Happy Halloween!
Can my chickens eat pumpkin?
(1.5 minute read)
The short answer is yes, it’s a great source of nutrition and enrichment … however, there are a few things to consider:
Pumpkin is a superfood! It’s full of antioxidants, vitamins (A & E), and fibre. The seeds are full of protein, good fats and minerals.
Enrichment. Chickens love novel items; it stimulates their brains, and if the new items are food-related, then it’s a double treat!
Leftover pumpkin needs to be removed. Birds will show interest in novelty items for a bit, but as soon as the interest fades, remove the pumpkin. The pumpkin may start to spoil quickly, especially the soft, squishy middle. There’s a risk of mycotoxins (toxic by-products from mould), which are bad for all animals.
Not for wildlife. Please don’t leave leftover pumpkins out for wildlife either! This is not a natural food source and can cause digestive upset, especially for hedgehogs.
In moderation. Any new food in large quantities may upset your chicken’s tummy and cause diarrhoea - a small treat is fine. A pumpkin the size of a human head for 3 birds to gorge on may get them into trouble!
To keep it legal, the boring but essential part - It’s illegal to feed poultry any food that has passed through your kitchen. If you’ve bought (or grown) your birds a pumpkin treat, please deliver it directly to your birds; if it’s sat around in the kitchen, or even been carved at the kitchen table, then that’s not compliant with the law. This may seem a bit fussy, but the law is there to safeguard animal and human health.
Finally… Pumpkin is not a natural wormer. Pumpkin seeds contain cucurbitacin, a chemical that may have some effect in treating worms in a laboratory. Studies using live birds have not shown the same effect.