Tomato eaters

[michael94]

I have 6 guineas and 1 duck running loose in my tomato garden, but I am finding ripe and green tomatos that are close to the ground half eaten whole. anybody got any ideas what it could be?

 

[freebirder]

Could be a variety of wild birds.
Blue Jays, mocking birds especially...if partially eaten they were probably eating the worms (extra protein) inside.
Pick them when they just begin to turn pink.
Your plants will actually produce more 'maders that way.
They will ripen in your window just as easily without having to share your bounty with the rest of nature.
I have to use netting and when it gets into these 100 degree days I also use a shade cloth. Drops the temps by 10 + degrees and they don't get heat lock. The skins don't get so thick that way and they taste better too.

 

[Mourningdove]

turtles love tomatoes! We have caught them in the act here!

 

[Akane]

Most anything will eat tomatos including your birds. Only vegetable gardens I know of that don't have to be fenced are small ones in town with people who keep no animals. Even then they lose a few to rabbits and sometimes get their garden dug up by other wildlife or stray dogs. Even a short plastic garden fence will help deter everyone. Otherwise plan to plant plenty of extras.

 

[Katy]

My guineas do that to mine.