Chickens will peck at pumpkins, yes, and eat ripe pumpkins and seeds, however, our chickens to not eat pumpkin vines and leaves, they've always left them alone, so pumpkin vines and plants don't need as much chicken proofing as other parts of the garden. Chickens will scratch up new plantings and seedlings, so chicken protection for a new pumpkin patch may be a good idea.