Food safety
Can Chickens Eat Tomatoes? Ripe Fruit Yes, Plants No
Yes, chickens can eat ripe tomatoes, and most flocks treat a split garden tomato as a prize. The fruit is not the problem; the plant is. University extension guides from UC Davis and Texas A&M both tell owners to keep chickens away from tomato leaves and plants, which belong to the nightshade family. Serve ripe, red fruit in small amounts, fence birds out of the vegetable bed, and count tomatoes toward the small treat share of the diet.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 13, 20264 min read4 sources
Why ripe tomatoes are fine for chickens
A ripe tomato is mostly water with some sugar, acid and a little fiber in the skin and seeds. It carries nothing that poultry guides warn against, and chickens are omnivores that happily eat garden produce. The University of Minnesota Extension notes that chickens love fruit and vegetable scraps from the kitchen and garden.
Ripe tomatoes still do not replace feed. UC Davis poultry veterinarians stress that scraps should be treated as a treat rather than the main course, because a commercial layer ration is balanced for egg production and a bowl of garden extras is not.
Keep chickens off tomato plants
The leaves, stems and vines are the part to worry about. UC Davis lists leaves from tomato, pepper, potato and eggplant, along with other nightshade plants, among the things chickens should not be fed, and Texas A&M names tomato plants on its list of foods that are poisonous for chickens.
Unripe green tomatoes come from the same plant and are best treated the same way, so leave them out as a precaution. Free-range birds will strip a tomato bed in an afternoon, which damages the crop and gives them access to foliage. A simple fence or netting around the plants solves both problems.
How to prepare tomatoes for a flock
Pick fruit that is fully ripe and firm, rinse it, and remove the green cap and stem. Cherry tomatoes can be halved; larger tomatoes can be quartered or chopped. Chickens will peck through the skin themselves, so peeling is not needed.
Split, overripe or bug-nibbled tomatoes from the garden are fine as long as they are not moldy or fermenting. Texas A&M warns that moldy and spoiled food can make chickens sick, so compost anything soft and fuzzy instead. Cooked plain tomato is also fine, but skip sauces and salsa, which carry salt, onion and garlic.
Scattering a small handful across a chicken run gives the flock something to scratch for; their complete layer feed still belongs in a covered feeder.
How many tomatoes can chickens have?
UF/IFAS Extension and Texas A&M both suggest keeping treats to less than 10% of a chicken's diet. In practice a few cherry tomatoes or a couple of wedges of a large tomato per bird is a generous day's treat. If they also had other scraps, cut back.
Offer tomatoes after the birds have eaten their feed and spread pieces out so every hen gets a share. Chickens rely on grit in the gizzard to grind what they eat, and UF/IFAS suggests a small dish of poultry grit for birds getting extras beyond pellets.
Tomatoes for chicks
Baby chicks need a protein-rich starter feed, which UF/IFAS lists as a core need for young birds. Juicy, acidic fruit adds little to that and can loosen droppings, so there is no need to give tomatoes in the first few weeks.
Once chicks are a few weeks old, a few tiny pieces of ripe tomato shared among the group is plenty. UC Davis suggests adding grit once chicks are eating anything beyond commercial feed. Keep brooder treats very small and remove leftovers so the bedding stays dry.
Signs of a problem and when to call a vet
A hen that overdoes ripe tomatoes may produce wetter droppings for a day. That usually passes once the treat stops. A bird that got into tomato foliage, or that seems unwell after a day free-ranging in the garden, needs a closer look.
Texas A&M lists the signs of a sick chicken as a low-held head, a fluffed-up look, lethargy, no appetite, weight loss and limping. If you see any of these, separate the bird with food and water and call a vet who treats poultry.
Other garden treats chickens can have
Cucumbers, zucchini, leafy greens, berries and melon are popular alternatives from the same garden. Rotate them through the week rather than giving one food every day, and keep the total in the treat share.
Keep these out of the run: avocado, dried or raw beans, chocolate, onions, salty or fatty leftovers, rhubarb, stone-fruit pits, green potato parts, and the leaves of tomato, pepper, potato and eggplant.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace advice from a veterinarian who treats poultry.
Common questions
Can chickens eat tomato plants or leaves?
No. UC Davis lists tomato leaves among foods chickens should not be fed, and Texas A&M names tomato plants as poisonous for chickens. Fence the bed and feed only the ripe fruit.
Can chickens eat green tomatoes?
It is safest not to. Green tomatoes come from the same nightshade plant that extension guides warn about, so treat unripe fruit like the foliage and wait until it ripens.
Can chickens eat cherry tomatoes?
Yes. Ripe cherry tomatoes are a handy size for a treat. Halve them for bantams and young birds, and give just a few per hen.
Can chickens eat tomato seeds and skins?
Yes. The seeds and skin of a ripe tomato are eaten along with the flesh and are not listed as a hazard. There is no need to peel or deseed them.
Can chickens eat cooked tomatoes or tomato sauce?
Plain cooked tomato is fine. Skip pasta sauce, ketchup and salsa, which usually contain salt, sugar, onion or garlic, all of which extension guides advise keeping away from chickens.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
