I can't help you much except to say that some will make it
and dry out and some will rot. It's a crap shoot.
You can help a bit by keeping them dry and apart from each other.
I've read it helps to wipe them off with a weak bleach solution
from time to time to kill off any mold or fungus that may try
to ruin them from the outside.
What happens on the inside is just luck mostly.
I hope yours is good!!

You are right about pumpkins but that's why folks don't
make birdhouses out of them :-))

Peace!!
Dan D. Louisville KY good ole USA