Are conifers poisonous?

[Zingy]

Anyone know? Can't find them in any books under 'poisonous plants' so do I assume they're not lethal?

[jonto]

Dont think lylandi is, but yew is lethal I believe, not sure if its a conifer, it is evergreen. This is an important subject and deserves a page in the Newrider archives.

[packhorse11]

Nearly all evergreen plants and trees are poisonous - not that they all cause death but many they will cause nasty illness - esp if lots is eaten.

Some are much worse than others.

Privet for instance is not a good one.

Yew which is dark green and evergreen, is very very very poisonous -

animals have been found dead underneath the tree with yew in their mouths. It can take a few minutes evidently for them to react to the poison and to die.

If you dont know what Yew looks like you should make it your business to find out. It is vital for all horse owners to know what it looks like.

Most poisonous plants they avoid because they dont taste so good, but Yew is also evidently one of the trees which they will go for.

They usually only eat poisonous stuff if there is a shortage of grass - but this doesnt alwasy apply.

[Zingy]

Finally found out if anyone's interested that leylandi ok provided they not eaten in huge quantities. Anyway, one of the houses adjoining the field now has a lovely straight leylandi hedge.....

[skye]

punch has consumed half a hedge of leylandi this week,vet didn't thik it was poisonous,no problems as yet! fingers crossed!