Chickens are omnivores, so they can eat a wide variety of vegetables and fruits, but can chickens eat pears?
This juicy green-skinned fruit with white flesh has a more delicate flavor than apples. But is it safe for chickens to consume?
In this article, we’ll discuss:
- If chickens can eat pears’ flesh, seeds and skin
- How your chicken can benefit from this soft and fairly watery fruit
- What’s the best way to serve this to your flock
So, without further ado, let’s get right into it and answer the big question.
Can Chickens Eat Pears?
Yes, it is edible and safe for your feathery flock. Additionally, it can be an excellent source of vitamins and minerals that chickens need for egg production.
Pears are sweet, nutritious, and juicy fruits that originated in the southeastern part of Europe.
It is one of the favorite fruits of the ancient Greeks and Romans since they believe it is a gift from the gods.
And as time passed, it spread throughout the world. This fruit has over 3,000 types, and they vary in sweetness, shape, size, and crispness.
Some of its common types found in the United States are Green and Red Anjou, Red Bartlett, Bosc, Comice, and many others.
Like other fruits, pears contain many vitamins and minerals for humans and animals.
Though pears are not the tastiest among all fruits, your flocks would love pecking and eating them all.
Can Chickens Eat Pear Core or Flesh?
Yes! In fact, the flesh of pears is the juiciest and smoothest part of the fruit. Aside from skin, this part also contains many nutrients your chicken needs.
It is the easiest part to eat. You can smash or dice it and feed it to your little critters as long as they are in good condition.
Can Chickens Eat Pear Skin?
So, your birds can eat the core: can chickens eat pear peels?
The skin of pears is safe for your flocks. It is the part of the fruit that chickens could highly benefit from. The pear skin contains high amounts of fiber and antioxidants like quercetin.
These compounds help your chicken fight free radicals and other health problems. Besides, the pear skin is soft and easy to swallow.
So, feeding them pears without removing the skin is totally fine.
Can Chickens Eat Pears Seeds?
Like apples, plums, and other fruits, pear seeds contain cyanide, which is why you need to extract the seed before feeding it to your flocks.
Are Pear Seeds Poisonous to Chickens?
As we all know, cyanide is a poisonous chemical that threatens your chicken’s health. Once it enters its body, it targets the digestive system and kills the cell within a minute.
This can result in cyanide poisoning, which is fatal for birds.
Luckily, a small amount of cyanide is not that dangerous. Besides, chickens would discard it because it tastes bitter. So, there’s no need to panic.
But if you want to play safe for your birds’ health and pocket, it’s better to remove the seed by cutting the pear in half.
Can Chickens Eat Overripe Pears?
Overripe pears are safe for chickens. But sometimes, overripe fruits taste bad, so your chickens might not enjoy them.
Other varieties of pears don’t change color when overripe, so it might be hard to determine what’s good and overripe.
Can Baby Chickens Eat Pears?
If pears are safe and healthy for chickens, it’s the same with their babies. They can have any fruits that are safe for their moms because they are essential for the healthy growth of chicks.
However, never give them treats like fruits a few days after hatching. They first need balance nutrition from a feed starter before adding fruits or treats.
It’s better to give them pears three weeks after hatching. This way would also prevent them from being shocked by the taste or choking up while tasting the fruit.
Raw vs. Cooked Pears — Which is Best For Chickens?
Pears can be eaten in various ways. You can give your chickens fresh, cooked, dried, or processed ones.
Your chickens will receive all the nutrients from the pears, regardless of how they are consumed. Always remember that when consumed in moderate amounts, pears are safe for your birds.
But you must check the fruit to ensure they don’t include harmful chemical preservatives when purchasing manufactured ones for your chickens.
And when buying fresh pear fruit, thoroughly check it for bacterial contamination.
And lastly, don’t overfeed your flocks with pears. Excessive amounts can harm your chickens’ health and make them dependent to the point where they quit eating the chicken feed specially formulated for them.
How to Feed Pears to Chickens – The Recommended Intake
Make sure to break up your pears before feeding them to prevent choking. One whole pear is fragile enough for them to peck it with their beaks.
However, they won’t have much control over the amount of the pieces they receive, and a single or two pears among a flock will cause a lot of eating in the peck-and-run fashion.
Preparing a fruit salad or flock treat medley will figuratively mix things up if you want to spice things up a bit.
Feel free to include any treats because your chickens probably won’t notice if the flavors conflict.
Aside from that, considering these things might help you to be more prepared before feeding:
- Give pears at least once or twice per week and half a pear at a time per chicken. You can slice them into small cubes or smash them before feeding.
- Choose the ripe ones because unripe ones have more acid content. It might choke them up or have a more serious problem like gastrointestinal problems.
- If you boil the pears before giving them to your chickens, always choose the firm varieties, not the soft ones.
If you give your chickens cooked or fresh pears, ensure they are cultivated organically.
Fruits that are grown organically are produced without the addition of chemicals like pesticides and herbicides, etc. As a result, they are better for you than their chemically developed ones.
For instance, natural fruits are strong in antioxidants with little or little chance of bacterium infiltration. In contrast, chemically-grown varieties can be detrimental to health.
