The Poultry Keeper

Tracey Morris · Joined: 04 Nov 2007 Posts: 289 Location: South Wales

Potato greenery?

I don't want to kill them by giving them the greenery when the plants have finished flowering Shocked

kated · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 2021 Location: norfolk

No, shouldn't think so it contains atropine which is poisonous to most things. Having said that I have heard of chickens eating it without any problems, but I wouldn't risk it. Milkmaid will know for sure.

Teasal · Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 3:37 pm Post subject:

Green potato is highly toxic to humans and all animals - it can kill. I never give any potato tops or anything to my goats, except pototo peelings themselves, with no sprouting bits.

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7366 Location: isle of lewis

no ,potatoes are the same family as tomatoes both of the leaves are poisonous

Tracey Morris · Joined: 04 Nov 2007 Posts: 289 Location: South Wales

Thanks everyone, will ensure they have no access to the greenery.

farmercoop · Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 9:27 am Post subject:

eek, my kids ate four tomato plants when they were only a couple of weeks old, lets thank they wern't poisoned, they ate them right to the ground as well

kated · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 2021 Location: norfolk

I believe atropine is a cumulative poison so just don't let them eat any more and it should be ok.

sasha.p · Joined: 04 Sep 2005 Posts: 499 Location: gwent

we had potatoes growing in our chicken run before we moved the hens in theystripped all the green leaves off the tops are they posienous too?i knew potatoes unless cooked were i never thought about the tops

kated · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 2021 Location: norfolk

Potatoes are not poisonous when raw unless they are green. The foliage is definitely poisonous but hen's guts are different from ours so if they've eaten some and seem ok it's probably ok but see my answer above.