Many gardens have laurel bushes (Rhododendron spp.) for decoration or shade. The leaves can be harmful if eaten in any large quantity, when the cardiovascular system is affected by the resinoid andromedotoxin contained in the plant. However, some chicken keepers report their birds enjoy sitting under the laurel bushes and pay no attention to the leaves at all.
Lawn Plants
A common garden weed, often found in lawns, is alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum L.). This and other types of the three-leaved plant contains nitrate and can cause serious problems with egg-laying chickens. In mammals which have eaten the plant, it causes female organs to swell, starts milk production without pregnancy and can cause temporary or permanent infertility. Although birds' anatomy is somewhat different the results can be just as dangerous - although it is unlikely to lead to fatalities.
Another less well-publicised effect of eating clover can be photosensitization - becoming overly sensitive to light.
Another plant often found in lawns is buttercups (Ranunculus spp.), but according to experts the juice of the plants can cause severe damage to a chicken's digestive system and nervous system. The juice is released from the whole part of the plant, including the leaves, and can also cause dermatitis if juice comes into contact with the skin.
The humble dock (Rumex crispus L.) or stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) can also cause problems. The dangers of a nettle are fairly obvious to anyone who have ever been stung, but in extreme cases the toxin contained in the stinging hairs in the edge of the leaves can bring on trembling, vomiting, difficulty in breathing and weakness.
Dock leaves are often used as treatment for nettle stings, but can also carry unpleasant side-effects due to the levels of soluble oxalates and nitrates in their sap.
Climbing Plants
Climbing plants can also be potentially dangerous. Clematis plants (Clematis spp.) don't have too many leaves at a low level if they are well established on a trellis or frame, but eating these leaves can affect the gastrointestinal tract and nervous system, and also cause dermatitis.
Tomatoes
And even fruit and vegetables can cause health problems. The green parts of tomato plants (Lycospersicon evculentum) can cause to digestive problems.
First Aid
If you believe your chicken has eaten a poisonous plant you should isolate it from any other birds, put it in a warm, dark locationm such as in a travel box, and contact your vet for advice as soon as possible. Make note of what the bird has eaten, and if you are not sure, take some leaves from the plant to help the vet identify it at the surgery.
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