i know wilted wild cherry tree leaves will kill a cow, but will they harm a chicken? i'm wondering because the chicken run area will be half-shaded by a tree, which, surprise, it's a wild cherry tree. any body know? will the chickens be fine, or should i bring out the chainsaw? (heh heh).

-- C (punk_chicadee@yahoo.com), April 24, 2002

Answers

Get the chain saw . The tree produces little cherrys that the birds eat The bird droppings contain the seeds that will produce a million more cherry trees.My friend had puppies that drank the water that ran off of wilted cherry leaves and they all died.

-- jay vance (jay.l.vance@worldnet.att.net), April 24, 2002.

unless a storm breaks off a limb or something like that the tree is harmless and the fruit makes great jelly. but... that storm could happen when you aren't home. (((DEADLY)))!!!

-- corky wolf (corkywolf@hotmail.com), April 24, 2002.

All cherry tree leaves, pits contain cyanide, yes the same thing they give you in the gas chamber. Thats the bitter taste, you would have to eat a lot but a lot to a chicken is a small hand full.

-- David in North Al. (bluewaterfarm@mindspring.com), April 24, 2002.

Cyanide, yes wilted cherry leaves contain that, I guess that makes it ORGANIC. Peach Pits let's see don't they contain Arsenic, anouther ORGANIC. Maybe we shouldn't be going ORGANIC.

-- Paul (treewizard@buffalo.com), April 24, 2002.

There are lots of wild cherries around my area and the only time I've seen it kill an animal is when the leaves wilt after a tree is cut or blown down and about a day has passed.Have had lots of fowl around cherries and never known one to be poisoned by it.

-- Gary (burnett_gary@msn.com), April 25, 2002.

My Dad being in his 80's now, always cut down cherry trees close to any pasture. Always said there are plenty elsewhere close-by. We do the same here, why take the risk. They pop up around here like weeds!! My Grandfather lost a whole herd of jerseys from cherry leaves in the fall, but remember that was when cattle were free to roam large areas. They went looking for them and found them just lined up, must of fell while walking back home. Can't imagine losing my one milk cow!!

-- Suzanne (weir@frontiernet.net), April 25, 2002.

alrighty...thanks guys...i think i'll be using the chain saw then. :o). i never thot about this before, but there are a lot of wild cherry trees on the border btwn. our property and the neighbor's cow pasture...hmm...

-- C (punk_chicadee@yahoo.com), April 25, 2002.