Sat, 02 May 2026 16:14:25 +0000

Chickens Can’t Eat Tomatoes—You Won’t Believe What Happens Next! Ever wondered why farmers keep tomatoes away from their flock? While tomatoes are a favorite garden staple, these vibrant red fruits actually pose a serious risk to chickens. The age-old question — Can chickens eat tomatoes? — has a surprisingly surprising answer — and what happens next might just change the way you feed your birds forever. ### Why Tomatoes Are Dangerous for Chickens Tomatoes belong to the nightshade family, which includes plants like eggplants, peppers, and potatoes. While ripe tomatoes are often considered a safe snack for poultry in small amounts, green or unripe tomatoes—and parts like the stem, leaves, and vines—contain solanine, a toxic alkaloid. Even in tiny doses, solanine can cause severe distress in chickens, including gastrointestinal upset, lethargy, impaired coordination, and even organ failure in extreme cases.