Being a chicken owner, you will know very well that they will eat everything you feed. Everything means everything from fresh to ripped ones or living things like worms. Calling them mini trash cans isn’t a bad idea because of their eating habits. Despite this, they remain in search of new things to eat, and can even destroy your garden. Sometimes you might think: Can chicken eat tomatoes?
Let’s dig into this and give you a brief answer.
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Can Chickens Eat Tomatoes?
Yes, chickens can eat tomatoes and are healthy for them. These juicy and delicious fruits have many health benefits for humans, the same they have for chickens too, but if you feed them in moderation.
Tomatoes are heavily loaded with essential nutrients, so feeding tomatoes to chickens will help them maintain their body’s nutritional level. If you demand tasty eggs full of nutrition from chickens, you must give them a properly nutritious diet. All the birds love tomatoes means your chickens will never disappoint you.
Can Chicken Eat Ripe Tomatoes?
Ripe tomatoes are healthy for chickens that fulfill their nutritional demand as well as change their tongue’s taste. Ripe tomatoes are safe for chickens; giving tomatoes to them as a treat will delight them. If you hang the same tomato somewhere, it will be entertaining to watch them pecking tomatoes.
Can Chicken Eat Unripe Tomatoes?
Never feed unripe tomatoes to chickens; they are highly toxic to them. Usually, unripe potatoes, tomatoes, or other food items cause stomach problems in humans. As you know, chickens love to eat new things, but they don’t know whether they are beneficial for them or not.
Unripe tomatoes have a toxic substance known as solanine that causes health issues related to the chickens’ digestive system. Solanine level decreases in ripe tomatoes; that’s why chickens love them. Adult chickens can differentiate between ripe and unripe tomatoes depending on their taste, but chicks are less intelligent.
Can Chicken Eat Tomato Leaves?
Tomatoes belong to the nightshade family, whose most plants are poisonous and not health-friendly to chickens, even humans. It would be best if you did not allow them to eat tomato plants because of their toxic leaves, which could be fatal. Tomato fruits themselves are healthy, including their peel and seeds.
Tomato plants make chickens sick and sometimes lead to their death. If you have tomato plants around their coop, cover it or put a cage around to avoid your chickens eating it. Chickens are intelligent enough to differentiate between good and bad things, but safety still comes first; a single peck can be hazardous.
How To Feed Tomatoes To Chickens?
When you think about giving a treat to your chickens, multiple related ideas come to your mind. Here are a few methods to feed tomatoes to chickens and make your treat more appealing.
Cut Into Small Pieces
To avoid overeating tomatoes to your chickens, it’s best to cut them into small pieces and feed them at different spots. This will avoid crowding at a single place, and all the chickens will get treated equally.
Mix With Other Veggies
If you want to make your treat catchy and tastier, mix them with other veggies. This will give them a unique taste of all the vegetables. Most importantly, they will eat all the veggies equally, so the risk of eating one specific thing will be reduced.
Hang Them
One of the best methods to give a treat to your chickens with a bit of entertainment is simply to hang that thing in their coop. Chickens are pretty good at pecking, even enjoy it a lot. Hang a tomato with the help of string and let them enjoy their treat in their own way.
When To Feed Tomatoes To Chickens?
Depending on their availability and demand, you can feed tomatoes to chickens year-round. It’s best to provide them twice or thrice a week in a limited amount. While feeding them, observe the specific day of the week on which chickens eat more tomatoes so that you can feed them on that particular day.
Keep in mind that overfeeding tomatoes to chickens leads to multiple health issues. You must feed them on a particular day in a week and a small quantity. You can make a feeding schedule in which treat days should be mentioned with the treat.
How Many Tomatoes Can You Feed To Chicken?
Chickens love tomatoes because of their taste and juicy texture, but they are beneficial if you feed them in moderation. Chickens say Yes to everything, whatever you feed them, all it depends on you how you will maintain their diet.
Make up to five percent of their diet with tomatoes or feed quarter to a half tomato to each chicken. This much quantity is credible if you provide only tomatoes to chicken; adding something else might be harmful to them. If you want to add something else to their treat, reduce tomato quantity to maintain nutrition level.
Health Benefits Of Tomatoes To Chickens
Ripe tomatoes are loaded with essential nutrients having a low level of the toxic substance. Tomatoes play a vital role in the well-being of your chickens; feeding them frequently will keep them healthy and active. Here are the few health benefits of tomatoes to your chickens.
1.Prevent Diseases
Vitamin C present in tomatoes acts as an antioxidant that helps your chicken stay fit. It will boost body functions, making your chicken healthier than before. Other compounds like Lycopene and Naringenin protect their bodies from diseases like heart disease and cancer. Naringenin works as an inflammatory substance that helps to reduce swelling.
2.Healthy Eyes
Beta Carotene that gives the tomato orange or yellow color is found in abundance. When chickens consume it, this substance is converted into Vitamin A, maintaining their eye’s condition and health.
3.Strong Bones
Tomatoes are enriched in Vitamin K1, which is also known as phylloquinone. This substance will keep their bones healthy and strong. Chickens’ bones must be strong, so they’ll move to eat some food. Chickens with weak bones usually die earlier, so feed them a proper diet to keep them healthy all the time.
4.Cell Functioning
Vitamin B9 or Folate, calcium, and potassium help promote tissue growth and cell function. It also boosts their immune system and energy level in their body.
5.Maintain Body Weight
Tomatoes are rich in proteins and other calories that help chickens maintain their suitable body weight. Tomatoes help them to reduce body fat to keep them healthy and energetic.
Summary
Chickens can eat tomatoes but in moderation to benefit from all of their nutrients. Tomatoes are safe for chicken but only when they are ripped. Keep them away from unripe tomatoes and their plants. Ripe tomatoes are yummy, juicy, as well as nutritious, so add them to their diet as a treat.
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