I had Silver Bolts on my Sorcerer's 3rd bar to extend the life of that bar, and also use it to kill chickens because it doesn't drain my weapon enchantment charge.
The morph to close range is bad as I'm Boss killing so I morphed to multi-target.
Result, I can't kill chickens.
If I splash to other chickens I don't care. If I am so careless to also hit a guard or other NPC, that's MY FAULT. I have chosen to shoot neutrals, let me reap the consequences.