Can Chickens Eat Cicadas?

[BYC Project Manager]

Chickens are omnivorous and when given the chance, will happily devour a surprising assortment of bugs. With the much-anticipated mass-emergence of Brood X (Ten) cicadas which will see billions of them surfacing after 17 years underground, many might be wondering: Can chickens eat cicadas? Are they good for them?

I would like to hear your thoughts and practices on feeding cicadas to your chickens. Have they started emerging in your area? Feel free to post pics and/or videos of your chickens devouring them.

In case you don't know what they look like, check out the pics below:

Here are other discussions around the topic:

• Cicadas: zip code + Emerging? Chicken Behavior? Any seen?
• Official BYC Poll: Do You Feed Your Chickens Cicadas?
• Too many cicadas?

 

[the_peanut_coop]

Chickens are omnivorous and when given the chance, will happily devour a surprising assortment of bugs. With the much-anticipated mass-emergence of Brood X (Ten) cicadas which will see billions of them surfacing after 17 years underground, many might be wondering: Can chickens eat cicadas? Are they good for them?

I would like to hear your thoughts and practices on feeding cicadas to your chickens. Have they started emerging in your area? Feel free to post pics and/or videos of your chickens devouring them.

In case you don't know what they look like, check out the pics below:

View attachment 2707963 View attachment 2707965

Here are other discussions around the topic:

• Cicadas: zip code + Emerging? Chicken Behavior? Any seen?
• Official BYC Poll: Do You Feed Your Chickens Cicadas?
• Too many cicadas?

I have no cicadas in my area. they look gross, though!

 

[chickentrains]

I hear them, thats for sure. Haven't found one yet though. I really do not like them.

 

[3KillerBs]

I don't have them but if I did I'd let the chickens eat every cicada they could catch and I'd run my butterfly net over my grapevines, fruit trees, and vegetable garden to give them more.

 

[blackdog043]

We have plenty of cicadas around! It used to be quiet, now you can't hear yourself think, when your outside! I don't know if my chickens have eaten any yet, but I watched one of the barn cats munch one down!!

 

[Chickassan]

The shell is the delicacy here.
Every morning the flock goes from tree to tree chowing down on those little alien looking shells.
I haven't seen any of the X brood though, we have dog days.
Chickens enjoy them reguardless.

 

[HaappyHenhouse]

Did that last summer! Mine LOVED 'em!! I have a special little net and when I grab it there is excitement in the flock!

I don't have them but if I did I'd let the chickens eat every cicada they could catch and I'd run my butterfly net over my grapevines, fruit trees, and vegetable garden to give them more.