Chickens and Tomatoes

[Thedrunkpirate]

I usually feed my rotten tomatoes or when I have too many tomatoes to my chickens. I just throw them over the fence and they enjoy themselves…. Well, I noticed this past summer a very extremely healthy tomato plant was growing in their yard. (I guess tomato seeds need the extra boost of chicken poop.lol)
Anyhow, I know the chickens left the plant alone as did the ducks that is until the tomatoes started ripening… so I’m wondering, what would you think about letting my chickens have access to the tomato plants portion of my garden, that isn’t until the tomato start to ripen… I’m thinking that would be ongoing pest control… anybody have any experience with that and if so, how did it go for you?

 

[littlecoopnextdoor]

I do this sometimes, but usually it’s later in the season when I’m tired of tomatoes or they’ve got blight etc. The main reason I keep the hens out of the garden is that they scratch up the plants so they uproot them. They also love eating tomatoes (or at least pecking them before I see!) but the bigger issue is the plant being uprooted!

 

[Thedrunkpirate]

I do this sometimes, but usually it’s later in the season when I’m tired of tomatoes or they’ve got blight etc. The main reason I keep the hens out of the garden is that they scratch up the plants so they uproot them. They also love eating tomatoes (or at least pecking them before I see!) but the bigger issue is the plant being uprooted!

Well, in regards to the volunteer plant that was growing in their yard. when I noticed it was a tomato plant. I did put a tomato cage around it, but for the most part, they left the plant alone.