12 Plants You Should Never Grow Around Your Chickens

Chickens are natural foragers. Let them loose, and they will happily spend every moment from dawn till dusk scratching and pecking through the yard. They’ve got nothing on their sweet little minds but ants and weeds. They absolutely live for food, and they will snack on anything they find in the area you give them. That’s not always a good thing because some plants are poisonous to your chickens. 

Allowing them to forage can be highly beneficial to your chickens’ health and behavior. Chickens evolved to scratch, peck, and explore their surroundings for food. It keeps them busy and out of trouble, and supplements their diet with a generous amount of protein and other essential nutrients.

Oleander

	botanical name Nerium oleander
	sun requirements Full sun
	height Up to 20’
	hardiness zones 8-10

Oleander is a beautiful, tropical garden plant. Beautiful, and deadly, that is. Oleander is a tall, graceful plant with gorgeous flowers that thrives in tropical and subtropical climates. Many folks grow it because it is highly ornamental and exceptionally drought and heat-tolerant. 

This is one of those plants that I will forever caution people against planting, especially if you have children in the garden regularly or curious pets, including chickens. That is because it’s not the kind of poison that causes stomach issues and then passes. It’s often deadly. It contains cardiac glycosides that can affect the heart rhythm. 

Oleander is even hazardous to add to the burn pile, so if you need to dispose of some, this is not the recommended method. A small amount of the smoke can cause eye and lung irritation. Best to avoid this one altogether. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCXbyayeDq8&t=89s

Castor Bean

	botanical name Ricinus communis
	sun requirements Full sun
	height Up to 40’
	hardiness zones 8-11

The castor bean plant is an attractive ornamental known for its bold foliage and distinctive seed pods. It’s also one of the most toxic plants in the world. Castor bean contains ricin, one of the deadliest naturally occurring compounds.

Never grow this plant if you have chickens that forage or explore your garden. It can cause liver and kidney failure and result in death in as few as 36 hours. There is no antidote for ricin poisoning. A small portion of a seed can be fatal to a chicken. 

Foxglove

	botanical name Digitalis purpurea
	sun requirements Partial shade
	height 2’-5’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Foxgloves are incredibly beautiful, and I wish they were safe, because I would love to have them in my garden. Their tall spikes, adorned with freckled, bell-shaped blossoms, are the most delightful plant for a cottage garden. These spring bloomers are risky to plant in your chickens’ foraging area. 

All parts of the foxglove plant are poisonous and contain cardiac glycosides, which are poisonous compounds. They have tender leaves that grow close to the ground, allowing your birds easy access to them. It’s better to avoid them entirely if you have chickens. I pruned some once without gloves, and I can tell you that my hands were tingly after I finished the first plant! Handle these with extreme care!

Rhubarb

	botanical name Rheum rhabarbarum
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3’-5’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Rhubarb is an anomaly. The stalks of the vegetable are edible and commonly used for making pies and jams. The leaves are large, crinkled, and toxic. They contain oxalic acid, which is poisonous to chickens, humans, and other pets and livestock. 

It’s a good idea to fence off your vegetable garden from your chickens anyway, but make sure they can’t get to this one if you grow it. There are several vegetables that chickens shouldn’t eat, and I wouldn’t expect you to avoid growing them altogether. Be cautious about composting the leaves of this plant; if animals can access your compost, they may consume them, which can be harmful. 

Chives

	botanical name Allium schoenoprasum
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 10”-15”
	hardiness zones 3-9

Chives are a popular, easy-to-grow herb in the allium family. They have a mild, onion-like flavor and attractive, grassy leaves. They’re a culinary staple and a great addition to herb gardens due to their low-maintenance needs and uses in the kitchen. This is another one that many veggie gardeners grow, but keep it away from your chickens. 

Chives contain sulfur compounds that can be harmful to chickens in large quantities. Because of the taste, they will seldom eat enough to cause real harm. However, it’s best to stay on the side of caution and fence your chives off from your hens. 

