You may want to consider giving your chickens pears if you want to feed them a fruit that is nutrient-rich and low in calories. In addition to minerals and vitamins, pears are a great source of nutrients for chickens. You can make pears a staple in your chicken's diet as long as they are safe to eat and they love them.

Pears provide your chickens with essential nutrients. In spite of the fact that they don't contain all the nutritional requirements your chickens need, they help your hens produce eggs. Chickens love eating pears, even though they're not the tastiest of fruits. Here are some things you should keep in mind when offering them pears.

Can Chickens Eat Pear Skin​

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The skin of the pear can be eaten. You do not have to remove it from the fruit. It contains many plant compounds, minerals, and vitamins.

In addition, the skin contains high levels of antioxidants like quercetin, which protects your chicken from free radicals and other diseases. You can increase your chicken's nutrient intake and satiety by feeding them pear skins.

Can Chickens Eat Pear Flesh​

The softest and juiciest part of the pear is here. As well as being incredibly nutrient-dense, it is also very tasty. Chickens can be fed the diced or mashed flesh. Make sure the pear you are giving is in good condition.

Can Chickens Eat Pear Seeds​

Seeds of pears contain cyanide. Chickens' systems are tampered with by cyanide, a deadly chemical. It blocks oxygen flow to cells when it is ingested. The cells die within minutes since there is no cellular respiration. As a result, the effects of cyanide are immediate. Furthermore, pear seeds cannot be eaten. It makes no sense to feed your chickens what they'll reject.

How Much Pears Can Chickens Eat?​

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Fresh, cooked, or processed pears can be given to your chickens. Whatever form your chickens consume the pears in, they will get all the nutrients they need.

As long as the pears are safe to eat by your chickens, it doesn't matter. For example, if you purchase the processed ones for your chickens, ensure they do not contain any harmful chemical preservatives. When purchasing fresh fruits, inspect them thoroughly for bacteria.

Additionally, don't overfeed your chickens pear products. In addition to being unhealthy and making your chickens addicted, excessive amounts can cause them to stop eating their regular feed. If you want to give your chickens pears, you should wait until they are more than two weeks old.

Are Pears Healthy For Chickens?​

Fruits like pears are packed with water and nutrients such as phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, etc. Among the many health benefits they provide are improved digestion and hydration. Pears are a great choice for keeping chickens healthy and happy.

Keeps your chickens hydrated​

Chickens should not be deprived of food and water. Lack of either of these essentials can result in health problems. You need to make sure chickens are always fed and hydrated, whether they are being bred for their eggs, meat, or both. Including pears in your chickens' diet will help keep them as hydrated as possible since pears contain 80% water.

Provides antioxidants​

The antioxidant compounds in your chickens' diet, such as vitamins A and vitamin C, flavonoids, etc., help fight free radicals, reduce the risk of disease, and help keep them healthy. Pears provide enough antioxidants for your chickens to be healthy and lay eggs properly.

Improves blood circulation​

There is a high copper and iron content in pears, which promotes blood circulation in the body. In addition to aiding vital body parts such as the heart in functioning correctly, blood circulation enhances the transportation of white blood cells throughout the body and encourages cellular respiration. Sudden death syndrome can occur if your chickens lack proper blood circulation.

Regulates heart health​

Chickens can suffer from heart problems just like humans. For instance, chickens can die from heart attacks for several reasons. To help regulate your chicken's heart health, enhance blood flow, and lower blood pressure, you should feed them foods high in potassium. Pears contain a lot of potassium.

Maintain bowel health​

The fiber in pears helps relieve constipation or prevent it. Furthermore, it reduces the risk of obesity, heart disease, and cancer. It prevents watery droppings and hemorrhoids in your chicken's bowel and eases the passage of stool, but it is not digested and absorbed by the body. Pears can be included in your chicken's diet if they have a hard time pooping.

Pears, however, are high in sugar and fructose, which are not good for chickens when consumed in excess. As a result, you shouldn't feed your chickens pears as their main food.

What To Consider When Giving Your Chickens Pears?​

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There are more than 30 types of pears. Generally speaking, three types of pears are available - European winter pears, European fall pears, and Asian pear varieties. All varieties may not be available at the same time. The season determines what is available for purchase. Here are a few things you should consider when deciding whether the pears are of good quality.

The Stone cells​

You should choose varieties with fewer stones, since chickens cannot eat pear stones. Each pear variety has varying numbers of stones. You should pick the pears from the tree before they are fully ripe, as this will prevent many stone cells from forming in the pears.

