Lilac Question?

[GardenGeisha]

I don't recall my 2 chickens (hens) eating my baby lilac trees last year, but this year my littlest lilac bush seems to be missing most of its buds and they look to have been chawed off. We have no deer or squirrels here, and the bush is about at the level of the rooster's head, and he's a chowhound!

Has anyone ever had your chickens eat your lilac buds off, and if so, did it kill the bushes, or did they come back the following year?

One of my bushes is out of the chickens' range and it still appears to be fine, intact with buds.

Thanks for your help. Lilacs aren't poisonous to chickens are they? How about grape hyacinths? (Muscari). I have a patch of them in the new chicken run.

 

[lesa]

Gee, my chickens have never bothered my lilacs (one of the few things, I can say that about!) I doubt it will hurt the bush a bit. No blooms this year-next year, hopefully it will be tall enough to be safe!

 

[Detlor Poultry]

Lilacs aren't poisonous. In fact, there good for you. You can eat the flowers raw, or candied (I really prefer candied. would you rather taste lilac or sugar and egg-white? )

 

[GardenGeisha]

Thanks, Leafing Out, but some things that aren't poisonous to people are poisonous to chickens. Such as avocados.