Can Chickens Eat Pineapple

Chickens are not particularly fussy when it comes to eating; they consume a wide range of foods. The typical diet of chickens is mainly grain, grit, and bugs from time to time, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add a few more treats to the diet.

Pineapple is a tasty treat for chickens and most of them like it. It’s one of the sweeter, sugarier fruits, so keep it for occasional treats. Chickens shouldn’t be overfed with pineapple and should only get it in moderation. Pineapples are high in sugar, which is one reason for this.

It is essential to include different treats such as fruits, kitchen scraps, and leftovers when feeding your chickens, as long as it is done in moderation. 

Pineapples are an excellent treat for your chickens, which has pros and cons, just like any other chicken treat, but chickens seem to like pineapples a lot. 

Serving your chickens with pineapple treats will definitely induce a change in their regular dietary routine, and if you serve the pulpy part, they might actually enjoy it more!

Are Pineapples Safe for Your Chickens?

The question of whether or not to feed your chickens pineapples is dependent on the individual chicken keeper. There are both advantages and disadvantages of feeding pineapples to your chickens, as long as they don’t replace the chicken’s daily feed.

Pineapple is a tropical fruit that is very rich in enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making it perfect for the immune and digestive system, and it is also delicious!

Pineapples have a high amount of bromelain, which is a compound that helps indigestion. This compound is, however, also responsible for stomach upsets and other minor issues if over-consumed. Chickens like pineapples, and if fed with moderation, this fruit helps them enjoy a lot of positive health benefits. However, pineapples can also be toxic as well, so the results are mixed.

Pineapple is safe for your chickens if fed in moderation, which means they get one to three servings every week. Pineapple has a lot of fructose sugars, and together with the naturally present digestive enzymes, it can lead to health issues if overeaten.

Pineapple that is safe for chickens to feed on should be easy to consume as well, meaning that you should cut the pineapple into manageable chunks. You should also remove the fibrous outer shell, which is rough in texture and can be challenging for chickens to swallow.

Health Benefits of Pineapples for Chicken

Pineapple has a lot of health benefits to chickens if fed infrequently and in moderation. It has some unique attributes in terms of flavor or taste, growth, and appearance, being a tropical fruit. Tropical fruits are vital for the nutraceutical benefits they have on both humans and animals, so pineapples are a definite yes for your chickens.

Antioxidant properties of pineapple

Pineapples have antioxidant properties that are very vital for chickens for fighting diseases and attenuating the conditional effects caused by oxidation. When oxidation occurs in chickens, it affects both the psychological and the nutritional aspects of their health, and gradually there is a deterioration of other body functions.

These functions are such as metabolism, physiology, reproduction, lactation, and respiration, among others. These functions are all facilitated by the natural antioxidants of pineapples. Pineapples also facilitate the cleaning of kidneys as well as monitoring the volume of worms in the chicken’s intestines, which improves metabolism and other toxins in the body.

Vitamin C

Pineapple is high in a credible source of Vitamin C, which is vital for building a robust immune system for chickens. Vitamin C helps keep them healthier, so your chickens don’t contract illnesses easily. As such, pineapples help the chickens get more prominent and improve the quality of their eggs as well.

Chickens use Vitamin C also to synthesize collagen that they use across their bodies. Vitamin C helps to strengthen the quality of eggshells and build stronger bones for chickens. Vitamin C is also crucial for chickens during heat stress to help them combat the problems induced. Even though chickens synthesize vitamin C, it is vital to give them enough supply. Pineapples are also rich in manganese, which helps build a more robust bone structure for chickens when combined with Vitamin C.

Low cholesterol and calory levels

Pineapples don’t have cholesterol and saturated fats, so it is a very healthy treat for chickens. This is important in reducing the probability of your chickens developing health complications. They have meager calories, and although chickens need around 300 calories a day, chicken pellets take care of the calorie needs.

Cholesterol and fats should be controlled carefully in chickens to avoid health issues. Pineapple contains around five calories for every chunk, which is a relatively low amount.

Bromelain

Pineapples also have bromelain, which is a proteolytic enzyme vital for supporting digestive processes in chickens. This enzyme helps chickens break down foods and extract minerals and vitamins from their feeds. It enables the breaking down of proteins to amino acids and other types of building blocks needed by the body. Bromelain is also known for its ability to fight against inflammation, cancer, arthritis, and blood clotting.

Pineapples are also known to effectively minimize the risks of chickens getting infected by worms. Chickens are susceptible to different species of worms, which is a fear for many chicken owners due to the repercussions that come with worm diseases. Pineapples are a safe preventive measure for this.

