The squash has been harvested a little early because they were cracking and bleeding.
This is usually caused by inconsistent watering after the shell has hardened. This article will help you to know what happened, and how to keep it from happening in the future:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/butternut-squash-splitting.htm
I have a Butternut Squash plant with at least 5 squash on it, 3 rather large and two getting large enough to eat. QUESTION: Would the two smaller ones and perhaps a couple of baby-sized ones get larger faster if I cut off the 3 largest ones? Also, you should add a caveat to this sentence: "Properly stored, your butternut squash harvest should last for three to six months." I have eaten Butternut AND Spaghetti Squash well over a year old. Yes, they were not as tasty, but I would suggest, "When undamaged and properly stored, your Butternut Squash can be eaten with little loss of quality for 3 to six months and, with some deterioration, as long as a year or more."
Frequent harvesting will produce more fruit as well as regular fertilizing. But I wouldn't cut off the larger ones till they were ripe. These articles have good information:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/growing-butternut-squash.htm
Congrats on your longtime storage of squash! Regarding our articles, we base our information on university cooperative extension research, which is readily available to the public through their websites and factsheets.
I have huge sprawling plants full of squash but the leaves are infected, but wondering if it is safe to eat.
The disease doesn't directly affect the fruit so it should be safe to eat. However, it can cause premature ripening and diminished fruit quality. The extension article below says diseased fruit is generally safe to consume, unless it is moldy or rotten.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/powdery-mildew-in-squash.htm
https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/2018/10/can-sick-plants-make-people-sick
I am wanting to plant a few heels of butternut squash but I'm not sure how much cold they can handle. I live in SE Marion county Mississippi. We usually don't get really cold or hard freeze until December or later.
It may be too late. Butternut squash takes 110 to 120 days to harvest. Do you have that much time before freezing weather? Butternut squash is very frost sensitive and won't tolerate freezing temps. Here is more:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/growing-butternut-squash.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/growing-winter-squash.htm
We have one that looks like Butternut, but it is small and green. Someone told us it was ready to pick but I don't think they were right.
Late September or the start of October is best, but it can be picked a little before that. Just make sure that your crop has hardened and turned color, first.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/butternut-squash-harvest.htm
There are 12 main groups of winter squash (some would say 16) and countless cultivars in between. These articles will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/winter-squash-varieties.htm
Here are articles for more information: