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

[Andy Carson]

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?

[sickle hocks]

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??

[grey]

Plant em and see what comes up!

[Andy Carson]

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.

[Tim Harrigan]

Could it be cyanide? Orange sunshine?

[Andy Carson]

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

[Carl Russell]

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

Carl

[Andy Carson]

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.

[Andy Carson]

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.

[Robert MoonShadow]

Check with your local county extension agent.

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