Feeding chickens live maggots idea??

[Timothy Menezes]

I bought a large bag of dried maggots at Tractor Supply, they were allot cheaper than Meal Worms so gave them a shot. The chickens really seemed to like them. I'm sure Tractor Supply wouldn't sell them if there was any way they could kill / infect your flock with Botulism.

Now I grant you there's a big difference between a store bought freeze dried product and a live maggot. What I'm attempting to convey is that there is obviously a safe way to produce maggots as chicken feed and still be significantly more cost effective than meal worms. So its worth some additional research.

 

[paneubert]

I would not be worried about botulism. It REALLY favors low oxygen conditions. Very few cases of botulism in "normal" atmosphere from what I can see. Also many people make solider fly larvae hatcheries, which is almost exactly what is being proposed here. They usually are set up for the larvae to crawl up and out versus falling thru bottom. But the same concept.

 

[123RedBeard]

Why not just dump the fish heads and guts in the run, and let the chickens eat them?

 

[pintail_drake2004]

I run trot lines and throw the left overs to the chickens. They won't touch the fish until the maggots start forming. Since, I've placed deer carcasses in the run for the chickens to pick clean, they do a great job at it. Cheap protein source.

 

[Viking84]

I run trot lines and throw the left overs to the chickens. They won't touch the fish until the maggots start forming. Since, I've placed deer carcasses in the run for the chickens to pick clean, they do a great job at it. Cheap protein source.

Good to know. I don't want to throw a fist sized catfish head into the coop. But I don't mind putting them in a can. Once maggots have picked the skull clean I just dump it in the lake. Don't want a bone yard of fish skulls in my chicken run that I have to rake up

 

[Birds of a Feather]

Ewww.

 

[CindyinSD]

I think the danger of the rotting meat/fly larvae/chicken food would lie in the oxygenation of the meat. Clostridium botulinum is anaerobic so make sure not to let the mass of rotting flesh get too tightly packed. Otherwise, if you’re a chicken, that’s some gooood eatin’.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Good to know. I don't want to throw a fist sized catfish head into the coop. But I don't mind putting them in a can. Once maggots have picked the skull clean I just dump it in the lake. Don't want a bone yard of fish skulls in my chicken run that I have to rake up

Funny you should say that, I was out in the run the other day doing a little bit of stirring of the deep litter, honestly searching for a missing feed pan, and I came across a decent section of spine/ribs from the last leftovers from filleting salmon I had tossed out there

 

[IronFeather]

How do maggots give you botulism?

 

[austroberta]

i live on a 60 acre lake. At the end of my dock I have a gallon coffee can suspended a few feet above the water. I have holes punched around the bottom of the can. When I go fishing, I will put all the fish heads and guts into the can. Within 1-3 days depending on the temperature, maggots build up in the can and begin to crawl out of the holes and fall into the water, making a self sustaining fish feeder. Really keeps the fish hanging out around my dock. I am thinking of doing the same thing for the chickens. Anyone ever heard of any negatives about chickens eating maggots?

I had read that if the carcass the maggots feed on has bacteria which gives off the botulism toxin, the toxin will be consumed by your poultry and if eaten in high enough quantities, will kill your birds. If the fish you have caught happens to have ingested the bacteria, which are ever present in both soil and water, you'll pass it on to your chickens. Botulism is a horrible affliction, which acts quickly, paralyzing poultry, as it moves through the body. The poor birds are still conscious, but can't do anything, as they're paralyzed. Horrible. Eventually it attacks the respiratory system and then it's game over.

I think the bacteria is more of a problem as the weather warms up. If you wanted to do something like that when temps are cooler, it might not be as big of a problem.

I think you also might try cooking the fish heads first, and then letting the flies have at them. From what I understand, the cooking will kill the bacteria.

Here's some info:
https://www.northeastwildlife.org/disease/botulism

If you like the idea of giving your chickens larvae, I would think a safer bet is black soldier fly larvae.