Topic: Chickens & Potato Haulms

[OllieC]

...they love 'em! But I'm not sure if I should be... Would you?

[Robert_Brenchley]

Since the green parts of potatoes are poisonous, I wouldn't!

[Barnowl]

I think the haulms are a bit poisonous (usual nightshade family toxins) - if they produce berries those are definitely highly poisonous.

Goat farmers are told not to feed haulms to goats and they're pretty tough creatures.

Better safe than sorry?

[Old bird]

Ollie

I would check somewhere on a chickeny site as rhuabarb leaves are poisonous to man but chickens love them and are used as a wormer!

I have tried this with my last chickens and they relished the rhuabarb so may be the same sort of thing - poisonous to some and not others!

Old Bird

 :D

[OllieC]

I was surprised they went for them - having only chucked them in because they were covered with greenfly. I've opted for the cautious approach just now...

[Baccy Man]

There is an extensive list of plants toxic to poultry including details of which part of the plant is toxic & what effect it will have on the bird:
http://www.poultryhelp.com/toxicplants.html

POTATO (Solanum tuberosum); immature growths; gastrointestinal tract affected by solanine glycoalkaloids; may contain toxic levels of nitrates; plant also causes dermatitis.