Scary?? Chicken eating leaves of tomato plant

[ashrich6]

I had to move my tomato plants away from their coop as well as make a barrier so the chickens would stop. They love eating my vegetable garden!! Eating the plants doesn't seem to bother mine at all....

 

[allenmaris]

After my chickens at a little bit of my tomato plant, I did some research. Turns out you (humans) would have to eat nearly a pound of leaves to be toxic the least bit. The NY times did an article years ago.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/29/dining/29curi.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

And North Carolina State publishes this info: http://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/all/lycopersicon-esculentum/

 

[Mike Sparrow]

This article should end the debate:
http://www.rodalenews.com/research-feed/tomato-leaves-edible-after-all-these-years

I know the leave of a tomato plant are toxic to people and that chickens have more robust systems than humans. . . should be worried that our chickens have taken to snacking on the tomato leaves?

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[Rose95]

I had a perfectly healthy hen in the morning and dead by dinner. I had dumped a pile of freshly pulled Tomatoleaves on the compost pile. I suspect from the bright green droppings that is what did her in?? Sad and mad....

 

[marktoo]

In past years my 4 wysndottes nibbled on tomato leaves with no ill effects. This year there was a tomato plant growing just outside the run, it was evident someone was nibbling on the overhang. One hen became lethargic, diarrhea, etc. I pulled the plant & she recovered. I would avoid access in possible.

 

[Mommyhen1313]

Ya, my buff orpington, Ginger, managed to breech the chicken wire fencing around and over our boxed garden. We had been gone most of the day. She dug out a dust wallow in the center between the stubs that had been tomatoes, basil, jalapenos, and oregano. Apparently the only danger she faced, and continues to face, is my vengeance. Fried chicken is beginning to sound reeeeeeeal good....

 

[ChickenTippinFarm]

Mine seem to like snacking on tomato plant leaves, or anything they can get their beaks on, and seem to take a keener liking to anything I specifically try and keep them away from. All summer long they sneak around and snack on any tomato leaf that dares stick out too far. So far they've all been fine. Mostly it's my larger ladies, but occasionally its one of my juveniles. I'd definitely recommend not feeding them to chickens, but if they happen to catch a mouth full, so far I haven't noticed any ill-affects in my flock.

 

[Ariapina]

My chickens will destroy any tomato plant they have access to.. leaves, stalks, tomatoes. It all gets eaten. Which is why the garden is completely caged off now.

 

[Vickischics]

If one of my girls grab a tomatoe, she starts running because all the others will run after her to steal it.
They pretty much leave the leaves along. They only want the red tomatoes, no green ones. Only Red! Grab and run their lil fuzzy butt as fast as their lil legs can carry themselves across the field
I love to watch them run like the wind! LOL

 

[KCountess]

I am heartbroken. I had been giving my chickens parts of a end of season tomato plant and they seemed to like them. Yesterday I pulled the whole plant and gave it to them and loved watching them root through it. This morning I woke up and my big beautiful rooster Rubin was dead with no signs of trauma. He was so big and healthy, beautiful feathers, kind, protective and fun to watch. RIP Roo!!! I love you!!!