Chickens are highly vulnerable, and a trace of contaminants in their meals can harm them.
Health Benefits of Eating Pears for Chickens
According to several studies, pears fruits make an excellent addition to a bird’s diet because it has less cholesterol and helps in reducing health problems.
Throughout the world, different varieties of pears have different nutrient contents, but they all have good health benefits.
Provides Water to Keep Chickens Stay Hydrated
Aside from oranges, pineapple, and other watery fruits, pears also provide water that helps your flocks keep hydrated.
Pears have 80% of the water, an essential element that chickens need to grow. Having a good water source helps chickens in both meat and egg production.
Rich in Antioxidants
Like plums, pears are rich in antioxidants and vitamins A and C. These nutrients help boost your chicken’s immune system to fight free radicals and other health diseases.
So, regularly giving pears will help them gain strength, which is critical, especially during the laying season.
Develops Good Blood Circulation
High quantities of iron and copper in pears aid in chickens’ blood circulation. And good blood flow improves the movement of white blood cells throughout the body and aerobic metabolism.
Both minerals are essential for the proper functioning of vital bodily organs like the heart.
Maintains Good Heart Health
Chickens are vulnerable to heart problems in the same way as humans. For instance, a heart attack can occur in chickens for different reasons.
So, you must feed them meals rich in potassium to maintain your hens’ heart health, improve blood flow, and lower blood pressure. Thankfully, pears contain a significant quantity of potassium.
Prevents Indigestion
Same as the plums, pears also have a significant amount of fiber. This compound helps chickens to relieve and avoid constipation.
In some cases, fiber helps prevent heart disease, obesity, and cancer. While fiber is not processed and taken in by the body, it does help the transit of stools.
It also protects your chicken’s gut against hemorrhoids and watery excretions. So, include pears in your chickens’ diet if they have trouble pooping.
However, pears are high in glucose and fructose, which, when ingested in excess, are bad for your chickens.
So, don’t make pears your chicken’s main food source, even if you have lots of them in your kitchen.
Other Fruits Chickens Can Eat
Apples
Chickens can freely eat apples’ flesh and skin, except the pits, because of their cyanide content.
Nevertheless, they make excellent treats for birds because they offer vitamins C and A, which can help improve bird eyesight.
Bananas
It’s a widely known fact that bananas are rich in potassium, a mineral that aids in reducing tension and boosts muscle strength, and improves metabolic processes.
But even banana peels are nutritious for chickens too! They contain Vitamins B6 and B12, fiber, protein, and carotenoids.
Kiwi
If you don’t know, kiwis are safe for chickens and are among the most nutritious fruits in the wild. Their juicy and flavorful flesh is packed with Vitamins C and K.
But the skin is the best part where their nutrients are concentrated. However, it has a hairy and hard texture that isn’t appealing to birds.
Peaches
Organic peaches are packed with Vitamin C, which builds immunity and speeds up recovery in sick chickens. But avoid canned peaches because they’re high in sugar.
Watermelon
Every bite of watermelon contains vitamins C and A and potassium. And unlike apples, pears, and peaches, watermelon pits are safe for chickens and chicks.
Strawberries and Blueberries
Blueberries are good sources of vitamins C and K, while strawberries offer vitamins C and B9 to chickens. These nutrients help promote healthy tissue growth and strengthen the immune system.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chickens and Pears
Here are the answers to other questions regarding chickens’ consumption of pears.
Can chickens eat pears and pear seeds?
Pears are safe for chickens to consume, but the seeds contain traces of cyanide that causes digestive problems.
Your birds may avoid the pits because they taste bitter, but it’d be best to keep them away from your flock.
Are pear seeds toxic to chickens?
Similar to apples, plums, peaches, and apricots, pears contain cyanide, a toxin that is fatal to birds when taken in large amounts.
So, we recommend removing the seeds and pits before feeding them to your chicken flock.
Can chickens have pears and peaches?
Yes, chickens can have pears and peaches’ flesh and skin, except the pits.
Both fruits are nutritious because they contain high amounts of vitamins C plus A, E, and K and other B vitamins that strengthen your birds’ immune system.
Can I overfeed my chicken pears?
Don’t overfeed your chickens with pears because too much consumption can lead to health complications.
Your birds may also lose interest in eating their regular, nutritionally-balanced feed due to overconsumption of pears and other fruits.
How many pears can I feed to my chickens?
The recommended consumption is half a pear pet chicken. This serving is enough for each bird to gorge on and maximize the health benefits without exceeding the limits.
How often can I feed pears to my chickens?
You can feed your chickens with pears once or twice a week. Alternating it with other tasty fruits like peaches, apples, apricots, mango, and plums is best. But you can also mix two of these fruits together.
Can Chickens Eat Pears Fruit: Final Recap
As you discussed earlier, chickens can safely eat pears except for their pits.
This fruit is softer than apples, so if your chickens eat the latter, it should be easy for them to swallow pears too. But it’d help if you’d slice them into smaller pieces to prevent choking, especially in chicks.
So, if chickens can consume apples and pears, how about other fruits like plums? Is it safe for your flock?
That’s what we’ll talk about in the next article. Check this out!