I am a vet and I had a case this weekend in which 3 animals died after eating japanese yew. I just wanted to inform/remind people that there are common plants that are extremely toxic to animals. Japanese yew is one of those plants that kills very quickly and there is no antidote for. Be careful when cleaning up the garden or flower beds to make sure that the clippings are put where animals do not have access even if they were to get out. I am going to list some common plants that are poisonous but this is by no means a complete list. If in doubt consult with your veterinarian.
Heliotrope-Helitropium spp.
Agave
Larkspurs-Delphinium spp
Flax-Linum spp
Monkshood-Aconitum spp.
Cherries, chokecherries, apricots, peaches-Prunus spp
Tobacco-Nicotiana glauce and N. tabacum
Crown vetch-Conronalia varia
Lupines-Lupinus spp
Indigo-Indigfera spicata
Lobelia spp
Bracken fern, Rock fern
Nightshade-Solanum
Cocklebur
Tomatoes
Soapwort-Saponaria
Deathcamas
Buttercups-Ranunculus spp
False hellebore
Turnips
Jimsonweeds-Datura stramonium and D. metaloides
Mustards
Belladonna
Cabbages
Japanese and English yew
Cycads
Oleander-Nerium oleander and Thevetia peruviana
Dutchmans Breeches-Thamnosa spp
Foxglove-Digitalis purpurea
Day blooming Jasmine
Azaleas
Oak
Laurels
Rhubarb
Lily-of-the-Valley-Convallaria spp
White Snakeroot
Milkweed-Asclepias spp
Ponderosa pine, Monterey pine, Juniper
Dogbanes-Apocynum spp
Water hemlock
St. Johns wort
Onions, garlic, chives
Kale
Sneezeweed-Helenium spp
Black walnut
Avocado
Castor bean
Black locust
As I said this is not a complete list but it gives you an idea of the number of common things that may be toxic. Some of these plants are more deadly then others. Some are only poisonous at certain stages of development, flowering, etc. Some are only poisonous to one species of animal. Just please consider this before tossing any greens to your animals. There is not a more helpless feeling for a vet then to come out and have to say that there is nothing I can do and all of your animals are probably going to die. Please be careful.
Japanese Yew and other toxic plants
I'm so sorry to hear that. What animals died from it?
I throw cabbage to my chickens all the time.. they love it! I'm not saying you are wrong.. Just that this is what I do..
Thank you for posting the list.
I give my chickens cabbage all the time,but maybe it means that ornamental cabbage,and not the tomatoes but the plant itselfe.
I did check on the cabbage issue. I took this list from one of my textbooks. For the most part I think that it means large quantities of cabbage could be toxic as well as it could cause digestive upset in young animals. I wouldn't worry too much as long as cabbage is not the only thing your chickens are eating (which I doubt is the case.)
To answer ZZsBabiez's question it was three cows that died. Luckily a horse, llama, and potbellied pig that were on the premises did not eat the yew. It could have been much worse.
I have had chickens eat my foxglove down to the ground and did not seem to suffer. They did not touch it for the longest, then all of a sudden they just went for it and striped it down to the ground. So I wonder if some animals can handle some toxic plants and others can not. I do know that in our area our local vet has had a lot of problems with horses eating the Buckeye plants.
I know horses have very sensitive digestive systems..I could see it happening to a horse very easy. I don't know about the others. I'm so sorry that happened to you.. that is a terrible loss.
I've seen the chickens eat rocks and glass and heaven knows what else.. LOL