Fly Maggots

[Heartlandrabbitry]

Quote:
you probably know this but just in case - when you say you know they don't have worms because you checked their poop, does that mean you just examined it yourself? animals can have worms without them showing up in poop. the worms live in the intestines and only occasionally get expelled when still alive. the only way to test them is to take a poop sample to the vet.

I know that they can have worms living inside of them and must of forgot to put that part! But I have looked on the 'Chicken Poo Chart' to see if my chickies poo is normal and if they had any of the worms listed on there, that's what I kind of meant by that!

Thank you though!

 

[fl_deb]

I hope we are all on the same page here, so I will risk being viewed as rude, in hopes of ensuring the health of chickens. Please don't take offense for this.


Chickens can have poops that appear normal and still have worms.

A laborartory test of their excrement is needed to verify the presence or absence of worms in chicken.

I hope this clears this up.

 

[Heartlandrabbitry]

That wasn't rude at all! I guess we may just worm the chickens as well, just in case

You can't eat the eggs after you wormed them right?

 

[fl_deb]

Yes, most wormers state 2 weeks of tossing the eggs, however, someone posted in here all the different wormers and the various times of egg discarding varies widely even from so called experts.

I have also seen it suggested that if you use Ivermectin, and you do not sell your eggs, you could eat them if you wanted to, because the medicine is use in other countries to worm people safely. So theoretically you could consume them or feed them to your dogs, etc.

Hope this helps. I also hope your birds are doing better very soon.

 

[geebs]

 

[HorizonSon]

Let's get back on topic

I might consider providing "common" fly larvae to my chickens if the mealworm and BSF larvae, free ranging and other farming are not enough. You just want to avoid putrefaction of the medium being used to feed the larvae. Better that you refill it more often (which still isn't that often, depending on size of "colony" desired".

 

[Heartlandrabbitry]

Thank you everyone for your help!

 

[HorizonSon]

Quote:
Would you please sight/site your reference... The "top of the list" reference for doing the hanging bucket thing does NOT state what you are stating. Rather, if my memory serves me, ONE chicken died and it was do to old roadkill that took too long to break down, cause putrification and an anerobic (sp?) condition. Much more dangerous to feed moldy grains!...
Eating raw flesh and bugs of all kinds is part of the natural diet of chickens.

 

[fl_deb]

Quote:
Would you please sight/site your reference... The "top of the list" reference for doing the hanging bucket thing does NOT state what you are stating. Rather, if my memory serves me, ONE chicken died and it was do to old roadkill that took too long to break down, cause putrification and an anerobic (sp?) condition. Much more dangerous to feed moldy grains!...
Eating raw flesh and bugs of all kinds is part of the natural diet of chickens.

No problem:

The information can be found here, as a warning to prior followers of the method:

http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Feeding-Chickens-Maggots.html

 

[HorizonSon]

Super; thanks!

That was the same article that I was thinking of. I thought it was just one, but it was several; makes sense actually. As stated; ".....On one occasion, I cycled through the maggot buckets offal from chickens (from a buddy who came over to share my equipment) that had not been properly starved—their crops were filled with feed, which may have soured and supported the growth of Clostridium botulinum (the microbe that produces botulinum toxin). In another, I put a couple of groundhogs into the buckets that had been sitting around perhaps too long—maybe the C. botulinum had had longer to get a start, than it would have if I were using fresher carcasses....."


So on one occasion, he used the entrails of chickens that had a crop full of souring grain; and the other occurrence was due to too much for too long, causing old rotting putrified flesh. Both creating a breeding ground for anaerobic bacteria, such as C. botulinum.

He goes on to suggest excitement about setting up a BSF farm. What he doesn't mention is that improper setup and care (which was/is the REAL problem) can create an anaerobic condition in the BSF farm, too. Just like not cleaning your waters can cause illness. Just like letting your commercial chicken feed spoil can cause illness. Just like not keeping your coop/run clean can cause illness.

The key is to be attentive and responsible; and yes, enlightenment helps a great deal. I truly believe great caution and responsibility is a must...for raising any kind of life, successfully. I just want to make sure the true concerns are addressed; as to keep blame where it belongs and to not "throw the baby out with the bathwater".

Once again; thank you

Your response is greatly appreciated by myself and many others.