Tomato leaves?

[chickenpredatorkiller]

I know that Tomato leaves are bad for chickens if they eat them, but I was wondering how bad, (what happens if they eat them) , how much they can eat before it gets dangerous, and if they will eat them on their own if they find them. Thx for the help

 

[florida lee]

I know a breeders who cuts off the leaves after growing season and throws them in the chicken pens. I let mine in the garden after growing season ( it becomes their run). then prepare the ground they just left for the new garden. I do not remove my tomato plants before releasing the chickens in it.
My parents did the same for many, many years.

 

[chickenpredatorkiller]

so your saying that it does NOT hurt them?

 

[meezermom]

I've heard of raw potatoe being bad, but not tomatoes...been feeding them for years.

 

[chickenpredatorkiller]

im talking about the LEAVES not the tomatoe

Edit: dont you people read before you post? XD

 

[ryan820]

I'd have to agree... mine eat tomatoes and the plant leaves all the time. Besides the fact that all four of them have rather forward personalities (they have no issues rushing me demanding food), I see no ill affects.

 

[warmfuzzies]

I don't know. They may eat them when they are ranging, but if you have them confined and the tomato leaves are the only green thing they get, it may not be a good idea. They may eat too many of them or something. It is hard for me to intentionally feed them something that I know is poisonous. When they get it themselves free ranging, I kind of trust them to know what's best but when I am feeding it to them and they are confined, it just seems.... different. Like maybe they won't know when enough is enough or something?

 

[Niss]

When free ranging my chickens eat foam board insulation....so, um, not really trust worthy. That said, several filks have said that in moderation they cause no disernable effects, si do what you want to do.

 

[warmfuzzies]

LOL ok nevermind.

 

[mestaske]

Tomatoes are part of the nightshade family and the leaves are bad for them. We have a wild nightshade weed that is toxic entirely and I trash it rather than compost it just to be safe. I don't feed my chickens tomato leaves from my garden because I know that it is bad for them. I do not know how much would cause toxicity but if they had free range Im sure they would stay away from something that would be bad for them, they usually are pretty smart about those things.