BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Feeding & Watering Your Flock › Thousands of Grubs in Compost ( picture and video )
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Thousands of Grubs in Compost ( picture and video )

post #1 of 210
7/19/07 at 4:02pm
Thread Starter 

Boy did my girls get a treat!

About a week ago I took a barrel of old wheat and put it in the compost and wet it down really well.   My wife came in today and said the compost was "teaming with grubs".   I didn't believe her so I went out to look... she was right.

Here's a pic of what they look like:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/2_grubs.jpg


Here is a video of the pile of them squirming like crazy:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-VgE9qLONtg


I believe they turn into a black beetle?  Anybody have more info about these grubs?

OH and you must see this video:



and my fav:

Rob - Married to my wife Emily for 12 years and have two daughters, 9 and 6.  Home to four hens
Nifty-Stuff.com | TheEasyGarden.com  | SufficientSelf.com | BackYardHerds.com
Upgrade to a Golden Feather Membership - Check Out BYC on Facebook

Having Technical Problems?  See here!

Reply

Rob - Married to my wife Emily for 12 years and have two daughters, 9 and 6.  Home to four hens
Nifty-Stuff.com | TheEasyGarden.com  | SufficientSelf.com | BackYardHerds.com
Upgrade to a Golden Feather Membership - Check Out BYC on Facebook

Having Technical Problems?  See here!

Reply
post #2 of 210
7/19/07 at 5:31pm

OMG that video was the most revolting thing ever!  Thank goodness you had chickens around to help get rid of such an awful mess.

I'm very much looking forward to the day that my girls are old enough to help with the upkeep around the place!

Reply
Reply
post #3 of 210
7/19/07 at 7:00pm

I found some of those a few days ago while cleaning up in my coop as well, scared the heck outta me, and grossed me out not to mention! I didn't know if they were safe for them to eat or not, so I didn't bother. But my young'uns LOVE "rolly polies"

Hi, I'm Kimmie.
World class smarty pants, at your service.
Free hugs daily!
Think /green/.
Reply
Hi, I'm Kimmie.
World class smarty pants, at your service.
Free hugs daily!
Think /green/.
Reply
post #4 of 210
7/19/07 at 7:12pm

About 2 weeks ago I went out to toss up my pile and I noticed the pine shavings on top were moving.  I was like "what the heck!"  I took the pitch fork to it and worms were EVERYWHERE.  I guess I'm doing something right, my compost pile looks just like yours.

Reply
Reply
post #5 of 210
7/19/07 at 9:17pm
Thread Starter 

Yup, looks just like something out of a horror movie doesn't it?

Well, I'll say this... my chickens weren't scared!  tongue

Rob - Married to my wife Emily for 12 years and have two daughters, 9 and 6.  Home to four hens
Nifty-Stuff.com | TheEasyGarden.com  | SufficientSelf.com | BackYardHerds.com
Upgrade to a Golden Feather Membership - Check Out BYC on Facebook

Having Technical Problems?  See here!

Reply

Rob - Married to my wife Emily for 12 years and have two daughters, 9 and 6.  Home to four hens
Nifty-Stuff.com | TheEasyGarden.com  | SufficientSelf.com | BackYardHerds.com
Upgrade to a Golden Feather Membership - Check Out BYC on Facebook

Having Technical Problems?  See here!

Reply
post #6 of 210
9/30/07 at 9:13am
Thread Starter 

Thanks to Wolfpacker for the idea that these are the larva of the soldier fly.

I did a Google image search and he was spot on:


"Some folks raise these in the bins and use them as fishing bait. Others remove them by hand and feed them to the birds. We have heard of one worm farmer who placed her chicken in the bin to dine upon the tasty morsels and found this to be a very effective method of soldier fly larvae control."

http://www.happydranch.com/8.html


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/03/050309135653.htm

Rob - Married to my wife Emily for 12 years and have two daughters, 9 and 6.  Home to four hens
Nifty-Stuff.com | TheEasyGarden.com  | SufficientSelf.com | BackYardHerds.com
Upgrade to a Golden Feather Membership - Check Out BYC on Facebook

Having Technical Problems?  See here!

