Health Benefits of Pumpkin for Chickens

It’s my favorite time of year! Pumpkin season….pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin pie, pumpkin muffins, and of course trips to the pumpkin patch. So with everyone consuming pumpkin, what about the chickens? We give our chickens lots of left-overs but can they have pumpkin? Pumpkin is great for your chickens and provides many health benefits.

Pumpkin is a Superfood 

Pumpkin is a healthy, low-calorie, low-fat treat that is loaded with vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants. 

Beta-carotene: An anti-oxidant that converts to Vitamin A. It boosts the immune system and supports mucous membrane health like the eyes. If you have a hen that has frequent blood spots in her eggs, this is probably due to a Vitamin A deficiency. 

Vitamin B is critical for growth and egg production.

Vitamin C Normally a chicken can produce enough Vitamin C that is needed for their daily nutritional needs. However, during times of stress, like molting, their vitamin C level can quickly deplete. It’s not recommended to give citrus fruits to chickens due to the risk of internal bleeding so pumpkin is a good resource. 

Vitamin E boosts immune health and the neurological system. 

Pumpkin is also high in Omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, iron, potassium, and Zinc. 

Gut Health

Another great health benefit of pumpkin for your chickens is that it provides a good source of fiber. It also acts as a prebiotic and stimulates the growth of good bacteria. 

Some people believe that pumpkin is a natural de-wormer but there is no scientific evidence to back up this claim. It’s been studied in other animals but not chickens. Pumpkin contains cucurbitacin that is toxic to parasites. It paralyzes worms which allows them to be eliminated. However, your chicken would have to eat a lot to be effective. 

Boredom Buster

Pumpkin will provide your chickens with hours of activity and entertainment. With the colder months, there is less to forage and many chicken keepers will confine their birds. Providing your birds with activities will help prevent pecking injuries. 

What Part of the Pumpkin can your Chicken Eat? 

All of it. The skin, flesh, and the seeds. Many people will throw a pumpkin into their chicken yard, allowing it to bust open. With only having six chickens, I cut it in half or even fourths. If you use a leftover Jack-O-Lantern, check for any moldy parts. Here in Texas, ours go bad quickly. 

If you find mold in a small area, I would just cut it off and give the remaining part. 

This first year I tried pumpkin, the girls would not touch it. They would just walk around looking at it. After a few days, it got moldy and I threw it out. Last year, I sprinkled scratch and mealworms inside it. Once they got a taste, it quickly became a favorite treat. 

As always with treats, give in moderation. It should only be about 10% of the chicken’s daily intake. They need a quality feed to keep them healthy.

With all the great health benefits pumpkin provides for the chickens, this year, I am going to try and freeze some. I freeze watermelon for the summer months so I don’t see why I can’t do the same with pumpkin. 

Pumpkin isn’t just for people. In addition to your chickens, it provides the same great health benefits for your dog. Whenever I have time, I make Sugar’s favorite dog treats with pumpkin.