Pear Picking​

You can also tell if a pear is ripe and in good condition if it easily comes off the tree. Pears that require a lot of effort to separate the fruits from the stem aren't fit for consumption. Fruits that fall from trees indicate that they are ripe.

Pear Texture​

When you squeeze ripe pears, they shouldn't be hard as stone. Also, make sure they aren't too soft, as that indicates ripeness. If you press the pear, it should give a little. It won't be enjoyable for your chickens if it doesn't.

Pear Color​

The color of some pears does not change when they ripen. Some varieties undergo only a slight change, while others, such as the Bartlett pear, change from green to yellow and become softer. Some consider this variety to be the most juicy. When you squeeze a pear that doesn't change color, see if it gives. If it does, you can eat it. Pears can also be ripened at room temperature.

Pear Appearance​

Pears should be checked for blemishes before being given to chickens. The bugs that bite the fruits on the trees usually cause these blemishes.

Pears of this type are also suitable for eating, but make sure they're organically grown. The consumption of pesticide-treated pear is unsafe. If you want to be sure of what you are feeding your chickens or buying from local farmers, you can grow pears on your property.

Notes on Feeding Pears to Chickens​

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Pears don't require much effort to feed to your chickens. There are, however, a few things you must remember.

Are they Organically-grown?​

Make sure organic fruits are fed to your chickens, whether they are fresh or cooked. Pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals are not used to grow organic fruits. Because of this, they are more beneficial than chemically-grown ones.

Organic fruits, for instance, are high in antioxidants, without the risk of bacteria contamination, whereas chemically-grown fruits can be harmful to health. A strain of contamination in their foods can kill them all. Chickens are extremely susceptible to contamination.

Pear Ripeness​

Choose only ripe pears for your chickens. Pears that are unripe have high acid content and can cause gastrointestinal problems and discomfort to your chickens. Avoid them. Chickens can choke and die from eating them. You can also give your chickens other ripe fruits they enjoy eating if you cannot find ripe pears.

Serving Suggestions​

Generally, chickens can eat whole pears if they're soft, but you should cut them into small cubes to avoid them choking on them due to their size. The chickens will be able to swallow the cubes more easily this way. Mashed pears can be given to chickens if they are soft enough.

Boiled Pears​

Pears can be cooked if they are naturally firm. They will not survive boiling if they are soft. Rinse the stones with cold water and cover them with a pan. Place over medium heat.

To make fruit salad for your chickens, add other fruits like berries, raisins, etc., to the pan. If you want to prevent your chickens from consuming excess sugar, don't add sweeteners. Make sure the pears are submerged in water the entire time to avoid uneven cooking or discoloration.

Pear Leftovers​

It's not a good idea to leave the pears in the chicken coop all day. Immediately after they have eaten, take away the leftovers and clean the coop. Pears attract predators and pests to the coop because of their smell. Furthermore, it makes the chickens' coop dirty and stinky, which puts their health at risk.

Summary​

Do not deny your chickens the pleasure and health benefits of eating pears if they love them. Pears are a safe food for your chickens, not to mention that they are loaded with health benefits and taste great. You can serve your chickens any form of pears that you choose, as long as they are good-quality pears. Make sure that pear treats do not replace their regular diet.

Other fruit, vegetables & foods you can feed chickens as a healthy snack include:

  • Eggplant
  • Swiss Chard
  • Beets
  • Pumpkins
  • Broccoli
  • Cucumbers
  • Blueberries
  • Kale
  • Apricots
  • Peaches
  • Carrots
  • Plums
  • Cherries
  • Apples
  • Bananas
  • Lettuce
  • Peanut Butter
  • Cheese
  • And much much more.
Things that are toxic to your flock include:

  • Alcohol
  • Chocolate
  • Candy
  • Moldy or rotten food
  • Raw Dry Beans
  • Apple Seeds (contain trace amounts of cyanide)
  • Uncooked Rice
  • Avocado skins & pits (contains toxin persin)
  • Rhubarb (contains toxin oxalic acid)
  • Uncooked Pasta
  • Green Potato Skins
  • Junk Food
Potatoes & tomatoes are members of the nightshade family - so their leaves contain the toxin, Solanine. Raw green potatoes also have this toxin in their peels.

As always, please feed treats in moderation as large quantities of anything can mean bad business for your chickens.

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