Pumpkin insides?

[KimKat33]

Hello!

So tomorrow my family and I will be carving pumpkins.
My question is, can my chickens eat the insides of the pumpkins? Like the orange stringy part?
What about the extra 'scraps' from the pumpkin being carved?
Can they eat the seeds and would I have to remove the shell?

I originally was not going to give them any, but if its okay to feed them some then why not.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello!

So tomorrow my family and I will be carving pumpkins.
My question is, can my chickens eat the insides of the pumpkins? Like the orange stringy part?
What about the extra 'scraps' from the pumpkin being carved?
Can they eat the seeds and would I have to remove the shell?

I originally was not going to give them any, but if its okay to feed them some then why not.

They can eat the whole pumpkin.
They'll love the treats.

 

[K0k0shka]

Yes, they can eat all of it. Depending on how old they are and how big their mouths are, they may or may not be able to swallow whole seeds. No need to remove the shell, unless you have a lot of free time and nothing else to do They'll eat what they can and leave what they can't.

 

[KimKat33]

Thank you both! Now I know what I can do with the scraps

 

[One Lucky Momma]

If you’ll leave out the whole stringy glop of insides, plus the parts you cut out, the birds will devour everything they can, with glee. I’ve found the seeds to be a challenge and might be ignored for a while until there’s less to choose from. Once the seeds are a little dry you can make them easier to access by grinding in a blender or food processor just slightly, not to the point of making meal but just cracking the hull a bit.

Any part of the shell you cut away, like the eye and mouth parts, and any other extra squash you might have around, can be made much easier for the birds to clean up if you freeze it first. When it thaws the texture is tender, like it’s been cooked, but retains the raw nutrients.

 

[native]

If you’ll leave out the whole stringy glop of insides, plus the parts you cut out, the birds will devour everything they can, with glee. I’ve found the seeds to be a challenge and might be ignored for a while until there’s less to choose from. Once the seeds are a little dry you can make them easier to access by grinding in a blender or food processor just slightly, not to the point of making meal but just cracking the hull a bit.

Any part of the shell you cut away, like the eye and mouth parts, and any other extra squash you might have around, can be made much easier for the birds to clean up if you freeze it first. When it thaws the texture is tender, like it’s been cooked, but retains the raw nutrients.

This is awesome info. Thanks!

 

[heather134]

Can I just cut a pumpkin in half and leave it in the run for them? We have a few large pumpkins so I thought I'd make it weekly treat until they're gone. Or is that too much? (it would be for 8 hens)

 

[K0k0shka]

Can I just cut a pumpkin in half and leave it in the run for them? We have a few large pumpkins so I thought I'd make it weekly treat until they're gone. Or is that too much? (it would be for 8 hens)

They may have a hard time pecking through it. The flesh on fresh pumpkin is pretty hard. They could do it if they really tried, or if they were really hungry, but often they aren't that motivated. Spaghetti squash is easier because they can tear off worm-shaped strings from it. You can still give them half pumpkins as an enrichment item. They'll peck around and eat what they can (seeds, softer stringy guts) but may leave the harder flesh, which can mold quickly so keep an eye out for that.

 

[Deezchix]

Hello!

So tomorrow my family and I will be carving pumpkins.
My question is, can my chickens eat the insides of the pumpkins? Like the orange stringy part?
What about the extra 'scraps' from the pumpkin being carved?
Can they eat the seeds and would I have to remove the shell?

I originally was not going to give them any, but if its okay to feed them some then why not.

My 7 laying hens and 2 pullets loooove pumpkin. I just cut into quarters and leave in garden for them. They peck the inside out completely and leave the shell.