Rhubarb leaves and flowers

[Helen Nilsson]

Hello, a couple of questions about rhubarb

I have always heard that the leaves of rhubarb are poisonous - is this true? I would like to give them to our hens, but I do not want to risk it if they could make them ill.
What should I do about the flowers, they are very pretty, does it affect the quality of the rhubarb being produced, should I remove them?

Looking forward to some tips
/Helen

[sandersj89]

Rhubbarb contains Oxalic acid which is the problem. As the season goes on the levels rise and if you ate bucket loads of the stuff it might do you some harm.

I have never fed it to my hens, indeed they leave it alone so doubt they would eat it anyway.

As for the flowers it is said it best to remove them as they weaken the crown.

HTH

Jerry

[arthur e]

My hens love rhubbarb leaves but then I've never told them it's bad for them. Don't think they would listen anyway.During the summer they are confined to there own little paddock and ocasionally I will throw them a leaf just to let them know what there missing, once the main seedling stage is over and things are growing well in my growing area I will let them out to scout around for beasties and help them selves to as much rhubbarb as they want.