BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[GabrielBane]

Yeah, I tried convincing my SO to raising roaches as treats for the birds.... got told OFF about how I must've been losing my mind.

However, so long as they were prepared in a sanitary way for the birds and they ate it, I wouldn't care LOL. Maybe that's how I'll strike it rich to import all the fancy chickens of the world, producing an insect-based chicken food LOL But the thought of a warehouse full of bugs.....

Grubblys charges 60+ for a 6 pound monthly supply of BSFL, so I believe that regarding your feed store Kev.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Well, you can buy cricket "flour" (essentially a protein powder) pretty easily these days, and folks use it in an attempt to have a smaller "footprint".

https://www.amazon.com/Cricket-Flour-made-100-22/dp/B00OMCTODQ

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

There's also these...

https://www.amazon.com/Edible-Insec..._rd_wg=dr6sb&refRID=565R6ZXHSX0FCRA16VNB&th=1

Also for human consumption. Costs for all are high (though I don't know how to calculate cost for a 100% cricket protein powder - like how much one would use for so many chickens, etc.)

 

[Kev]

Well, you can buy cricket "flour" (essentially a protein powder) pretty easily these days, and folks use it in an attempt to have a smaller "footprint".

https://www.amazon.com/Cricket-Flour-made-100-22/dp/B00OMCTODQ

WHAT? Oh the possibilities of pranking......

I've eaten crickets, they were allright aside from being too crunchy.

 

[Kev]

Yeah, I tried convincing my SO to raising roaches as treats for the birds.... got told OFF about how I must've been losing my mind.

However, so long as they were prepared in a sanitary way for the birds and they ate it, I wouldn't care LOL. Maybe that's how I'll strike it rich to import all the fancy chickens of the world, producing an insect-based chicken food LOL But the thought of a warehouse full of bugs.....

Grubblys charges 60+ for a 6 pound monthly supply of BSFL, so I believe that regarding your feed store Kev.

Make them eat their cricket flour cookies when you use the sales to buy an 1K acre farm.. first class jet rides... lol

This is what I see at the feed store:

https://www.chewy.com/happy-hen-tre...QFE8vp59nMGUb6F4uiGf1RoCSqHw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Oh, yeah, cricket flour is a THING now. You can get cricket flour protein bars, there are insect cook books...

In the end, honestly, I keep coming back around to black soldier flies. I think I'm going to give those a try when it gets warm again. Red wrigglers would also be an option if I really expand my worm farm (I let it die off, would have to get more) - it's not like raising them is hard...

NOT raising crickets. There are some threads on BYC that I've read through of folks raising dubia, but It just grossed me out a little too much. (Though her chickens were ECSTATIC about them.)

- Ant Farm

 

[GabrielBane]

DUBIA! That was their name!! We were all for it, until we read the males have wings... I know their flightles...but Iunno man...

 

[Kev]

Oh, yeah, cricket flour is a THING now. You can get cricket flour protein bars, there are insect cook books...

In the end, honestly, I keep coming back around to black soldier flies. I think I'm going to give those a try when it gets warm again. Red wrigglers would also be an option if I really expand my worm farm (I let it die off, would have to get more) - it's not like raising them is hard...

NOT raising crickets. There are some threads on BYC that I've read through of folks raising dubia, but It just grossed me out a little too much. (Though her chickens were ECSTATIC about them.)

- Ant Farm

Just like you cannot do crickets/roaches I simply cannot do maggots.

If you get into turkeys, earthworms are a vector for black head, very lethal for turkeys peafowl and to some extent, guineas. chickens are largely immune to and iirc, can be shedders. Black head is the primary disease of concern if you have heard about keeping turkeys and peafowl separate from chickens.

It's preventable by regular deworming but best to take preventive measure by not feeding it to peacocks/turkeys.. and I would add not to chickens either if either species are in your future plans.

 

[GabrielBane]

I do have plans for more turkeys (how could I not....such amazing amimals!), so that's great to know!

 

[Leigti]

I'm not a vet or anything - you can search online to ease your mind - US domestic pork is free of trichinella. But you can get all sorts of other stuff from eating or feeding raw any type of meat, so I can't comment on that. I'm just talking about trichinosis and whether you need to cook really long and really done.

A javelina is a smallish feral pig-like critter. They dig up the ground in big patches and can be really destructive on one's land...

- Ant Farm

I was aware of the problem with the Wildboar, didn't know there was a smaller version. They should put a price on their head and let people shoot them all. From what I have heard and been told from people who have dealt with the Wildboar they are just no good.
Anyway, I have been feeding my dogs and cats raw for years and never had a problem.