Took my eye off the pumpkins - have you checked yours lately ?????

Have been clearing a neglected orchard I bought from a neighbour to double my garden --- last things in to the ground were pumpkins, butternuts, courgettes and marrows. They have been doing very well - big patch well spaced out but they all grew together - pumpkins popping out through the leaves all orange everywhere -- grandaughter compares it to Haggrid's garden in  Harry Potter. Doing so well I took my eye off them. Old enough and experienced enough to know better but other things have demanded my attention just recently
Just been to look at them and many are overripe and have collapsed or been overrun by ants. Some very nice ones are still OK but starting to go very soft at neck. Last few courgettes now huge and will go to the ducks but marrows all good but again necks starting to go very soft. Butternuts very good, very firm, large and standing well. So have quickly gathered up all the marrows, pumpkins and overgrown courgettes onto the drying table on the shed. Close run thing though. Even now some will going to make soup as they won't keep.
So I nearly lost them and would respectfully suggest everyone checks theirs asap.
R

I brought mine home last weekend as I thought they might be vandal-magnets 

Made it home with two large pumkins in a shopping trolley the leaveshad dioed down since last week and they were very exposed and as strangerachel said coulds have been a target for vandals. Now to have a go at pumpkin jam and a rather large amount of soup.

how do you feed courgettes to ducks?

feeding courgettes to ducks is easy -- just slit or break open and stand back. Same with cucumbers etc just reveal the fleshy bits so little beaks don't bounce off the skins and away they go. Never a scrap left.
R