BIG problem this year! Will chickens eat stink bugs???

[SIMPleChick]

All over the news from Washington to California, people are talking about the rash of stink bugs that are ruining everything from vegetable farms to orchards... The stinky Asian stink bugs that are chewing up everything! People are talking about introducing parasitic wasps to control the "outbreak"? So....chemicals are not killing them and I am worried about my garden this year because of them, I have seen them around....So with my NEW chickens, will they control the stink bugs, are they BAD for the chickens? Will the stink bugs make the eggs taste bad????

 

[GiddyMoon]

I just read a post where someone said their chickens loved stinkbugs.

 

[JPHorvath]

That was me about the stink bugs in the other post.

STINKBUGS!!! YUMMY! Our chickens are crazy for them. Last fall they were jumping as high as they could to pick them off the side of house. YIPPIE! If we get any stinkbugs that make it into the house I catch them then go out side calling Chick, Chick, chick! They have learned that if I have a paper napkin in my hand it will have stinkbugs for them. They can be 100’ out in the yard scratching, but once they see me with stinkbugs they come running at me to eat the bugs. They will not do that for bread or other treats.

 

[WalkerH]

Mine absolutely love stink bugs. My dad was worried about them with the garden and such, but I think my chickens wiped out every stink bug on the property. They peck them right off the plants, leaving the leaves alone.

 

[SIMPleChick]

Yahoooooo!!! I am SO excited! And they don't change the taste of your eggs??? I guess not, or you would have said something. This year, stink bugs watch out!!!

 

[NewOldMotherHen]

I had the same questions about chickens and stinkbugs. Virginia is also having a big problem with the insects. I am so glad to hear that chickens will eat them. My chicks are less than a week old right now but by this fall, maybe they will be interested.

 

[Caat]

hmmm.. More cities should lift "chicken bans" OR implement "you can have chickens" by laws.

Another win for chickens!!

 

[hannakat]

My girls go around the house looking for them and if I find one climbing on a wall or somewhere, I scoop it up and call the chickens. I will not let a stink bug go free.

Chicken food or flushed....the only 2 choices at my house. I HATE them.

 

[P-Funk]

The stinkbugs made it to Colorado. I scoop them off the floor and put them in the brooder. Not one has escaped.

 

[audioguy]

We also have stink bugs in NJ and after reading the posts about how chickens LOVE them, you can bet it will be the new treat around here! Now we do not see many in the house as they go outside once the weather warms up. Once it gets cold they come back inside to nest. We get a few a day. At least they dont bite, only stink.