Having Fun with Periodic Cicadas as Supplemental Feed

[centrarchid]

Like many parts of the US, we are having an emergence of periodic cicadas represented by three species, each with their own annoying song, even though they look a lot alike. The are really abundant on the ground where many will never be able to fly and ultimately reproduce. Not letting them go to waste, I have been going out and harvesting them for use as chick feed.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=382480397456527

 

[sourland]

The last emergence here, several years ago, the wild turkey population had a boom. The cicadas were a great protein source for the poults.

 

[centrarchid]

Songbirds here moving around a lot less and Starlings appear to be weaning chicks early since the chicks go straight after the cicadas that are super easy to catch.

 

[tlcmurphy]

My chickens go bonkers over these things. I call them Chicken Crack, can’t wait for the party to begin’

 

[EddieSalita]

We get them every year. I'm yet to work out a way of trapping them in numbers. Girls go nuts for em.
I've even tried putting a speaker in a bucket . Didn't work.

 

[centrarchid]

Broom and shop vac

 

[texsuze]

Wish they were emerging down our way--we're not in the right location! My girls have to be content with the crickets and grasshoppers.

 

[Cockadoodledinos]

They haven't emerged in my neck of the woods yet, but the past couple weeks my yard duck has started her day by snacking on the dozen or so June bugs that fall into her water pan overnight. I always hated those bugs but now I have a reason to appreciate them

 

[centrarchid]

Cicadas are now like of swarm of honeybees in my orchard. Free-range chickens not able to put a dent in them.

 

[tlcmurphy]

Cicadas are now like of swarm of honeybees in my orchard. Free-range chickens not able to put a dent in them.

Need more chickens…