Do chickens enjoy pineapple?
This fruit actually has loads of benefits for your ladies. This tropical fruit is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. It's good for the immune system, aids digestion, and tastes delicious (at least to humans).
My chickens don't really care for them! They are O.K. to give as a snack and always make the safe list.
Can chickens eat pineapples?
Yes! Pineapple is high in vitamins and minerals, but most chickens don't seem to care for it. The Happy Chicken Coop points out that "excessive consumption can cause bezoars (fiber balls) to occur in the crop."
What other benefits are there to feeding your chooks pineapples?
According to Chicken and Chicks Info, pineapples aren't always a great choice.
"Pineapple contains a high amount of bromelain. This is the compound that aids digestion, but it can also cause stomach upset, skin rashes, and some other minor issues if too much is consumed."
How should you serve it?
All chickens like to peck and scratch so slicing it and just putting on the ground is fine. If you find the fruit becomes moldy, then pick it up and toss it. I notice that the watermelon I put out needs to be picked up later the next day.
Here are some general rules for chicken owners that want to share snacks:
- Backyard chickens like mealworms and snacks! Sweet fruit is a hit or miss
- Always discard the rind as it's too hard for your chickens to snack or peck on
- Food that should not be fed to chooks? Avocado, coffee or tea bags, and green potatoes.
- Be careful when it comes to the occasional treat and don't just share all of your kitchen scraps.
- Homesteading is fun but chickens need a specific list of foods and chicken keepers should always have feed out
- Your garden is a great resource for your chickens and blueberries and veggies for the most part are ok in moderation
- Chicken feed first, snacks later!
- There are health benefits to many fruit and veggies but a chickens' diet is complicated and there are supplements you'll need
Egg production is supported with a clean chicken coop, lots of feed that can be scratched through, and don't forget they spend all day pecking! We let our bird's free-range and this seems to help with boredom. You can try dried pineapple too and crumble it over mealworms if you think they'll enjoy that more than fresh pineapple.
Know someone who would like to add chickens to their flock? Tell us in the comments below!
