Pumpkin??

[ValerieJ]

I give mine half a pumpkin once in a while when available and they demolish it! Seeds and all! All that is left is the very thin outer skin. They love it.

do you cook it all first?

 

[SueT]

 

[casportpony]

I recently read that pumpkin is a natural de-wormer. So I got some for my chickens, question is how do I feed it to them? Do I just cut a chunk and give it to them. Or is there something I need to do first?

It is a great treat, but it's not an effective de-wormer.
The Problem With Pumpkin Seeds - By Andy Schneider, aka The Chicken Whisperer

 

[wyoDreamer]

I remove the pumpkin from the root cellar. Cut pumpkin in half with machete. Place pumpkin in run, cut side up. Wash and dry machete.

If I can't find the machete - I step into the run and smash said pumpkin on the ground until it is split enough to tear it in half. Leave chicken run feeling like a super-hero for breaking pumpkin in half with my bare hands!!! lol

 

[casportpony]

But, since we are on the subject of pumpkins and chickens, might I ask if anyone actually gives pumpkin to their chickens as a treat? I have too much pumpkin in the garden, but was thinking the seeds are too big for them and the meat too firm.

ETA: chickens in place of chicks.

I feed it raw to mine.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

But, since we are on the subject of pumpkins and chickens, might I ask if anyone actually gives pumpkin to their chickens as a treat? I have too much pumpkin in the garden, but was thinking the seeds are too big for them and the meat too firm.

ETA: chickens in place of chicks.

My chickens love pumpkin! They'll eat right through a whole one

 

[mymilliefleur]

I grow pumpkins to feed to my chickens, since they are a good lowcost winter treat. I cut them in half, and leave them in the run for the birds to eat. They usually eat everything, including the rind.

As for Pumpkin seeds being a good natural wormer, I think thats a myth. For one thing, most of the Pumpkin seeds my chickens eat don't even get digested, I get tons of volunteer Pumpkins growing in the pasture every summer.

 

[ValerieJ]

This is great news! My girls are getting a treat today!

 

[mixedbreeds]

I went to the local pumpkin patch the other day and got 18 big pumpkins for the girls they love them. I picked out the big crummy ones that wouldn’t stand up for jack o lantern use got them for next to nothing. I do this every year and go back after Halloween and load up on free ones. Not for a dewormer just to feed to the chickens, the eggs get nice and orange to

 

[CCUK]

do you cook it all first?

No. My DW makes pumpkin soup. Whatever is left the hens finish off. After Halloween they can't give them away so I get a bunch and they last a few weeks.