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One maggot from rotten meat will give a chicken 'limber neck.' I've never seen one recover from that; never.
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NUtritionally, eating meat is a better use than waiting for meat to feed maggots. IF the maggots were dirived from vegetable matter, then they the maggots improve the protein profile. Otherwise to purposely let meat got o maggots is a waste.
While I have come to beleive my chickens can eat almost anything, there are limits to what even their systems can handle. Why invite problems unnecessarily.
My crew races towrd me when I am headed to the compost pile . . . most are already there picking thru the compost. I also think allowing them to be exposed to all the natural bugs in the area may contribute to their overall health and ability to stay healthy. THey love fermented feed and steal it any chance they get.
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FINALLY saw a hen running around playing keep away with a mole or vole, a young 'un by the look of it, only got a quick look, as the hen was off and running again. THis is the first I have seen of eating other than the usual bugs. Now to get the girls to eat a few chipmunks. Pretty as chipmuncks are, too many is a bother. RIGht now the number is just right; perhaps the girls are keeping it that way.
NOt every peice of rooting flesh will have botulism. IT is a chance thing.
No Harvey does not breed to the SOP. He breeds to his own standard and what he is looking for in a bird and for them to thrive with his management practices. He does have some excellent ideas, tho I don't think I could stand the maggot growing smell, unless it was a long way from the house. But I love his greenhouse/winter coop/earthworm raising set up. I love how some of his pens are compost piles that rotate as gardens. I like how he has his broodies set up and uses them exclusively for incubating. Harvey has a lot of great ideas. As with any book, pick out the good stuff that will work for you and leave the rest.YHF wrote:
By chicken-focused, I mean, focus on the birds, focus on the SOP. Harvey Ussery's stuff is great, but he's not chicken-focused. He doesn't have a good chicken in his entire book, which leads me to believe he doesn't breed good chickens, and if he does, he made a good secret about it. He does seem to be a good forage grower, that, once grown, he then happens to feed to a bunch of hatchery higgledy-piggledy. That's cool, but it's only marginally what this thread is about.
That is the most accurate statement you could give these folks J.
You folks need to pay attention to what J. is saying here.
Sorry, I was talking about Harvey Usarry or however you spell it. No biggie for me either. Just that I don't trust that guy's advice.Glanie I remember that I don't think it was Joseph though are you sure, I'm sure he will confirm or deny it here soon) I'm thinking that was a kid/newbie out in the NWest area Idaho or Oregon I believe I don't think Joseph practices such. I might be wrong I can't call up his username right off but the one I remember was a couple of years back and he wasn't around too long he got heat over that method then.
anyway no biggie on my end I don't care as long as its not a bunch of moldy stuff then I know that is harmful to them for sure. My ones here recycle the cowpies and turn them into eggs and feathers here. I really don't care to view them doing such, but I'm not going to stop them either its repurposing at it best plus the feed that my cousin buys and wastes feeding it to the cows my chickens eat for free(free is always good, well most free stuff is) LOL
Jeff
PS for me here I wouldn't /couldn't practice such as the other critters beside flies and maggots it would bring/call in would me more of a detriment than good for me. I'd have to sit on guard to kill all the meat/carrion eaters out of it + then after they ate it all they'd for sure be going for my stock then. So I for sure don't see the practicality of this method too me, IMO and seriously J/S LOL