Converting Predator Carcasses into Chick Feed

[centrarchid]

I had botulism once. My mother in law made fermented cabbage in q bucket in her basement. Still dont understand why I even ate it. It was disgusting and made me sick for months. The doctor was surprised I wasn't dead, I was sick almost 2 months before I went to be seen. Only reason I went is I thought that I was for some reason dying or had gone insane and just thought I was dying lol. I could only stand for a few moments at a time and could barely keep my eyes open. It's not all that bad, and I doubt you can get it from your chickens eating dead stuff. My chickens find the barn cats discarded prey and eat it all the time, no matter how old and rancid it is.
We usually cook the carcasses on a old steel broom handle over a fire before giving them to the animals. Then the kids take whatever bones they think are cool after. Our chickens get a good supply of maggots from the dumpster when its emptied. Man do chickens love their maggots!

I want the maggots actually on the carcass to be inaccessible to the chicks as they are not what I want consumed. I am good with the young birds eating pupae and maggots looking to pupate as they appear different by not carrying around the "juice" on them. My chickens appear to show little or no interest in maggots actively consuming a carcass.

 

[centrarchid]

Main part of orchard is on the right and down hill of first go for supporting the carcasses. I am not certain a Turkey Vulture will land on the welded wire. My recollections of vultures approaching a carcass has them landing on ground at least a few feet away and walking the last bit.

As shown chicks to take advantage of dropping maggots and pupae will not be able to access them if the flies stay directly below the carcass.

I am also concerned about the carrion beetles as they are of interest. The consume maggots directly in some cases, but must have access to soil where they cache their young and keep them provisioned with maggots they collect directly from carcass.

 

[SueT]

Do you use a kill trap for raccoons? If so what kind? I don't have a gun, was thinking of getting a body gripper trap.

 

[centrarchid]

Do you use a kill trap for raccoons? If so what kind? I don't have a gun, was thinking of getting a body gripper trap.

I am using a combination of two live traps and four dog proof traps. Some have been dispatched with .22 rifle, some with a wooden / piece of cherry stair railing, and just like sow taken just a few minutes ago, a dog does it. Rifle is getting to be my preferred again even though requires more trips. A decent pellet gun would do trick as well. I do not think body gripping traps are legal here for terrestrial animals. I am learning as I go on the trapping end once get past using the live traps, but have couple good teachers.

 

[FowlWitch]

sure getting spicy in here

 

[The Moonshiner]

Why not throw carcasses into wood chipper and let chickens eat what scatters?

 

[centrarchid]

Why not throw carcasses into wood chipper and let chickens eat what scatters?

You buy me one for birthday?

 

[FowlWitch]

Why not throw carcasses into wood chipper and let chickens eat what scatters?

Oh, god, the mental imagery

 

[twendt]

Idk if you wanna attract eagles. They prefer live prey do they not? Other than that it's a great idea.
I'd skin the carcass and tan the hide, which can be useful. We have a collection of raccoon and possum skulls from the murderous wretches who come to our chicken barn. We hang them from the barns with rope. My adult son wants us to make a sign saying "pirates ye be warned" and hang the bodies as an example like they did in the pirates of the Caribbean lol

 

[centrarchid]

Think we are concentrated on what is below the belt.