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No, you should not feed rhubarb to chickens: rhubarb leaves contain soluble oxalates and other compounds that are poisonous to animals, and veterinarians list rhubarb among foods chickens should avoid. The leaves and roots are the most dangerous parts. The stalks are much lower risk, but they offer nothing your flock can’t get from safer vegetables. This guide explains what makes rhubarb toxic, what poisoning can look like, and how to keep your chickens safe around a rhubarb patch.
Key Takeaways
- Rhubarb leaves and roots are the poisonous parts of the plant.
- The leaves contain soluble oxalates and anthraquinone glycosides.
- In large amounts, soluble oxalates lower blood calcium and can damage the kidneys.
- A Texas A&M veterinarian lists rhubarb among foods backyard chickens should not eat.
- No safe dose has been established for chickens, so keep them out of the rhubarb patch.
Correction: an earlier version of this article contradicted itself by saying rhubarb is not toxic to chickens, quoted unnamed ‘experts’ who said small amounts of leaves were fine, and listed invented effects such as weakened immunity and reduced egg production; these errors have been removed.
Why rhubarb is dangerous for chickens
Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum) is grown for its tart leaf stalks, but the large, triangular leaves are a different story. North Carolina State Extension lists the leaves and roots as the poisonous parts of the plant and names two groups of toxins: soluble oxalates (oxalic acid and its salts) and anthraquinone glycosides.
The ASPCA lists rhubarb as toxic to dogs, cats and horses because of its soluble calcium oxalates. Chickens have not been studied as closely, but a veterinarian at Texas A&M University includes rhubarb in a short list of foods that are poisonous for chickens, alongside avocados, onions, uncooked potatoes and tomato plants.
Because nobody has worked out how much rhubarb leaf it takes to poison a chicken, the safe approach is simple: don’t feed it, and don’t let your flock graze on it.
Which parts of the rhubarb plant are toxic?
| Part | Risk | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves (the green blades) | Poisonous; high in soluble oxalates | Never feed; fence off the plant |
| Roots | Poisonous | Keep chickens from digging them up |
| Stalks (petioles) | Much lower risk; eaten by people when cooked | No reason to feed; skip them |
The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that rhubarb stalks are edible and ‘not a concern’ for pets. That is reassuring if a hen pecks at a stray piece of pie filling, but it is not a reason to offer stalks as a treat. Stalks are mostly water and fiber and are often trimmed with bits of leaf still attached.
How oxalates harm animals
When an animal eats a large amount of soluble oxalates, the oxalates bind to calcium in the body. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, this can cause low blood calcium (hypocalcemia), with signs such as lethargy, wobbliness, tremors and seizures.
Oxalate can also combine with calcium and form crystals in the kidneys. These crystals damage the kidney tubules and can lead to kidney failure. Extension sources describe kidney failure in grazing animals that eat rhubarb leaves.
Laying hens use a great deal of calcium to make eggshells, which is one more reason not to test how much oxalate their bodies can handle.
Signs to watch for and what to do
There are no published case descriptions of rhubarb poisoning in chickens. In dogs, cats and horses, the ASPCA lists these signs:
- Drooling (salivation)
- Tremors
- Kidney failure
If you find that a chicken has eaten rhubarb leaves and it seems weak, unsteady, trembling, off its feed or unusually quiet, separate it from the flock, give it clean water, and call a veterinarian. Bring a leaf from the plant so the vet knows what the bird ate. Do not try home remedies or force-feed the bird.
Many illnesses cause similar vague signs, so a veterinary exam is the only way to know what is really wrong.
Keeping chickens safe around a rhubarb patch
- Fence rhubarb beds or grow them outside the area your chickens free-range in. Our guide on keeping chickens out of the garden covers practical options.
- Compost rhubarb leaves where chickens can’t reach them, rather than in an open pile they scratch through.
- Don’t add rhubarb trimmings to a bucket of kitchen scraps meant for the flock.
- Remove spoiled leftovers promptly; moldy and spoiled food can also make chickens sick.
Safer treats to offer instead
Treats should be a small extra, not the main diet. Veterinarians at Texas A&M and the University of Illinois recommend keeping treats, greens and vegetables to less than 10% of what your chickens eat, with a complete feed making up the rest. For help choosing the right feed, see our chicken feed guide.
Other plants and foods on veterinary do-not-feed lists include avocados, dried beans, uncooked potatoes, tomato plants, onions and salty foods. See our articles on tomatoes and onions for details.
FAQs
Are rhubarb stalks safe for chickens?
The stalks are much lower risk than the leaves, and Merck says they are not a concern for pets. But they have no special value for chickens and there is no chicken-specific research, so it’s simplest to leave them off the menu.
What makes rhubarb leaves poisonous?
The leaves contain soluble oxalates (oxalic acid and its salts) and anthraquinone glycosides. In large amounts, oxalates bind calcium in the body and can damage the kidneys.
How much rhubarb leaf will make a chicken sick?
Nobody knows. No toxic dose has been established for chickens, which is why the safest amount is none.
Will chickens avoid rhubarb on their own?
Don’t count on it. There is no good evidence that chickens reliably avoid toxic plants, so fence off rhubarb if your flock free-ranges.
Conclusion
Rhubarb leaves are toxic to animals, and no safe amount has been established for chickens. Keep your flock away from the plant, compost the leaves out of reach, and offer safer vegetables as occasional treats. If a bird seems ill after eating rhubarb, call a veterinarian.
Sources
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Rheum rhabarbarum (Rhubarb)
- ASPCA: Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: Rhubarb
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Houseplants and Ornamentals Toxic to Animals
- Texas A&M University: Backyard Chickens Part 2: Maintaining Healthy Birds
- University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine: Care and Feeding of Backyard Chickens
- University of Wisconsin Extension: Rhubarb, Rheum rhabarbarum
Checked September 2026. Labels change, so always read the label on the product you buy. See our editorial policy for how we research health articles.
