paddy melon

[desertbirds]

We were playing paddy melon cricket once and i smashed one really hard, i got a bit in my mouth, they are disgustingly bitter. Note to self - close mouth when playing paddy melon cricket.

I reckon the Red Tailed Blacks out here get into them, we have heaps around after the recent rain.The small water melon type.

[matcho]

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Went for a walk this morning to collect some dandelion and seeding grass and found these in a park next to the railway goods line that runs through Leichhardt in the middle of Sydney. Yes, DB, they are bitter. Made the mistake this morning of having a little "taste" Half a bottle of stale coke in the car couldn't get rid of the taste. Can still taste it and its near on 2 hrs.

[jusdeb]

Thanks Matcho , could have done with that little warning 1/2 hour ago , skulling flat Pepsi Max as I type ..

Gave a slice to the Regents along with a tray of sprouted seed , these being my best eaters thought they would be the best test dummies ..

Yep djb Ill be testing it out with the bigger parrots one aviary at a time except for those feeding young .

Guess Ill know tonight when I pull the stale food out .

[desertbirds]

I was going to mention that the taste is hard to get rid of and memory will stay with you for years.

[arthur]

Used to holiday on a dairy farm as a kid

One of our jobs was to gather paddy melons (as per Matcho's pix) to feed to the pigs

Never sampled any, but pigs loved them, so can't be too poisonous

There are many references to Majors and other cockies eating them, (possibly seeds rather than flesh??)

[jusdeb]

Regents are taking the seeds out ...

Read in my googling pig farmers use the paddies to worm out the pigs ?????

[jusdeb]

Just checked Regents are now into the flesh , thinks we on a winner ...They havent been off the melon since it went into the aviary ...

Now to try the Superbs and Princess's .

[desertbirds]

Id be careful with it, possibly the wild birds can eat something else after eating the melon to help digest it, eg Macaws and clay licks. that stuff does taste b---dy toxic. Ive noticed parrots here generally eat it when its far riper than your feeding it out.I seem to recall it stings like hell if you get any in your eye as well.

I borrowed this pic from a central Australian Birding site, the moderators can remove it if thats inappropriate.

[vettepilot_6]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that birds can not taste sweet or bitter...probably explains why neighbours chooks decimate chili bushes with no ill effects

[jusdeb]

My birds eat chillis regualarly ..just have to remember to not ask for kisses from the hand reareds the same day .....ouch .

Well mixed results , mixed answers and conflicting information meant a nervous afternoon checking the birds .... the verdict ....I dont care if its good for them or not , they wont be getting any more coz my nerves cant take it .

Back to normal watermelon birdies ...