Tomatoes...bad?

[birdymomma]

I can't remember where i saw it but i read that tomatoes are bad for birds...can anyone tell me a bit more on this, why are they bad for birds i know i read onions destory red blood cells what about the tomatoes....or am i wrong.

[DarwinTheSun]

As far as I know, they are not bad in the same sense as onions. I keep onions on the no-no list completely, and tomatoes on the rarely list. I think the problem with tomatoes is the acidity, they are too acidic for birdy bellies. But I think a sweet tomato or a bit of spaghetti sauce now and then is ok.

[Xen]

I dunno if you're confusing tomatoes being "bad" or recent revelations that tomatoes in the US are grown using "bad" methods? I read about Tomatoes and the unhealthy way they're grown being bad for our birds... could that be what you've also read?

Someone on an msn bird group often posts "recalls" about bad produce... tomatoes being a recent-ish one.

[birdymomma]

Originally Posted by Xen

I dunno if you're confusing tomatoes being "bad" or recent revelations that tomatoes in the US are grown using "bad" methods? I read about Tomatoes and the unhealthy way they're grown being bad for our birds... could that be what you've also read?

Someone on an msn bird group often posts "recalls" about bad produce... tomatoes being a recent-ish one.

no somewhere on a forum i read that your not supposed to give them tomatoes and that they are a no no

[ndeben]

On my bad list, its states tomatoe leaves. But with the recent bacteria problems, I only feed my birds MY vegges grown here at my garden. Fruits on the other hand I wash and wash and wash. NO GRAPES grown out of this country.

[iggysbirds]

In tomatoes our vet says it is the acidity that makes them not a poor item for a birds diet. Also in human children they are linked at times to a yeast or yeast like infection in the mouth and since birds have a vulnerable digestive system it is possible that TOO many tomatoes may be linked to yeast infections. Again like posted above, we use them on rare occassions like in tomato sauce on pasta or if we are having salad with tomatoes and the birds are begging for some we will give them some as well. So far I only have one bird that will even eat fresh tomatoes the others throw them out and then eat the rest of the stuff so we don't have to worry about them

[huntress]

So we eat low acid (yellow) tomatoes here. YUummmy

[Jonergin]

Tomatoes (as in the ripe fruit) themselves are not on the no-no list for birds.

There is a toxin in the leaves, stems and sprouts of the tomato plant. Specifically the Solanine and atropine-like alkaloids cause a violent reaction for our fids.

Here's a good source document for toxic plants:

Poisonous Plants for Birds

[Valo's Moirana]

also only heard of leaves and stems being a no-no.... the boys don't get them too often, as they don't really like tomatoes that much. the miss on the other hand LOVES cocktail tomatoes - but even she doesn't get them more than once a week

[ccg]

I don't feed them to my boys but my books only mention the leaves and stems as a few others suggested.