Buttercup

	botanical name Ranunculus spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2”-24”
	hardiness zones 8-11

Buttercups are pretty, bright-yellow wildflowers that belong to the genus Ranunculus. The genus comprises over 600 species, all of which are included in this entry. While they may look sweet and innocent, buttercups are toxic to animals, including livestock and chickens, and can be invasive in gardens or pastures. 

All parts of the buttercup plant contain protoanemonin when they are fresh. When you crush any part of the plant, it releases this toxin and can irritate the skin. Ingested, they can cause death or paralysis in small animals. Drying destroys the toxin, making it less dangerous in its dried form. 

Daffodil

	botanical name Narcissus spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6”-20”
	hardiness zones 3-9

Daffodils, also known as narcissus, are bright, cheery spring flowers. They’re known for their trumpet-shaped blooms and vibrant yellow, white, or orange petals. Among the most beloved early bloomers in gardens, symbolizing renewal and hope, they are also toxic to animals and humans if ingested. 

All parts of the plant are poisonous, but the bulbs are extra dangerous. They contain lycorine, which can cause crop irritation and digestive distress. Consuming them in larger amounts can cause serious illness and even death. Chickens will enjoy scratching up the bulbs if you leave the dirt uncovered, so it’s best to avoid growing them near your coop or anywhere that chickens free-range. Mulch won’t help either, as that is a chicken’s favorite thing to dig around in.

Tulip

	botanical name Tulipa spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6”-26”
	hardiness zones 3-8

Tulips are popular spring bloomers admired for their vibrant colors and elegant shapes. But, they can be toxic to chickens and other animals if ingested. This is especially true of the bulbs. All parts of the plant contain the compounds tulipalin A and B, glycosides that can damage tissues. 

Severe poisoning is rare, but not unheard of. Just like daffodils, if you plant bulbs and leave the soil bare or covered with mulch, your birds are likely to scratch them up. A sign of poisoning is wiping their beak or drooling because of mouth irritation. 

Tomato

	botanical name Solanum lycopersicum
	sun requirements Full sun
	height Up to 12’
	hardiness zones 3-11

Tomatoes are nightshades, and all nightshades are toxic in whole or in part for your chickens. This includes eggplants, peppers, and potatoes as well. Truly, it is best to keep your birds out of your vegetable garden. They tend to tear everything apart and make a complete mess of your veggies. 

Ripe tomatoes are fine to give your girls, in moderation. Green tomatoes are a hard no, as they contain solanine, which is a toxic compound that, in severe cases, can cause paralysis. The leaves, stems, and flowers also contain this compound. 

Onions

	botanical name Allium cepa
	sun requirements Full sun
	height Up to 18”
	hardiness zones 1-13

Onions are another garden crop that it’s best to keep your chickens away from. They contain thiosulfates and organosulfur compounds, which damage a chicken’s red blood cells. They will end up with anemia. 

It’s difficult to detect this issue happening unless you’re paying close attention. Small bites won’t do any harm, but long-term, consistent snacking on your onion patch will likely cause symptoms. Signs of anemia include a pale comb and wattles, as well as decreased energy. 

Avocado

	botanical name Persea americana
	sun requirements Full sun
	height Up to 80’
	hardiness zones 10-12

I’m a huge fan of avocados, and I never mind paying extra for guac. Sadly, avocados and birds are not the best match. Most parts of the plant and fruit contain a compound called persin, which causes some serious health issues in animals and birds. 

The skin, pits, leaves, and bark of the avocado tree all contain this fungicidal toxin, which can cause a host of issues for birds, including heart damage, fluid around the heart and lungs, and respiratory distress. In some cases, it can result in death, but typically not in chickens. Small amounts of the flesh are unlikely to cause harm, but it’s best to be safe and not feed them any part of the plant. 

Rhododendron

	botanical name Rhododendron spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 20’+
	hardiness zones 4-9

Rhododendrons, including azaleas, are toxic to chickens and most other animals. They are stunning ornamental shrubs with gorgeous flowers, but those flowers, as well as all other parts of the plant, contain grayanotoxins. These toxins can cause severe poisoning and sometimes death.