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Can Chicken eat Pineapple?
Yes! Chickens cans safely eat pineapple. The fresher, the better.
Personally, I just place all the scraps into a bucket and toss it out to them and they love it!
Can Chickens eat Pineapple Skin?
Pineapple skins are inedible for chickens. However, my ducks love to soak the pieces in their pools.
Can Chickens eat Pineapple core?
Is the core part of the flesh? If yes you can feed it safely.
Can chickens eat pineapple Rind?
No! They’re inedible for chickens.
So can chickens eat pineapple? Yes, chickens can devour pineapple. You should prepare the pineapple in advance and only feed the flesh, removing the fibrous outer shell before serving.
Like all treats, you need to feed occasionally and in moderation.
ALSO READ: Can Chicken eat Apples
While chooks can consume pineapple, and a lot of them wouldn’t mind being offered as a tasty treat, there are some factors to consider before feeding.
This article would like to address this so be sure to read to the end to ensure that you safely feed this fruit to your birds.
Can Chickens eat Pineapple Tops?
No! it is unsafe for chickens to eat pineapple tops.
Are Pineapples Safe For Chickens?
When fed in moderation, pineapple makes a great treat. This generally means 1-3 servings each week.
While this fruit is healthy, and has a lot of minerals, vitamins and other compounds that can benefit a chicken, in excess it can cause problems.
Of course, fructose (sugar) is considerably high in pineapple. Along with the naturally present digestive enzymes, any significant serving of this fruit can cause issues. We will be checking this out later in this article.
When feeding pineapple, you should make sure is safe and easy to consume. You can do this by cutting pineapple into smaller chunks and doing away with the outer fibrous shell.
ALSO READ: Can Chicken eat Bananas
The outer fibrous shell can be rough, textured, and hard for a chicken to swallow or digest. Worst case scenario and this can get stuck or lodged in the throat of one of your chickens and prove fatal.
Small sized chunks (like the size you see prepared for humans) is the style of pineapple that you want to serve.
Health Benefits of Pineapple For Chickens
When fed as treats, pineapple has plenty health benefits for chickens.
First, pineapple is rich in vitamin C. This is the foundation of a strong and robust immune system in your chickens.
Consequently, this will aid in the prevention of your birds from getting sick. It also means the quality of their eggs will be A+ and they’d grow larger.
Vitamin C is also widely used by chickens to synthesize collagen for use across their body, primarily their skin and feat.
Other nutritional perks of pineapple include no saturated fats and cholesterol. Both of which need to be carefully controlled in chickens.
Another reason is that it contains bromelain, a proteolytic enzyme that naturally supports the digestion process. This will help your birds break down the rest of their meal and extract minerals and vitamins their feed contains.
Studies have also shown that bromelain can aid in the prevention and fight against cancer, arthritis, blood clotting and inflammation.
Plus, pineapple is known to effectively reduce the chances of chickens contracting worms. This is of course something any chicken owner fears due to the repercussions it can bring. As chickens are susceptible to various species of worms, pineapple could be a safe preventative measure.
Pineapple Nutrition Facts
Pineapple is relatively low in calories (around 5 calories per chunk or 50 calories per 100 grams) and rich in minerals and vitamins. Most notably: Potassium, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, and Magnesium.
Why You Should Feed Pineapple in Moderation
Like any fruit, pineapple is high in naturally occurring sugars. While sugars in small quantities is not something you need to be concerned about, it can be in excess. This is why 1-3 feedings of pineapple per week is advised and recommended.
This helps you avoid unnecessary weigh gain in your birds that can lead to a drop in egg production.
Being omnivores means chickens can consume a lot of different foods. However, they do have their preferences. Not all chickens will eat and enjoy the same foods.
For the most part, chickens do enjoy pineapple. However not all will. Some will completely neglect any scraps that are provided and will leave them to sit and rot.
Of course this can prove problematic for mice and rats, and any other predator that get the scent of the sweet fruit.
That is why you should monitor their eating pattern as you feed them pineapple so you can tell which one likes it and which one doesn’t.
Identify and adjust the serving sizes accordingly.
Beyond this, ensure you clean up every pineapple scraps not eaten as soon as possible.
Either way, you need to continue offering your chickens their regular feed. They should have the option of picking what to eat and still stay well fed regardless of their choices.
Another factor to consider when feeding your chickens pineapple is that it can actually be the cause of digestive issues. The likelihood of this happening to birds with Ill health is high or in birds that have not consumed pineapple before. While chickens are usually quite good as self-regulating their consumption, issues are likely to arise with any birds who have eaten too much pineapple that they can handle.
Any chicken that struggles to break pineapple down will often show observable symptoms and signs. The most typical one is diarrhea, which will again need to be cleaned up promptly.
It’s important to note that not all chickens will suffer with digestive issues from pineapple. In fact, it’s usually quite rare. But it is important to be aware of.
This is why it is best to start off with very small feedings. Monitor and assess before you make it more of a recurring treat.
Moderation is the ultimately secret here.
Final Things To Consider
- Pineapple offered should be fresh, cut up into manageable chunks and all the outer fibrous shell should be gotten rid of before serving.
- Feed pineapple in moderation: 1-3 per week.
- Look out for neglected pineapple or any other negative signs and symptoms following pineapple consumption.
- Avoid feeding your chickens under or over-ripe pineapple (acidity can cause issues)
- To test the ripeness of a pineapple, pull out a leaf. If it comes away easily, it is ready. Feel the firmness too; too soft indicates over-ripening and could even be rotting.
- Consider offering dried pineapple. This is generally easier for your chickens to consume and is naturally less acidic. It’s easier to store too. You can get a great deal on Amazon here.
Final Words
The answer to your question – Can chicken eat pineapple is a yes! Plus, they generally really enjoy this as a treat. It has plenty health benefits too; primarily boosting their immune systems and helping them digest and absorb nutrients from their food. Never force feed any food your birds show disinterest in and do not neglect potential negative responses.