Insects as treats

[q2jjdscd1]

Are houseflies good treats for chickens? We have quite a few that drop down dead on windowsills, and more stuck to sticky traps (no insecticide on traps). We don't use fly spray or any other sprays in our house

 

[Trimurtisan]

A good rule of thumb is if it's something they would find outside and eat on the ground, it's likely okay. Bugs are high in protein, and generally should be a good treat/snack. I'm not sure about the dead part, but flies in general are okay. I would not use any from the sticky trap though. Poison or not, it's still got chemicals on it from manufacturing it. By design, that stuff is made to not come off, so I would skip at least those.

 

[q2jjdscd1]

Thank you for the warning about chemicals on the strips. May set up a jar trap baited with nothing worse than honey, then release contents into the run whilst my flock is gathered around expecting their treats....

 

[aart]

Thank you for the warning about chemicals on the strips. May set up a jar trap baited with nothing worse than honey, then release contents into the run whilst my flock is gathered around expecting their treats....

Please do take video of the live fly treats.

You must be somewhere warm?
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[SBFChickenGirl]

Please do take video of the live fly treats.

X2!

 

[q2jjdscd1]

Thank you for the warning about chemicals on the strips. May set up a jar trap baited with nothing worse than honey, then release contents into the run whilst my flock is gathered around expecting their treats....

No I’m in Atlantic Canada, but we have a few semi-domesticated houseflies, whenever we get a sunny day they appear. Hope to collect some for treats. The sticky traps work well but may have chemicals so am taking a different tack with honey baited drowning trap