Over-Ripe Yellow Squash - Safe to feed?

[EvanAlexJames]

hello, all.

I have been gone a while, but I’m back on the forums to ask a question.
Earlier this year, my grandfather got the whole garden planted, but then he threw his back out around the time the squash bloomed. We didn’t expect anything to be out there, so we never checked it.

last weekend, I went out there and found some GIANT yellow squash that was far over-ripened. Would it be okay to feed this to my chickens? Did I need to do anything special to do so?

 

[jpalmatier83]

My dad always let them go long. Seeds were huge and the picky relatives would complain. Then he’d slice, dredge in flour/seasoning, and shallow fry. Tasted good to me.

 

[EvanAlexJames]

Does it even make sense to call it over ripe?

It is past where summer squash usually get harvested, but certainly not past the point that winter squash get harvested. Summer and winter squash are often the same species anyway, just harvested at different points.

Yes, I would be inclined to try cooking some of them for people too

These are summer squash and when overripe, they get a bitter taste. I’ve never given my chickens any kind of squash except a pie pumpkin last year, soI just wanted to double check and make sure they were okay.

 

[NatJ]

These are summer squash and when overripe, they get a bitter taste. I’ve never given my chickens any kind of squash except a pie pumpkin last year, soI just wanted to double check and make sure they were okay.

Bitter taste? I haven't heard of that before.

I would probably cut one open, offer it to the chickens, and see what they think. Squash is usually fine, and chickens are usually a good judge of what is safe for them to eat, so if they do eat the squash it should not be a problem. If they do not eat it, then maybe there is something odd about that particular squash, and composting it would make more sense.

 

[Chicken Heel]

Shouldn't be a problem. I would suggest chopping them up a bit. And it may take a few days for the birds to get them consumed.

 

[Coops Dad]

I give our chickens giant zucchini and squash. I just bust them open and the chickens go at them like crazy. They leave the stems and some of the skin.

 

[Saveria]

The good thing about overripe squash is that the seeds are big. Mine seem to like the seeds the best.

 

[nuthatched]

Why wouldn’t it be safe?

 

[NatJ]

hello, all.

I have been gone a while, but I’m back on the forums to ask a question.
Earlier this year, my grandfather got the whole garden planted, but then he threw his back out around the time the squash bloomed. We didn’t expect anything to be out there, so we never checked it.

last weekend, I went out there and found some GIANT yellow squash that was far over-ripened. Would it be okay to feed this to my chickens? Did I need to do anything special to do so?

Yes, it should be safe to feed those squash to the chickens.

It should be about the same as feeding pumpkin to chickens, and lots of people do that around Halloween time.

 

[NatJ]

People can eat over ripe Squash too, tasty.

Does it even make sense to call it over ripe?

It is past where summer squash usually get harvested, but certainly not past the point that winter squash get harvested. Summer and winter squash are often the same species anyway, just harvested at different points.

Yes, I would be inclined to try cooking some of them for people too