Can Chickens Eat Watermelon – What Do You Think?

Watermelon…

We all love it.

Well…

Most of us anyway.

So what about the chickens.

I mean your backyard chickens.

Are you thinking about what can you do with the leftovers?

Can your chickens eat watermelon?

Let’s find out.

Is Watermelon Good For Chickens

Watermelon…

That lovely fruit that is like biting into water in your mouth.

So where does it come in when we are talking about what to feed our chickens then.

Yes…

You can feed your backyard chicken watermelon.

Not only that, but watermelon is also nutritious as far as treats go for your feathered friends.

It is no surprise that watermelon is made up of over 90% water, it is a great source of hydration for your chickens as well.

So…

On a hot day.

If you want to give your chickens a treat and get some more water into them.
The watermelon is a good choice.

It is also high in many vitamins including Vitamin C and Vitamin A for instance…

And…

It also has a fair amount of fibre and even potassium in it.

There is one thing that the watermelon does not have in it.
And this can be a good thing in certain ways.

And that is a high concentration of salt.
It is in fact a low sodium food.

So you have a fruit that is low in salt and high in water.
And tastes great as well…

How Often Can Chickens Have Watermelon?

As much as watermelon is a good source of fibre and minerals.

You do not want to be feeding your chickens day in and day out.

No matter what they tell you.

Every now and then.

With the water content it does have it will most probably fill them up rather quickly anyway.

And your chickens can make short work of the flesh of the watermelon as the flesh has such a high percentage of water to it.

Can Chickens Eat Watermelon Rind

The watermelon rind of the watermelon itself is fairly tough.

So can chickens eat watermelon rind as well?

Have you ever tried to eat a watermelon rind?

I know when you bite down in the watermelon itself and you get to the rind.

The colour starts to change to a white colour before you hit the rind.

Now the taste does decrease and the rind itself is tough.

So…

If you had the choice of eating the watermelon rind compared to the flesh of the watermelon.

You would go for the flesh every time.

And the same for your chickens, they will do the same.

If the rind is cut up and a bit older.

Meaning that it is getting softer, then I am sure that your chickens will have a go at it.

But generally, they will only peck down to it because they are picking at the flesh itself.

The juicy bit of course…

Can Chickens Eat Watermelon Seeds

We can not go far without hitting those watermelon seeds.

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They are everywhere in the centre of the watermelon.

After all..

That’s what fruit is all about.

It’s about the encouragement of getting an animal to eat its fruit.

With seeds and all animals to spread their new prospective plants near and far.

Once the seeds do come out in the chicken poos, for instance, that manure will help give the seeds the best chance of germination.

The poop acts as a fertiliser.

So…

Your chickens will eat the watermelon seeds whole.

As they do not have teeth to chew it which would not be good for the seeds.

As they can not germinate if they are chewed up.

Nature has it all worked out.

By having birds with beaks peck at the fruit.

The seeds are therefore swallowed whole and go through the digestion tract to come out the other side.

And even if some were chewed up or digested in some way.

At least some seeds will find their way through the other side to fall onto the ground and have a chance to germinate.

Can Chickens Eat Under Ripe Watermelon?

An underripe watermelon is not going to be at its tastiest.

And the indication of a ripe watermelon also lets the seeds grow to their full capacity to germinate.

This is why the plant does not make the watermelon for instance ripe before the seeds are fully grown.

Very clever, nature…

Anyway.

A very unripe watermelon is not going to be that tasty, but it is not going to hurt your chickens is so choose to give some to them.

An unripe watermelon actually contains a low amount of beta-carotene and a low amount of lycopene.

All these mature as the watermelon ripens.

So if you want to try and give them a little unripe watermelon you can.

But not too much as any fruit unripe is going to give anything a stomach ache if it is fed too much.

Can Chickens Eat Watermelon Leaves

If you do happen to be growing watermelon plants in your backyard.

And am concerned if you let your chickens out of their chicken run for a break to have a good time in your back garden.

You do not have to go to the bother of fencing off your watermelons in the thought that they might be harmful to your backyard chickens.

So the leaves are fine for your chickens to eat if they so choose.
The only time not to is if you have been using any pesticides on the plants.

Then you need to keep them away from the watermelon plants in the case.

As pesticides do a job of keeping the creepy crawlies away from your plants’ for a reason, it is poisonous.

And also poisonous to your chickens and will make them sick.

Can I Give Baby Chickens Watermelon

There is no problem with giving your chickens watermelon as they get a little bit older.

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Just keep them on chicken crumbles for a few weeks so that they get used to food in general.

The hen will most probably give them some bits of grain that she might find on the ground.

But their staple diet should be chick mash while they are very young.

As their stomachs will just as they get a little older and be able to handle other foods as they grow.

Watermelon is good to feed your chickens if you have any.

But again…

Not too much.

And I would only give them ripe watermelon

As unripe watermelon is unripe for a reason, and with young stomachs?

It would only give them an upset stomach.

And you don’t want them to be introduced to them at such an early age do you.
Baby chicks can feed on watermelons but in limited quantities.

They need to feed on higher protein foods thus watermelons should be fed to them in moderation.

Baby chicks, however, should never be fed watermelon seeds.

As they are too big for them, or the rinds as it is just too hard for their little beaks at this stage

What Age Can Chickens Eat Watermelon?

Baby chicks at a few days old will try and eat scraps if you give them some.

But I would rather wait till they are a little older.

Everyone is different in their thoughts here.

But I want them to get on the right track in their early days.

Then introduce them to other food.

Some say that it is not generally recommended until they are 3-4 months old.

But watermelon is not a strong fruit.

Fairly gentle, so a little watermelon cannot be a bad thing.

And the water content that the watermelon gives…

can only be a good thing.

Can Chickens Eat Watermelon Everyday

As I have mentioned previously, that watermelon as with any other fruit should be taken in moderation.

You know yourself that is not a good idea to eat too much fruit.

As you will get the runs.

So will your chickens.

So in moderation people…

Can Chickens Eat A Whole Watermelon

It depends on what is being asked here…

If you mean throwing a whole watermelon into the chicken run.

Well…

Your chickens are going to look at this big watermelon and wonder how to get into it.

And let’s face it.

A watermelon can look big to a chicken.

Now if you are talking about a watermelon cut in half.

Why not.

This way they can still get into it.

And as they peck away the flesh is going to break down leaving a nice little bit of juice that is held at the bottom of the watermelon half.

Because of its shape, a nice little drink for them.

And they will dink it.

No worries about that.

So…

Can chickens eat watermelon?

No problem there.