Can Pineapple Be Sometimes Bad for Chickens?

Feeding pineapple to your chickens has its downsides; that is, if your chickens enjoy pineapples, to begin with. Chickens have very sophisticated tastes, so it is possible for some to enjoy treats that other chickens shy from.

Despite these birds not being fussy eaters, chickens are omnivores that can eat different food types, as long as it suits their preferences. Pineapples have a very robust and distinct taste, so if your chickens don’t seem to enjoy this treat, don’t force it on them. For the most part, these birds generally enjoy a pineapple treat, but there are some who will completely abandon their treats for grain grit.

Like most fruits, pineapple is high in naturally occurring sugars, which is something to worry about when feeding your chickens. Failure to follow the recommended feeding plan of one to three feedings a week can cause weight gain in your chickens and subsequently affect their egg production negatively.

Pineapples can contribute to chickens’ digestive issues, especially if they have been ill or if it’s their first-time eating pineapple. When chickens eat too much pineapple, their bodies can’t handle it even though these birds usually are good at regulating their consumption by themselves.

When consumed in excess, pineapples cause chickens to struggle when breaking them down during digestion, which can cause diarrhea. These digestive problems make it hard for the chicken to digest the pineapple; hence, it does not get the necessary nutrients for laying healthy eggs regularly.

However, not all chickens get digestive problems upon consuming a pineapple, so start with small feedings to monitor and access before committing to a more recurring treat.

Parts of The Pineapple That Chickens Shouldn’t Eat

Can chickens eat pineapple tops?

The top part of the pineapple contains the leaves and the shoot apex, and they form the pineapple crown. The crown of the pineapple should not be fed to chickens.

Can chickens eat pineapple rind?

It is not advisable to give the pineapple rind to chickens. The pineapple rind is the outer part of the fruit, and even though it is not toxic, it’s not good for chickens to eat. The rind has a sour taste and a very itchy sensation, which does not appeal to chickens, so if you want them to eat pineapples, you shouldn’t start with this part.

Can chickens eat pineapple leaves?

Chickens shouldn’t be fed pineapple leaves because the leaves have some toxic properties that can grossly affect the chicken’s health. Pineapple leaves lack bromelain, which is the enzyme in pineapples that lowers the fruit’s toxicity, making it safe for the chickens to eat.

Can chickens eat pineapple core?

The pineapple core is not very sweet or flavorful compared to the mushy part. It is the center part of a pineapple that extends from the crown up to the butt down. It is not advisable to feed this part to your chickens.

Can Chickens Eat Pineapple Scraps

You need to make sure that any scraps that fall off the pineapple are disposed of properly. If you leave the scraps on the ground where your chickens can see them, they might try to eat them. The top (crown), the rind, leaves, and the core should all be disposed of separately.

Can Chickens Eat Fresh Pineapple

Fresh is best. Just like humans, your chickens will eat pineapple flesh. Pineapple flesh is juicy and tasty. Despite pecking at the skin, chickens won’t eat it if it isn’t tasty and soft.

How to Feed Pineapple To Chickens

As discussed, pineapples are suitable for your chicken, but only if fed in moderate amounts. There are some parts of the pineapple that chicken prefers to other parts. When feeding chickens pineapples, start by tearing off the pineapple rind as it is too hard for chickens to eat or digest.

Chickens prefer the soft part of the pineapple to the hard one and a ripe one to an unripe one. Unripe pineapples are not only harder to eat for the chickens, but they also cause irritation, and their high acidic content can harm the chicken’s health.

Should you decide to feed your chickens pineapple from a can, pineapple scraps, or even pineapple rinds, remember to do it in moderation to avoid digestive issues. Chickens don’t like the taste of under-ripe or over-ripe pineapples, and some won’t want even a ripe one. If you are not sure whether the pineapple is ripe enough to feed to your chickens, you can try pulling out one leaf.

If it pulls out easily, then the fruit is ready. If you are worried about the digestive issues associated with pineapples, you can opt for dried pineapple for your chickens. Dried pineapple comes packaged and is a better choice compared to pineapple scraps when it comes to causing digestive problems.

Pineapple should be fresh, cut into manageable sizes, and with no fibrous outer shell. It should be fed in moderation to chickens with one to three servings a week, but you can choose to start slow and wait to see if your birds will like it.

If they show disinterest, then don’t force it on them and don’t assume any potential responses to eating pineapples, mostly if negative. Still, otherwise, the fruit is music to most chickens’ palette.

FAQ