Whether or not you believe that pumpkins offer natural protection from internal parasites and worms for backyard chickens, they're still a super nutritious, delicious, favorite treat for chickens and ducks this time of year.
So don't toss out those Halloween jack-o-lanterns and pumpkins dotting your front porch, give them to your flock!
Pumpkin Treats for Chickens
After you're done with your fall holiday decor, feed the pumpkins to your chickens. I've even been known to ask my neighbors for their pumpkins when they're done with them.
As long as the pumpkins aren't rotted, your chickens will love them.
Health Benefits of Pumpkin Treats for Chickens
Pumpkin is high in potassium, calcium, magnesium, niacin, iron and beta-carotene, as well as vitamins A, B, C and E.
Pumpkins are also high in fiber, and the seeds are high in good fats. Pumpkins also have wonderful anti-oxidant properties.
Pumpkins as a Natural Chicken Wormer
It's the coating on the raw seeds that is supposed to have the ability to paralyze internal worms and parasites, so go ahead and cut the pumpkin in half and let your girls go at it. They'll happily eat the guts, seeds, flesh and skin. And they can eat pumpkin either raw or cooked.
They'll eventually eat a whole pumpkin too, happily pecking right through the skin, but if your chickens aren't used to eating pumpkins, cutting them in half at first introduces them to the yummy treat more successfully.
I like to cut the pumpkins in half, then sprinkle in some chicken feed, maybe a few sunflower seeds, some chopped herbs...
Feeding Pumpkins to Chickens Through the Winter
Whole, uncut pumpkins will keep just fine stored in a cool, dry place for two months or so, or you can cut up and freeze any extras, so you can ration your Halloween decor for your flock through the winter.
Just cut the squash into cubes and freeze them, and then just defrost as much as you want and dole it out to your flock over the course of the winter.
Pumpkin Treats for Bright Orange Yolks
Pumpkins are also one of the foods that give egg yolks a nice, bright orange color!
So that's just another added bonus.In addition to the health benefits, enjoying a pumpkin will help relieve winter boredom and keep your chickens busy!
So share your pumpkins with your chickens this fall!
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