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[Bettacreek]

Hmm. I have a piece of slate that I use to prop the pen door open. Each morning, the chickens and ducks all rush out into the lawn and the little turkey poult comes over to eat any slugs or pill bugs that used the slate for a bed the night before. I'd love to put something out to attract more, but I don't really have space for it. For now, I have mealworms growing out, but want to use them sparingly, since they actually hurt your feed conversion rates. I also toss them any of those grubby things that I find in the garden soil.

 

[uhuh555]

Botulism toxins can be transferred from rotting flesh (meat) to your poultry via maggots. It can be found in rotting vegetation, also. Using manure from healthy poultry, rabbits and/or other domestic animals is the safest way to produce maggots for your poultry. But, (as there always is) it is not an absolute that is why I said, "the safest way".

The following links may enlighten you.

https://transact.nt.gov.au/ebiz/dbi...F6A69256EFE004F670B/$file/792.pdf?OpenElement

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/205400.htm

http://www.helium.com/items/1387367-poultry-diseases-botulism

http://www.state.nj.us/agriculture/divisions/ah/diseases/botulism.html

 

[Peregrine]

What a fantastic post! DH and I are looking for ways to grow our own feed, and this bucket idea will be great for providing them with protien. After reading the links on the last post, I think I'll put chicken manure in the bucket. The coop already smells like it, and it sure does attract a lot of flies!

 

[jBlaze]

Quote:
Now this one I might be able to do. We got enough o fthat sort of stuff layin all over, lol.

I do infact intend to locate the Freedom Rangers in the barn next to The Pile, and allow them to Free Range. lol.
The rest of the chickens are way on the other side of the place, they don't make it over to the pile. I may just keep the smallish / hen freedom rangers free ranging just to keep the flies down, lol.

 

[becky3086]

Well, I now grow mealworms for mine but they don't eat anything rotten, just fresh veggies, potatoes, oatmeal and chicken feed.

 

[clayhill]

Don't think I want to do the roadkill thing, but I DO have a large bug light hanging in the run. It's the first place my chickens run to in the morning. They LOVE their bugs fried!

 

[artsyrobin]

i am ready to try this- and something that attracts them is feed, wet feed- with all the rain we've been having!

 

[oldiabird]

Quote:
If you read back further into this thread, it talks about botulism growing in wet mash, or wet feed, I think I would be alittle cautious about that one!!!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Quote:
If you read back further into this thread, it talks about botulism growing in wet mash, or wet feed, I think I would be alittle cautious about that one!!!

I had a friend that lost a whole flock of chicks. Thought it was cocciodosis. Turned out to be botulism from wet feed.

 

[artsyrobin]

if the chickens can't get to the wet feed but the flies can would they pass it on to the maggots? i am thinking vegies would be better or dog food?