Can Turkeys Eat Tomatoes? A Guide to Feeding Tomatoes to Turkeys

Tomatoes are a common fruit/vegetable found in many home gardens and kitchens. As a turkey owner you may wonder if you can share some of your tomatoes with your feathered friends. The short answer is yes turkeys can safely eat tomatoes in moderation as part of a balanced diet. However, there are some important things to know before feeding tomatoes to your turkeys.

Can Turkeys Eat Tomatoes?

Turkeys can eat both ripe tomatoes and green unripe tomatoes. The tomatoes can be raw or cooked. Both the flesh and seeds of tomatoes are safe for turkeys to consume.

Tomatoes contain beneficial nutrients including vitamin C vitamin A, potassium folate and lycopene. Lycopene is an antioxidant that can promote health and immunity in turkeys. The seeds provide extra protein. So tomatoes can be a nutritious treat for turkeys.

However, tomatoes do belong to the nightshade family, along with eggplants and potatoes. The leaves and stems of tomatoes contain small amounts of toxins called glycoalkaloids. While the fruit itself is safe, you do not want to overdo it with tomatoes.

Frequency of Entities

• Tomatoes: 14
• Turkeys: 9
• Seeds: 2
• Nightshade: 1

How Much Tomatoes Can Turkeys Eat?

Turkey experts generally recommend limiting tomato treats to no more than once or twice a week. The tomato flesh is safe but can cause loose droppings if overfed. An occasional tomato 1-2 times a week is fine. But don’t make it a big daily part of their diet.

For treats, a couple slices of tomato per turkey is enough. You can also dice up some tomatoes and mix a little into their feed as you would treats. But avoid adding more than 10% diced tomatoes to their feed ration.

The most important thing is to feed tomatoes in moderation along with a balanced diet. Make sure your turkeys have access to a quality complete feed and treats like tomatoes are just occasional supplements.

Can Turkeys Eat Tomato Plants?

While ripe tomatoes are safe for turkeys, the leaves and green parts of tomato plants should be avoided. Tomato plants contain higher concentrations of alkaloids like tomatine. Ingesting the leaves can make your turkeys very sick.

You’ll also want to keep your turkeys away from potato and eggplant foliage, as these all contain toxins. The fruits themselves of tomatoes, potatoes and eggplants are safe though. Just avoid letting your turkeys nibble on the vines and plants.

Can Turkeys Eat Cherry Tomatoes?

Cherry tomatoes are just as safe as regular tomatoes for turkeys. Their small size makes them easy to gobble up.

You can offer a few cherry tomatoes to your turkeys as treats. Just be sure not to overfeed. No more than a couple cherries 1-2 times per week is recommended.

Cherry tomatoes can also be easily diced up and mixed into feed. You could mix some diced cherries into their feed every couple weeks for some added nutrition.

Frequency of Entities

• Cherry Tomatoes: 3
• Tomatoes: 2

Can Turkeys Eat Tomato Sauce?

Plain tomato sauce without any seasonings added is fine for turkeys in moderation. Tomato sauce gives them the nutritional benefits of tomatoes without excess water content.

Avoid tomato sauces with onions, garlic or spicy seasonings, as these can upset your turkeys’ stomachs. Plain tomato sauce is a good occasional treat though.

You can mix a spoonful or two of tomato sauce into their feed every couple weeks. Or serve a spoonful as a treat. Just don’t overdo it, as too much can lead to loose stools.

Can Turkeys Eat Sun Dried Tomatoes?

Sun dried tomatoes are safe for turkeys as an occasional treat. The dehydration process concentrates the flavor and nutrients.

When rehydrated, a couple slices of sun dried tomatoes per turkey makes a nice weekly treat. You can also dice up dried tomatoes and mix sparingly into their feed.

With any dried fruits, introduce slowly and watch for signs of loose stools. Make sure your turkeys always have access to fresh water too when feeding dried items.

Can Turkeys Eat Tomato Leaves or Vines?

As mentioned above, you’ll want to avoid letting your turkeys eat any part of the tomato plant except the ripe fruit. The leaves, stems and vines contain higher amounts of alkaloids that can be toxic to turkeys.

It’s fine if they happen to take an occasional small peck at a tomato plant. But do not purposefully feed tomato vines or foliage to your turkeys, as it risks poisoning them.

Can Turkeys Eat Rotten Tomatoes?

You’ll want to avoid feeding turkeys tomatoes that have gone bad. Rotten or molded tomatoes can contain harmful bacteria and toxins.

Stick to fresh ripe tomatoes within a couple days of purchase. Discard any tomatoes that are overripe, leaking, or rotting.

Wash tomatoes before feeding to remove any dirt and pesticide residues. Remove any damaged spots. This helps reduce the chance of your turkeys ingesting pathogens.

What Not to Feed Turkeys

While turkeys can eat lots of table scraps and garden produce, some foods are toxic or harmful. Here are some other foods you should avoid feeding turkeys:

• Onion/Garlic – Can cause anemia
• Avocado – Contains persin toxin
• Raw potato or eggplant – Contain alkaloids
• Dried or undercooked beans – Contain hemagglutinin
• Chocolate/Caffeine – Contains toxic methylxanthines
• Apple seeds – Contain cyanide

So be cautious when offering turkeys any new foods. Introduce new treats slowly and watch for any signs of illness.

Turkeys can enjoy tomatoes in moderation as part of a balanced diet. Both ripe tomatoes and green tomatoes are safe for turkeys when fed occasionally. But avoid overfeeding tomatoes, as well as any tomato foliage and plants. Following these guidelines will allow you to safely share tomatos with your turkeys and provide them with beneficial nutrients.

Frequency of Entities

• Tomatoes: 27
• Turkeys: 21