Butternut squash for the hens?

[thewatsonfarm]

I have some butternut squash that I really should harvest & thought I'd give it to the hens. They have had raw pumpkin before and didn't care for it too much. (They are really spoiled when it comes to treats and food.) I was thinking of cooking it for them, so it would be a soft, warm treat. Any suggestions on preparing butternut squash for chickens? Cook it like I would for humans, minus the butter or olive oil?

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Bake or boil it with no seasoning. If you have one put it on a silpat while it bakes to keep it from sticking without oil. Leave the seeds in or feed those raw - they tend to like those and they're good for them.

 

[electrycmonk]

I was just wondering about the different squash types we eat... However...
#1) Given the fact the oils in moderation are a good thing for all animals & humans - why fret over cooking 'oil free' for the chicks?
#2) I have read the treat article at least once a week or so ago but, didn't specificly see a pro/con spegetti squash? Our dogs sure enjoy it as a treat/leftover from dinner (too small a leftover for the fridge) and it was oil cooked as well......
3) Again I didn't notice in the article about treats etal; anyone have any definitive logic on any oils not wise to give chicks?

 

[ChocolateMouse]

It's not so much that the oils are bad persay but more like they're empty calories. Much like for humans, if you want the body to function well you want to avoid as many empty calories as possible.
A chicken eating a lot of empty calories may gain weight and lose condition at the same time. An overweight hen is much more prone to reproductive and egg laying issues.
Ergo; oils = bad in excess and it's better to just avoid them because the calories they add are meaningless and they get all the calories they need from the feed they eat.
On their own or in moderation oils are pretty harmless. In fact they can be used without harm to treat impacted crop. My dog once drank a full quart of cooking oil by accident and was fine aside from some diarrhea and vomiting (IE, a VERY upset tummy). So some oil is fine, it's just better to avoid it.
Also, remember that articles on this site are written by regular people and usually aren't entirely comprehensive and just one perspective/one persons knowledge. Same with posts.

As for variety... Generally speaking squash is squash. Especially winter squash is winter squash and summer squash is summer squash. And unless there's something specific about the squash that makes is no good (like I probably wouldn't feed a luffah sqaush) , pretty much all squash varieties are fine.

 

[electrycmonk]

It's not so much that the oils are bad persay but more like they're empty calories. Much like for humans, if you want the body to function well you want to avoid as many empty calories as possible.
A chicken eating a lot of empty calories may gain weight and lose condition at the same time. An overweight hen is much more prone to reproductive and egg laying issues.
Ergo; oils = bad in excess and it's better to just avoid them because the calories they add are meaningless and they get all the calories they need from the feed they eat.
On their own or in moderation oils are pretty harmless. In fact they can be used without harm to treat impacted crop. My dog once drank a full quart of cooking oil by accident and was fine aside from some diarrhea and vomiting (IE, a VERY upset tummy). So some oil is fine, it's just better to avoid it.
Also, remember that articles on this site are written by regular people and usually aren't entirely comprehensive and just one perspective/one persons knowledge. Same with posts.

As for variety... Generally speaking squash is squash. Especially winter squash is winter squash and summer squash is summer squash. And unless there's something specific about the squash that makes is no good (like I probably wouldn't feed a luffah sqaush) , pretty much all squash varieties are fine.

So, "common sense" is a solid tool to use her as well. I totally understand that the articles are from "everyday users" several I have read also give cool links and university level research links to clarify or just add neat info.....
Thanks for the refreshing reply.

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

I give my hens and ducks butternut squash quite often. I usually halve or quarter it, pop it in the oven and bake it 'til it's soft (including the seeds). In the morning, I slice off a few pieces for them. They LOVE it!

I bake it, meat side down, in a large baking dish with water added, so it sort of steams. Nothing added.

 

[MysteryChicken]

List of bad oils: Margin = Plant Butter. (Salted Died Margin)

Shortening: Solidified Vegatible oil = Plant Fat.

Large amounts of Vegatible oil are bad too.

 

[electrycmonk]

List of bad oils: Margin = Plant Butter. (Salted Died Margin)

Shortening: Solidified Vegatible oil = Plant Fat.

Large amounts of Vegatible oil are bad too.

And @MysteryChicken that reinforces what I meant about moderation. FWIW I'm not a fan of margarine - don't buy it, use it, or want to use it ever again.
The other stuff, yeah, wouldn't be prudent either as it's such a specific "oil" that well, yeah...... Hard.

 

[MysteryChicken]

And @MysteryChicken that reinforces what I meant about moderation. FWIW I'm not a fan of margarine - don't buy it, use it, or want to use it ever again.
The other stuff, yeah, wouldn't be prudent either as it's such a specific "oil" that well, yeah...... Hard.

My mom always buys it because it's cheaper, but it's only a dallor less then real butter. Margarine is actually alot worse for your health then real butter studies have shown. Margarine is more highly processed then butter. Butter is simply milk fat that's churned, & salted.

I'm with you on the margarine being bad.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

I only use margarine in baking. Where I live margarine is $1/lb and butter is $4/lb. That doesn't matter much if you are using it on your toast or a tbsp in cooking, but when you use 6lbs in your holiday cookies it's another matter. (I go half butter half margarine.)

All fats have advantages and disadvantages. I just like the cleaner taste of butter better.

I probably wouldn't give a stick of any of them to my chickens though!