"decorative" squash safe to feed?

[PirateGirl]

So I'm not a big squash person, but we have some assorted squash at the office as seasonal decor. I wouldn't know where to begin cooking one for myself. I know some squash is safe/good for chickens to eat. Is any squash bad for chickens? Is it safe for me to bring them all home from the office and cut them up and feed them to my chickens raw? I have the following that I know of:

white acorn squash
kabocha squash
delicata squash
sweet dumpling
and pumpkin (but I know that's safe)

Thanks for your input! I hope my girls have some tasty treats to look forward to.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

All squash and pumpkins are edible either cooked, preferred by chickens, or raw. Generally chickens won't eat things that aren't good for them unless their diet is restricted.

 

[PirateGirl]

All squash and pumpkins are edible either cooked, preferred by chickens, or raw. Generally chickens won't eat things that aren't good for them unless their diet is restricted.

Thank you! I feel much better that they won't just be going in the trash and I always love to find treats for my girls.

Can I just bake them in the oven or microwave them until they are softer?

 

[mymilliefleur]

Thank you! I feel much better that they won't just be going in the trash and I always love to find treats for my girls.

Can I just bake them in the oven or microwave them until they are softer?

Yes! Cut them in half, put them in pans with half inch of water at the bottom (to keep them from drying out) and bake them at 350* until they are soft.

 

[PirateGirl]

Yes! Cut them in half, put them in pans with half inch of water at the bottom (to keep them from drying out) and bake them at 350* until they are soft.

Easy! Thank you! I'm so glad they are all safe for the birds. I might stock up next time I'm at the store.

 

[lazy gardener]

If you're gonna be cooking them, be sure to save some of them for your own use. You can bake the squash, add a dollop of brown sugar and butter, and enjoy it right away, or bag it up and freeze it for later use. I love to have squash all cooked in meal sized portions. Turns any meal into an instant Thanksgiving! You can enjoy the good flesh yourself, and give the skins and the seeds/stringy pulp to your birds. They'll eat the seeds/stringy pulp without it being cooked. Seeds are considered to be useful as an anti-helminthic.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Those squashes are fine for both you and the chickens to enjoy. Mine are currently enjoying delicata innards mixed in their morning feed. I really enjoy delicatas halved and baked with brown sugar, butter and maple syrup.

 

[Patinas]

I have some squash and pumpkins I plan to give my chickens but is it okay to give them the seeds too? I do give my hens crushed raw pumpkin seeds that are already shelled but seems like they would have a hard time with the shelled seeds?

I'm planning to give them the squash/pumpkins on rainy days when I won't let them out to free range because they don't actually forage when it's raining. They just stand under the back patio cover and watch us through the glass door. I figured some warmed squash would make a good treat and give them something to do when they're confined all day. Just not sure about giving them the seeds.

 

[Percheron chick]

I never bother with cooking them. Just slice it open and toss it to them. The beauty of winter squash is you can store them for months. Feed one store the rest.

 

[lazy gardener]

They can handle even the largest squash seeds whole, even the massive blue hubbard. They especially enjoy squash/pumpkin after it's gone through a few freeze/thaw cycles and has turned to a slushy mush.