Are locust okay to feed to my bantam ducks and chickens?

[HannahDolding]

I really enjoy owning insects but my family only allow me to have ones that are useful - at the moment I have darkling beetles that act as my own mini mealworm farm to feed to my pets.
I really want to get some locust, i think they're neat. I've read about ducks being used to battle locust swarms in Pakistan and other places so they're probably okay to feed - the only thing Is both my ducks and chickens are all bantam breeds with the exception of 1 duck and my main concerned is the locust are will grow too big for them to eat.
Anyway - what do you think/know

 

[nchls school]

My yard is full of locusts; all the birds eat them.

 

[MadGardener]

My yard is full of locusts; all the birds eat them.

In the US we have cicadas. Similar to locust but separate species.

Both locust and cicada are safe to eat...for people too if you're into that.

 

[NatJ]

my main concerned is the locust are will grow too big for them to eat.

Can you get a few and try it out?

Even if the adult locusts are too big, you might be able to feed partly-grown locusts to your birds.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

My birds love them. Even the little bantams will bash the monsters ones apart.

 

[Tonyroo]

Ducks and chickens will break it apart easy if it's tasty to them. Even bantams.

 

[Prop toe]

Bugs are something noone can replace no pellets anyone ever makes won't add up to bugs.The fowl I hatches early hit growth spurt around the time the bugs came .Sane feed for all.However the early hatched fowl were just plain more vibrant and healthy.Cant fool mother nature LoL

 

[Prop toe]

Also I live in the south .Got a friend lives in WVirginia .I take stags and carry them up soon as hotter weather here and they get a seco

 

[Prop toe]

Second spring.Man them fowl were superior and strong as any I ever witness.

 

[Battlepants]

my main concerned is the locust are will grow too big for them to eat.

I can confirm that this will not be an issue. In the last cicada season, I found a rather plump one stuck to a tree and offered it to my lead hen - in a matter of 2 seconds, she grabbed it, pinned it to the ground, ripped it apart and swallowed it. Not gonna lie, I was a bit afraid of my chickens for an afternoon after that event.

But yea, as long as your chicken can get a beak around the insect you are feeding them, they can rip it up and eat it. A locust being longer and skinnier than a cicada will be a non-issue as long as they can catch it.