SueChick Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 After a lovely trip to the pumpkin farm we are well and truly stocked up! Unfortunately the kids picked some gourds (misshapen and "Ooops, word censored!"bly small pumpkins) which the sign at the farm said were non edible. Does this mean just for us people or can the chicks eat them up for us? They certainly love the big pumpkins! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 ....and if I may piggyback - what about over-ripe Papaya? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 Ours will eat the seeds, but not the rest unless they are rather bored. Over time slices gradually disappear until just the skin is left. Perhaps it's the mice or slugs that eat the flesh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueChick Posted October 23, 2014 Author Share Posted October 23, 2014 Mine love the pumpkins and eat it all up But I was just worried about feeding them the gourds? Are they safe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 If in doubt don't feed it to them SueChick. Compost them instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 What about small squash? I've got carrots and apples to thread onto some string to help them while away their boring days in the run this week, but I also got 2 small yellow and green squash (I couldn't help it they're so pretty!). Can they have these too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimnpaula Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 From what I've just read from a google search it seems that non-edible does not equal poisonous. It just means that we humans probably would find it too bitter or tough - but that doesn't mean that the chickens wouldn't like it. The skins may be tough on some varieties: certainly my marrow-sized courgettes had quite a tough skin and the girls wouldn't eat them until I'd cut them in half. Mullethunter, do your yellow/green squash look like flat custard pies? If so they are pattypan type squash and are edible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 they can and will eat most if not all of the squash family I'm not sure about gourds some are technically edible but are very bitter which is why they are classed as ornamental. my mob eat about 90% of a pumpkin or squash and all of a cucumber or courgette mind I am mean to them were pumpkins are concerned as I only cut them a small hole into them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Jimnpaula - no not pattypan. They're classic gourd shape - bulbous at one end and slimmer at the other. Smooth yellow skin with a perfect round bit in dark green at the fat end. They're small - only about 10cm long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
