Butternut squash seeds and birds

[Fizzer]

Hi there, does anyone know if birds can eat butternut squash seeds? I know that we can eat them, but wasn't sure about birds.

[Pammy]

Did you get a response to this? I have asked the same question

[jaelen]

I'm making butternut squash soup today, and I've saved the seeds from it thinking that I might put them out for the birds.

I found from doing a search that it's recommended that you toast the seeds first so that they don't go mouldy- I've rinsed them in water to get most of the pulp off, patted them dry with some kitchen roll and added a few drops of olive oil; then spread them out on a baking sheet... low temp in the oven until they go a bit crispy.

This is how I toast pumpkin seeds for myself, (I discovered that a small amount of oil helps to make them go crisp, and at the same time keeps them from sticking to the pan.)

Now, I think the only thing to do is put them out on a bird table tomorrow and see if there are any takers!

Welcome to WAB, Pammy.

[Billabong Karen]

Sorry you didnt get a response Jaelen. I am sure that butternut squash seeds are edible for birds. Not sure if I'd have put them in the oven first though - I think I would just have dried them out on a teatowel on a radiator, after washing them. But I guess you'll find out whether the birds accept them, and then get back to us! I agree it seems a terrible waste to throw them out.

You can also dry (not roast) the seeds, and then try planting some of them in the garden next year...

[billybirder]

But how do you get the seed out (if you are greedy and want to eat them yourself?? ) Do you have to crack them in your teeth or is there an easy way?

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by billybirder

Do you have to crack them in your teeth or is there an easy way?

The easy way is to get someone else to crack them in their teeth for you!

;^)

Jim

[billybirder]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

The easy way is to get someone else to crack them in their teeth for you!

;^)

Jim

Doh!

[jaelen]

Originally Posted by Billabong Karen

Not sure if I'd have put them in the oven first though - I think I would just have dried them out on a teatowel on a radiator, after washing them.

We've not had our radiators on yet. We're hard. (Not really- we just haven't managed to figure out the immensely complicated central heating instruction manual yet- BF has been prodding at the buttons for hours now! Am wearing many layers.)

I didn't put the seeds out today, since the weather's so wet- we've not had hardly any of our regular feathered visitors to the garden this morning, but I'll keep some back to try on them, (I'm eating them- they're nice! ) and we've a HUGE pumpkin to carve for this weekend; that should provide more seeds, too... the parakeets ought to be able to manage them, even if they are a bit big for some of the others.

Billyborder- if you eat them when they're fresh out of the oven, they are crispy enough to eat shell and all... just be careful not to get bits of shell lodged between your teeth! Chew them with the shell sideways- not up and down, if you know what I mean. Also, if I'm roasting the seeds for me to eat, I rinse them in salt water- just gives them a little more flavour.

Oh, hark- the boiler just kicked on... fingers (once I defrost them) crossed!

[Billabong Karen]

Pumpkin seeds and the sound of the boiler coming on - must be autumn!