Chickens like to browse around. You might be wondering if the chickens are going to eat petunias when you are planning to plant the flower in the surrounding area.
In this blog post, you are going to discover if the chickens can eat petunias. You will also discover some of the plants that are safe to have around the chickens
Can chickens eat petunias? Chickens can eat petunias. Petunias do not cause any harm to the chickens. The chickens are going to eat petunias if you plant it closer to the runs.
If you are planning to plant petunias just to enhance the beauty of the surrounding environment, it’ll be good to place the pot far away from the chickens if you don’t want them to destroy it within days.
Table of Contents
Are petunias safe for chickens?
Petunias do not contain any toxic substance that can affect the well-being of the chickens.
There is nothing to worry about if you discover that your chickens are eating the petunias you have in your surrounding area.
This should be the first question that will come to your mind if you truly care about the health of your chickens.
Just because a chicken can eat something does not mean that it is good for them. Chickens can hardly differentiate between toxic plants and safe ones. You own it to the chickens to determine the safety of what they are going to consume.
You need to make an inquiry from other chicken owners around you about the new feed you want to introduce to the chickens. Uf you don’t find an answer you can simply go online and do some searches.
To be more certain about this, I did a little research and asked other chicken owners online about chickens eating petunias flower.
A member of the backyard chicken forum said her chickens finished every petunia flower in the pot when the husband mistakenly forgets the pot around the chicken runs.
Another member said he placed petunias but at the extended part of the chicken runs and the chickens finished everything within three days.
All of these shows that the chickens are capable of eating petunias flower.
How do I introduce petunias to my chickens?
Petunia is a flower not the regular feed you serve the chickens all the time. You don’t need to go a special way to introduce petunias to the chickens.
If you have a pot of petunias flowers around you, simply place them within the chicken runs if you want your girls to eat it. If the chickens are interested in the flower, they are going to finish everything.
How often do I feed my chickens with petunias?
As for petunia flowers, it is not necessary to feed the chickens often. When the chickens are browsing around free range, they like to have some pecks on different plants and flowers on the highway.
The chickens are going to eat the flower whenever they feel like, so you don’t need to worry about how often you should serve the flower to them because it is not a regular feed you serve them.
Can chicks eat petunias?
Chicks can eat petunias but I will not advise you to serve them the flower. The chicks need more protein in their feed at the early stages.
The protein content in the feed you are going to serve the chicks should not be less than 18%. The reason is that protein is very essential for the development of some organs and feathers on chicks.
Can chickens eat flowers?
Chickens are capable of eating flowers but not always just like other common plants you have within the surrounding areas.
The chickens are capable of eating Rose petals as well as the rose of Sharon. You can deliberately plant flowers closer to the runs so that the chickens we have them as a treat.
What plants are safe to have around chickens?
Apart from petunia flowers, these are some of the plants that are safe around the chickens.
The chickens are going to derive health benefits from eating them and enhance their well being. These plants include
Cabbage
Chickens can eat cabbage. Cabbage can be served to the chickens as a treat. Chickens are going to derive lots of vitamins and minerals from eating cabbage.
Cabbage is a good source of antioxidants for the chicken. You can serve cabbage alone or together with other veggies as a treat
Rosemary
Rosemary is another flower safe for chickens. You should never panic when you discover that your chickens have eaten rosemary flowers. You just have to ensure that they are consuming the flower in moderation.
Mulberries
Mulberries are good for the chickens. Mulberries can be served to the chickens as a treat. You can serve them mulberry leaves alone or together with other plants you serve the chickens.
Comfrey
Chickens can also eat comfrey. Comfrey can be served to the chickens as a treat. You don’t have to panic if you discover that your chickens are eating comfrey while they are browsing around the surrounding area.
Marigolds
Marigold is another flower that is safe around the chickens. Marigolds do not contain any toxic substance that can harm the chickens body system. You can also plant marigolds within the surrounding area for the chickens.
What flowers should chickens not eat?
Now you know some of the flowers that are safe around the chickens, it is also good to know flowers that can also cause harm to the wellbeing of the chickens.
Yew
Yew contains a toxic substance called taxine. Taxine is capable of causing stomach upset in chickens.
The same thing goes for other types like Japanese yew. you should do everything within your capacities to get rid of yew from your surroundings for the safety of your chickens.
Tulip
You should never allow your chickens to eat tulips. A toxic substance called tulipalin is present in tulips and it is capable of causing a series of adverse effects on the health of the chickens. Best thing is to get rid of the tulips from the immediate environment.
Caston
Caston is another plant you should never allow to survive in your surrounding areas as they are causing running stomachs in the chickens.
Conclusion
Chickens can eat petunias. Petunias do not contain any toxic substance so they are safe to have around the chickens. You can plant petunias closer to the chicken runs so that they can have a peck whenever they are on free range.
Reference
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/what-chickens-wont-destroy-petunias.1013809/
