Japanese Beetle Snacks

[XanderWiFi]

We organically raise our garden. Japanese beetles and squash bugs are our main culprits (would love to hear any specialized tactics in dealing with these individual montsters).

For the Japanese Beetles, I set out a screening trap. Each morning I unscrew the bottom, spray cold water down into the trap to soak them thoroughly and make it more difficult to fly away; I then move into the run and let the girls gather in anticipation and smack them out onto the ground. Feeding frenzy ensues, they get a nice free range feast delivered, pests are removed, less feed used. All around good stuff.

If it is particularly warm and I think they will dry out. I wet the beetles and smack them into a bowl of water. The girls then dine and drink all at the same time.

Lots of cool ways to set up lures and traps for beetles on YouTube. Would love to hear from other fellow gardeners!

 

[centrarchid]

I am doing some beetle stuff, see links below. More geared to making actual feeds from them but getting a little sidetracked with using live beetles as well. I have neighbors to my lab starting to adopt the harvesting methods.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...japanese-beetles-to-pens-of-chickens.1256756/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...etles-using-a-low-cost-bio-attractor.1258075/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/making-feed-from-japanese-beetles.1223688/

 

[hayley3]

When I had ducks, I would catch the Japanese beetles in a mason jar and then dump into their water bowl and the ducks loved them. I would love for my chickens to eat them but hadn't found a way. I'll have to give that a try.

 

[XanderWiFi]

@centrarchid great posts! I've actually been following some of your stuff which gave me the initial ideas. That trap looks amazing!