Can goats eat pumpkins? They certainly can, and our three dairy goats were happy to demonstrate! Fall is pumpkin season here at The Tart Farm, and we decided to give Ellie, Nessa, and Sage a special treat. What started as a simple pumpkin snack turned into a funny farm adventure! We cut the top off a fresh pumpkin and set it out for the girls to investigate. All three goats came over to check it out. They sniffed it, explored it, and tried to decide what to do with their unusual treat. Then Nessa had an idea:
Why just nibble the pumpkin when you can stick your whole head inside? She pushed her face right into the opening and started munching! If you listen carefully to the video, you can actually hear her chewing. At one point, it almost looks like she might get stuck!
Watch our goats discover their pumpkin treat!
Can Goats Eat Pumpkins? Here’s Why They’re a Great Fall Treat!
Pumpkins aren’t just for Halloween decorations and pies. Goats can enjoy fresh pumpkins as an occasional treat, including the soft inside, seeds, and firm outer flesh. Pumpkins contain water, fiber, and vitamins. However, they shouldn’t replace the hay and other foods goats need every day.
Many goat owners believe that pumpkin seeds can help prevent worms in goats. Worms are tiny parasites that can live inside an animal and make it sick. Some people believe that substances in pumpkin seeds help control these parasites. Scientists have studied this idea, but research hasn’t shown that feeding pumpkin seeds reliably prevents or treats worms in goats. A few seeds inside a pumpkin certainly wouldn’t be enough to count on! We feed pumpkins because the goats enjoy them, not because they’re medicine.
A Pumpkin Is More Than Just a Snack!
Did you know that animals can get bored? Just like people, goats enjoy exploring new things. Farmers call activities that encourage animals to investigate, think, and play enrichment. Giving our goats a pumpkin provides enrichment in several ways: They get to explore something new. They use their noses to investigate different smells. They figure out how to reach the tasty parts. They get to enjoy a different texture and flavor.
Fresh vegetables can also help us reduce food waste on the farm. Sometimes we have extra produce that isn’t needed in the kitchen but is still fresh and safe for our animals. Instead of throwing it away, we can share a little with the goats! Of course, we never feed them rotten or moldy food.
Wait! Goats Don’t Have Upper Front Teeth?
Here’s something that might surprise you.
Goats have eight lower front teeth, but no upper front teeth! Instead, they have a tough area called a dental pad where their upper front teeth would normally be. They press their lower teeth against this pad to grab and tear food. Their back teeth do the hard work of grinding everything up. You might think that would make eating a tough pumpkin difficult.
Our goats would disagree!
We left the pumpkin for the girls to enjoy, and when we checked it the next day, we discovered just how much they had eaten.
Look at the side of that pumpkin! The goats didn’t just scoop out the soft middle. They chewed away a good portion of the thick pumpkin wall, too!
That’s some impressive work for animals without upper front teeth!
What Should We Try Next at The Tart Farm?
Now that our goats have had their pumpkin adventure, it’s time for our chickens to have some fall fun! But we need your help deciding what to share next.
Which activity would you like to see?
Chickens Carving a Pumpkin!
What happens when chickens get their own pumpkin? Instead of using carving tools, they’ll use their beaks to peck away at it. Let’s see what kind of design they create!
A Chicken Corn Piñata!
What happens when we hang fresh corn where the chickens can peck at it? Will they figure out how to get the kernels while the corn swings and moves?
You get to choose! Leave a comment below and tell us which chicken adventure you would like to see next. And remember, there’s always something new to discover at The Tart Farm!