Reply

Rob - Married to my wife Emily for 12 years and have two daughters, 9 and 6.  Home to four hens
Nifty-Stuff.com | TheEasyGarden.com  | SufficientSelf.com | BackYardHerds.com
Upgrade to a Golden Feather Membership - Check Out BYC on Facebook

Having Technical Problems?  See here!

Reply
post #7 of 210
9/30/07 at 8:31pm

Here's a little more about the adults:

http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/cimg226.html

I can't believe you cheated us in the You Tube video-I heard the squawking, and I just KNEW at any minute you were going to show the chickens being let into the area and gorging themselves on those larvae!

I had already started nuking the popcorn, but alas, I was denied!

big_smile

When you find youself in danger; when you're threatened by a stranger,
When it looks like you will take a lickin', (bok bok bok).....
Just Call for Super Chicken! (bo-ok, ack!)
Reply
When you find youself in danger; when you're threatened by a stranger,
When it looks like you will take a lickin', (bok bok bok).....
Just Call for Super Chicken! (bo-ok, ack!)
Reply
post #8 of 210
10/1/07 at 11:54am

My compost has an open top and my chickens check  up there daily for any worms, bugs, and such.  You should see the madness after I turn/aeriate it!--How many chickens fit in YOUR compost bin!!!HAHAHAHA

Sandra

Nov '08: Alpha to 4EE's, 2RIR, 1Buff Orp, 2 Jersey Giant, 1AsilXwelsummer, 1 australorpX?, 1 EE roo, and 4 runneducks* I promised DH we we're @ capacity-what was I thinking!!--that was a chicken ago--the neighbor needed a new home for her lone chicken--and a duck ago...a friend who needed a home for their runner duck who thinks it's a cross between a human and a chicken!!!!!
Reply
Nov '08: Alpha to 4EE's, 2RIR, 1Buff Orp, 2 Jersey Giant, 1AsilXwelsummer, 1 australorpX?, 1 EE roo, and 4 runneducks* I promised DH we we're @ capacity-what was I thinking!!--that was a chicken ago--the neighbor needed a new home for her lone chicken--and a duck ago...a friend who needed a home for their runner duck who thinks it's a cross between a human and a chicken!!!!!
Reply
post #9 of 210
10/1/07 at 12:05pm

Since I've been giving them a shovel full of this each day, I noticed that this morning when I turned them out of their coop, they didn't go to their food like they usually do. Instead, they went over to the place in their run where I usually put the shovel full.

With a little wiggle here, And a little wiggle there,
Heavens to Betsy, This chick was no square.

Papa to four fat "Dominecker" hens and two Ameraucana pullets.
Reply
With a little wiggle here, And a little wiggle there,
Heavens to Betsy, This chick was no square.

Papa to four fat "Dominecker" hens and two Ameraucana pullets.
Reply
post #10 of 210
10/1/07 at 12:14pm
Thread Starter 

Too funny!  Same thing here.

I gave my girls a shovel full of compost 4 days ago and now when I open up the coop in the morning they zip right past me and make a b-line to the compost bin.

The biggest  problem is when I'm turning the compost with my pitchfork... I have to go slow or instant chicken kabob!

:o

Rob - Married to my wife Emily for 12 years and have two daughters, 9 and 6.  Home to four hens
Nifty-Stuff.com | TheEasyGarden.com  | SufficientSelf.com | BackYardHerds.com
Upgrade to a Golden Feather Membership - Check Out BYC on Facebook

Having Technical Problems?  See here!

Reply

Rob - Married to my wife Emily for 12 years and have two daughters, 9 and 6.  Home to four hens
Nifty-Stuff.com | TheEasyGarden.com  | SufficientSelf.com | BackYardHerds.com
Upgrade to a Golden Feather Membership - Check Out BYC on Facebook

Having Technical Problems?  See here!

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Feeding & Watering Your Flock
BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Feeding & Watering Your Flock › Thousands of Grubs in Compost ( picture and video )