Question about pumpkin seeds

[getaclue]

Mine were not impressed with pumpkin, or the seeds at first. Now they'll eat them, but it's still not their favorite treat.

 

[sawilliams]

that so funny mine will devour anything i bring into thier run like they are starving to death or something. They are worse then my 3 growing boys at the moment. Heck when i let then out today my husband cuaght them all standing by the feed shed like they where waiting for treats... heaven forbid they see the treat bucket or a meal worm bag most of then will follow you around the whole house with those waiting for a share. Heck i can't even go in the shed with it the while flock watching. And if I go near the coop with anything other then three broom you'd think they would try to break down the gate then selves

 

[centrarchid]

The interest my birds have in pumpkin is a function of the diet as a whole. Birds eating a high protein feed really like pumpkin while those on a lower protein feed do not. Free-range birds right now have a lot of easy to get insects so they are partial to pumpkin as well. Those already getting free-choice access to grains are not all that interested in the pumpkin.

 

[R2elk]

My chickens and turkeys greatly prefer pie pumpkins over any other kind of pumpkins. My guineas will not touch pumpkins.

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

I gave my kids a whole pumpkin. It kept them busy pecking holes in it to get inside. Once they did every seed was gone.

I gave them another one a week or two later. They didn't touch it!

Chickens!

 

[lazy gardener]

Hate to tell you, but there is no proof that pumpkin is a natural wormer.

I hate to tell you, but there is a butt load (pun intended) of information to the contrary.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27598135

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22684690

http://www.academicjournals.org/journal/JPP/article-full-text-pdf/831473255099

http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/12/3/129


http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/12/3/129

http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/5709/1/NPR 7(5) 466-475.pdf

I got tired of reading through the multitude of articles, but there are dozens more, if one cares to spend a little time doing the search.

In addition to the protection provided by cucurbit seeds, there are also many other natural helminthic plants and herbs that are already contained in many free range areas that chickens will eat if they have access to them. My birds make a bee line to the rhubarb leaves every fall when I open the garden to them. My guess is that the flock is well aware of anti helminthic properties of rhubarb leaves. While I would not purposefully feed rhubarb leaves to my birds, I allow them to help themselves in a free range situation. The following article turned up an exhaustive list of herbs and plants that possess Vermifugal properties. Included in the list is the lovely Cucurbita Maxima. https://www.anniesremedy.com/chart.php?prop_ID=43

 

[casportpony]

I hate to tell you, but there is a butt load (pun intended) of information to the contrary.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27598135

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22684690

http://www.academicjournals.org/journal/JPP/article-full-text-pdf/831473255099

http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/12/3/129


http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/12/3/129

http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/5709/1/NPR 7(5) 466-475.pdf

I got tired of reading through the multitude of articles, but there are dozens more, if one cares to spend a little time doing the search.

Can you find a study that was done on chickens? Or something from one person that had fecals done before, during, and after feeding pumpkin seeds?

 

[R2elk]

I hate to tell you, but there is a butt load (pun intended) of information to the contrary.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27598135

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22684690

http://www.academicjournals.org/journal/JPP/article-full-text-pdf/831473255099

http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/12/3/129


http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/12/3/129

http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/5709/1/NPR 7(5) 466-475.pdf

I got tired of reading through the multitude of articles, but there are dozens more, if one cares to spend a little time doing the search.

That pumpkin seeds contain anthelmics which have been shown to be an effective treatment for worms is not the issue.

The studies that you have linked to are not evidence of using pumpkin seeds straight as a wormer. They have for the most part used a concentration of the anthelmics that can be found in pumpkin seeds.

Part of the problem is that not all pumpkin seeds are created equally. I have seen studies that showed the varying concentrations of anthelmics that are found in pumpkin and other cucurbita seeds. Because of all the variances that can and do occur, straight pumpkin seeds cannot be used as a reliable wormer. Another problem with anthelmics as a wormer is the evidence that it is more of a repulsion agent than a killing agent.

 

[lazy gardener]

The studies speak for themselves. If a plant or chemical product affects helminths in the gut or out of the gut it should work across species. No. I did not find a study that dealt specifically with fecal load in CHICKENS before and after cucurbit treatment. However, the fact that cucurbits do have an effect on helminth motility, and the studies quoted came to the conclusion that cucurbits were fairly effective as an antihelminthic is sufficient for me. Further, who would pay for such a study? Follow the money, and you will find out how truthful or self serving a lot of studies are. Studies in the poultry industry tend to be paid for by the chemical and pharmaceutical pushers.

The groups treated with pumpkin seed showed a significant decrease in egg counts per gram of feces (EPG), wherein group 2 (1 g/kg l. w.) was the most effective. The control and drug groups showed no reduction in EPG. The results of the present study demonstrate that the administration of pumpkin seed was effective in controlling gastrointestinal helminths in naturally infected ostriches.

Fresh (germinable) pumpkin seed and squash seed are quite highly efficient, the active principle being soluble in water and destroyed by boiling. In view of their cheapness, availability, and presumably low toxicity to men, renewed clinical interest in these is indicated.

 

[R2elk]

Follow the money, and you will find out how truthful or self serving a lot of studies are.

This statement is 100% true! Most data can be used to "prove" both pro and con sides of the same point of view.