken pens that say they house 6 to 8 birds when they fit 1-3 birds with some free-ranging. A bird needs at least 2 square metres and lots of toys like treat rollers and hanging food just out of their reach, so they wear themselves out. Even prisoners are allowed to exercise as it decreases violence. If you have Isa Browns, they must be given some of their eggs back cooked, to them, or meal worms as they use everything they have to make eggs. For example, I built my pen from two bed frames and four posts and just bits of timber I had laying around. I bought a window from the tipping yard shop for $20. I went through my timber yards bin with a wrench and took bolts from bits of wood, and got more from the tipping shop. I had an old door and used that. All up, it cost me $40. I can do chin ups on the door frame. It’s so solid, and I didn’t know that I could build😂. Never built anything before. Once the tin is on the roof, you just cover it in paint and whatever colour you have lying around or can pick up second hand. Bolt the roof down.
Well I got weird something happen my hand had some chicks couple more days later that okay just today I fed them some feed special for chicks want to get the water came back my chick died fast tell me why because he looks like ate too much and died I came from water everyday normally can you tell me what happened to my check because the food was in his mouth though and it was a healthy chick I took care of them good but I still died
I own a small Seabright chicken that just got attacked this morning extremely badly. Her head is covered in blood and is featherless, we also think she is blind because her eyes are not blinking and are black. The poor thing is possibly in a coma but is breathing reasonably well. We have placed her in a box in the warm living room on the couch on a blanket. I love the little chicken a lot but don’t want to take her to the vet because they’ll just euthanize her, and we want to take a chance to see if the poor girl pulls through. Does anyone know if there’s anything else I can do?
Totally agree with the common sense points made in this article, but chickens do NOT drink a pint of water a day, I think you’ve clearly misread something online there 😂. Chickens do consume a surprising amount of water for their size though, at around 120ml a day, which is around 5% of their weight in water a day, about twice as much as humans.
This one stumps me. A few weeks ago, I heard a commotion outside with the chickens, it was the sound of the chickens in danger. I ran outside almost immediately because i was by the back door. They were all huddled together under the deck. That night I counted 1 less chicken. The missing chicken was a silver laced Wyandotte, a pretty good-sized chicken. I know what it looks like when a predator gets ahold of them. Missing head? Owl. 4-legged creature, chicken hawk, even hawks and Eagles there struggles. I found nothing. Almost like something flew down and just picked her up and gone. No feathers, no body. Has anyone ever seen a bird of prey pick up an 8-10 lb. chicken and just fly off with them? I’ve had chickens growing up with a much bigger land and I was always able to find something. It would have happened about 6:30-7 am. We have Great Horned owls, Golden Eagles, and Bald Eagles. For hawks the Red Tail is pretty common. I’m in Eastern NC btw.
I came home to fine a 12 week old pullet dead in the coup. She us one of two in a separate coop from my main flock. I let them out after work to roam the yard. I have no idea. Her sibling is fine…hopefully. this morning I out an ice cube with organic corn in there. I did sit it on the counter and a couple coffee grains got on it. That’s the only thing I can think if that possibly was the cause. She was and easter egger named Jane Austin. I’m so sad…
My girls chase cats it’s hysterically funny the cats think they are big predatory birds and scramble over the 8ft fence surrounding my property,the girls free range when I’m mostly home,but shopping needs doing so I always shut them in before I go out,the run is huge so they are not too put out for a c the run is huge so they can scratch about in the run,eat the layer pelletst or go hang out in coop,or do whatever Never use poison,found some awesome boxed that electrocute any that show up,very impressed with them I’m in the Uk so no coyote,raccoon or predatory birds well falcons fly over,but they catch birds in the air and don’t go for anything on the the ground,the sparrow hawks take collard doves and wood pigeons,chicken are way out of their league . Not seen any foxes in the garden,think the fence is too high,urban foxes eat a lot of rats,which is pretty cool,i’ve seen them hunting and killing them on on my night time walks . I Do ere on the side of caution though,hence the girls being secured two hours before sundown Found some awesome rat electrocution chambers,😂😂really impressed with them,leave the copses in the lane as an easy meal for the foxes,don’t want the rotting corpses laying around 🤢 very nice and kind you giving good information out their to folks who might be making mistakes All the very best to you and yours .
So lucky that predators dont come around to my house. Its at least cat proof my coop and door gets closed. There are roaming cats but they dont come over since I got chickens. Cats used to dig thru my compost for meat. Yeah we had a few months of rodent sand luckily the dumb chickens didn’t put their head in bait station. Found a rat dead in the coop but threw it in the bin
Insulation, & heat lamp . 1st things that came to mind . I don’t use a heat lamp, I use a hen. Yes birds of prey are protected but so are my girls with a 12ga. Once my wife said to me you can’t shoot that, it’s endangered ! I while taking aim replied it sure is, it’s in a lot of danger 👺👉 🫴💨💥 .
Alcohol is on the list for sure, but it is the one thing they will definitely go for if left around unguarded (wine or beer). If I am sitting out with them having a drink, I have to put a cover over the drink. They will also go for cigarettes as well. So much for knowing what they shouldn’t have. I must have the Speakeasy breeds? I do not have to worry about my 7yo rescue cat with them, she is more frightened of them (I have larger breeds). I had to protect the cat from one of the chickens (who thought it was good that the cat fell for the bluff). But they are all okay together now, and I don’t need to worry about the cat. Contrary to popular belief, not all cats are killers, and her only kill was a lethargic butterfly who was probably dying anyway. The cat is a fairly useless mouser, the chickens are far better at it. So of course, I do not use any rodent poisons, not worth the risk. Nor do I use any slug/snail baits either. Dogs are not as easy to train around chickens. The biggest expense of chicken keeping, building the predator-proof coop and run. My chickens all have names, so they are not to be eaten.
They’ll eat glass and nails, but chickens are pretty smart? lol.. nope! And I’m looking for ways to keep our neighbors chickens out of our yard! I don’t want to hurt them, but they are chasing our hummingbirds, other birds off as well as our squirrels and chipmunks! We feed them.. we don’t feel that we should pay money to keep their chickens home! And yes we have already spoke with the owners of the nasty little creatures!