Peas? found in the crop of raning chickens: what are these?

DAPNET Forums Archive › Forums › Sustainable Living and Land use › Sustainable Farming › Peas? found in the crop of raning chickens: what are these?

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  • August 5, 2012 at 10:32 pm #43983
    Andy Carson
    Moderator

    I found something pea-like in the crops and gizzards of my ranging chickens when I butchered some today. These are clearly not in the feed I mix up. I have been looking for a hardy, palatable legume to feed the chickens, and wonder if the birds found one for me. I may have to just figure out what they found… It isn’t apparent in the photo, but the shells on these are really hard. I almost thought they were rocks until I crushed them with pliers. Does anyone know what these are?

    394532_506912155990705_1078332899_n.jpg

    August 6, 2012 at 2:10 am #74660
    sickle hocks
    Participant

    i don’t know your vegetation down there at all…but do you think they could be ‘stones’ or pits from a local berry-producing shrub? if it’s something that’s common but not considered palatable for people you might have never picked one and squeezed it apart to see what’s inside, sometimes the pit can be pretty substantial inside a berry…just a thought??

    August 6, 2012 at 7:22 am #74653
    grey
    Participant

    Plant em and see what comes up!

    August 6, 2012 at 12:40 pm #74656
    Andy Carson
    Moderator

    I was planning on planting them too, I thought perhaps someone might recognize these. I haven’t seen them before. I tasted a bit of the inside of one (Yeah, maybe this is gross). It tasted mostly like a raw peanut, which makes me think legume, but it did have a hint of bitter almond. Enough of a hint that I thought I better not eat much before I know what it is… I am not sure if this helps with the ID, it sounds like I am going to have to plant and identify the plant rather than the seed.

    August 6, 2012 at 1:00 pm #74655
    Tim Harrigan
    Participant

    Could it be cyanide? Orange sunshine?

    August 6, 2012 at 1:04 pm #74657
    Andy Carson
    Moderator

    Not sure, but that’s why I didn’t eat any more… 😮

    August 6, 2012 at 1:20 pm #74652
    Carl Russell
    Moderator

    Looks like a cherry pit….. Wlid Black Cherry, or Choke Cherry in the area?

    Carl

    August 6, 2012 at 1:39 pm #74658
    Andy Carson
    Moderator

    I know there is some wild cherry in the woods, but I didn’t think the chickens went back there. Perhaps they go in for the fruit and run off. It’s definately not a safe place for them long term… I haven’t noticed any chokecherry, but I haven’t gone looking for it and wouldn’t be suprized if I found some around. I know what domestic cherry pits look like, with a thick ridge on one side and a groove on the other side. These aren’t like domestic cherry pits, but I am not as sure what wild cherry pits look like… Perhaps this? The shell on these is very hard, but also thin and not “woody” in the way domestic cherry pits are. I’ll go investigating trees and if I can match the seed to a fruit I have an answer.

    August 6, 2012 at 2:51 pm #74659
    Andy Carson
    Moderator

    I looked at some pictures and these look very very much like chokecherry seeds. I think you are right about this , Carl. The seeds are supposed to have an almond flavor, from cyanide. I think this is probably what they are getting into. I haven’t seen the fruiting bodies around the house, but I read this is not uncommon as wild (and domestic) birds eat them as soon as they mature. I will have to see if I can find the plants.

    August 6, 2012 at 5:45 pm #74654
    Robert MoonShadow
    Participant

    Check with your local county extension agent.

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