Can Chickens Eat Pumpkin Seeds?
Chickens can eat pumpkin seeds — raw, fresh, gooey, or dried — a safe seasonal treat straight from the jack-o'-lantern.
The why
Pumpkin seeds are protein-and-zinc rich and completely safe. The folklore about them being a natural dewormer isn't backed by poultry evidence — feed them as a treat, not a parasite program.
How to feed it
Scoop seeds and guts straight into the run, or dry extras plain (unsalted) for later scattering.
Worth knowing
Skip the salted roasted kind from the snack aisle; rely on actual dewormers for actual worms.
The 90/10 rule: whatever the treat, a laying flock's diet should stay about 90% balanced feed. Treats — even the healthy ones — are the garnish, not the meal. Wondering what your flock really costs to feed? Try our free egg cost calculator.
📄 Free printable: The Chicken Never List
The 15 foods that can hurt your flock, on one page — print it, tape it inside the feed-bin lid.
Keep your whole flock on track
Homestead Paradise tracks your birds, eggs, feed costs, and health records in one place — and Harold, your homestead advisor, reads your records and tells you what he'd do next. Snap a photo of a mystery plant or bug with Harold's Eyes before it ends up in the run.
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