Pumpkins for chickens

[centrarchid]

If the pumpkins were commercially grown, that may be why.  Quite a few people have commented that their animals won't eat pumpkins grown for fall decoration.  I wonder if they are laced with insecticides or some such thing to make them unpalatable.  When I cook a squash, I usually cook it in the skin.  The birds then get all of the guts, as well as the cooked skin.  Dog and chickens split the cooking water.  Nothing goes to waste.

The fall decoration pumpkins may have lower nutritive value, at least in comparison to pie pumpkins. That can be important when birds already consuming a lot of low nutrient density items.

 

[ShanandGem]

Just after Halloween I bought a big box full of pumpkins for $1 each (I'm not much of a gardener). I baked them and froze big chunks in Ziploc bags. Now I just throw a chunk in my fermented feed and break it up right before serving.

 

[SCOUT123]

Thanks for the help everyone!
My chickens won't go anywhere near the pumpkin, they're too scared

i guess waiting for them to peck a hole in it is out of the question.

So i'll just bust it in half and they'll hopefully go after it?

 

[iRoost]

How old do they have to be to enjoy pumpkin/seeds? Can chicks partake?

 

[Dephora]

How old do they have to be to enjoy pumpkin/seeds? Can chicks partake?

What age chicks? The seeds may be too big. You can offer pumpkin to chicks, but you also need to be offering them grit once you start giving them any foods other than chick feed.

 

[Misfit_Chick]

My chickens are not interested in pumpkin at all. One of the roosters checked it out but they only nibbled it. Haven't touched it.

 

[Sally PB]

I split open some just not quite ripe butternut squash. They ate the seed cavity and left the rest. Maybe it was too hard. I usually have some squash that are just starting to go bad in February. Now I have a use for them.

They have to share the seeds with me. But I'm happy to give them the slimy goo.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

My chickens won't go anywhere near the pumpkin, they're too scared

i guess waiting for them to peck a hole in it is out of the question.

Scared? Is it carved into a scary jack-o-lantern?

Yes, I’d say split them open and see if that helps!