Is Pumpkin Season for Your Chickens Too?

Before the first leaf of autumn falls, pumpkin spice season is upon us! Grocery store shelves are lined with pumpkin flavored everything, pumpkin spice coffees are in every hand, and soon pumpkin patches will be taking over parking lots. Pumpkin pie, pumpkin muffins, and pumpkin bread. All kinds of pumpkin treats are everywhere this time of year. But, is pumpkin season for your chickens too?

In the fall, pumpkins are freely available to buy or to pick. They’re inexpensive, a really healthy treat, and a great source of nutrients. But the question is can your chickens enjoy pumpkin season just as much as you do? The answer … Absolutely!

Why Pumpkins Make Great Chicken Treats

Pumpkin season isn’t just for humans to enjoy; it’s also a delightful time for chickens! Pumpkins are loaded with nutrients that make them a healthy, seasonal treat for your flock. The pumpkin flesh is rich in vitamins A, B, and C, along with essential minerals like zinc that can boost your chickens’ immune system and promote strong feather growth. Meanwhile, pumpkin seeds are packed with vitamin E, which supports reproductive health and overall well-being in chickens. Your flock will relish every part of a pumpkin—from the stringy guts to the flesh and seeds—leaving behind nothing but a thin, empty shell after they’ve picked it clean.

To treat your chickens during pumpkin season, simply cut a pumpkin in half and let them go to town. They’ll happily peck at the seeds and devour the flesh, keeping themselves entertained and nourished. And if you have any leftover jack-o-lanterns (free from paint, wax, or candles), your feathered friends will eagerly help you with post-Halloween cleanup!

Grow Your Own Pumpkin Patch

Why not make pumpkin season for chickens a yearly celebration by growing your own backyard pumpkin patch? Pumpkins are abundant in seeds and relatively simple to cultivate, making it easy to sustain a fresh supply for your flock. Not only will you have a bountiful harvest to share with your chickens every fall, but you’ll also save money and enjoy the satisfaction of home-grown treats for your entire flock. This can even turn into a rewarding tradition that keeps you and your chickens celebrating pumpkin season for years to come!

Star Milling Co. is committed to providing the best quality chicken feed for your flock. We operate a Monensin-free facility and are proud to never blend antibiotics, anthelmintics, coccidiostats, or ionophores into any of our feed. For more useful facts and information about chickens, be sure to visit our Poultry Care Corner.