my chickens eat maggots?

[sydney13]

i saw my chickens eating squirmy little white bugs that i think are maggots? Are they okay for them to eat and are their any bugs that i shouldn't let them eat? ive also been feeding them earth worms from the compost. could the earth worms be carrying worms like gape worm in them and then give them to the chickens?

 

[gritsar]

If they want to eat them, consider them extra protein. Chickens have some sense about what's okay to eat. Mine won't touch ladybugs, won't even go near em. Turns out lots of critters steer clear of ladybugs.

 

[RooptyDoo]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=166959

 

[beerman]

My chickens love toads gross

 

[LSU2001]

My RIR hens will go nuts over maggots, grubs and about any other type of worm. They will just about kill each other trying to catch and eat the little green lizards that run around everywhere around the house.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
Ladybugs are poisonous. When you hold one they secret a toxin. Wild birds don't eat ladybugs either, so it makes sense that chickens wouldn't either.


Maggots

but obviously they think they are good to eat.

 

[ChIck3n]

If they are true maggots (eg. growing on carrion) then I might not let them eat that. If they are just grubworms, then those are just fine. It shouldn't hurt them (heck, mine eat MICE if they find them), but as stated before true fly maggots may carry disease.

 

[Mandalina]

my girl love magots but my roo always gets the heeby jeebies over them.He seem to stick to grasshopers,worms,and ants.

 

[Minniechickmama]

Quote:
Ladybugs are poisonous. When you hold one they secret a toxin. Wild birds don't eat ladybugs either, so it makes sense that chickens wouldn't either.


Maggots

but obviously they think they are good to eat.

They can't be too poisonous, when I got my chicks in March it was warming up enough to bring the lady beetles (those lovely Asian beauties *add sarcasm here*), and they fought to eat them. None of my chicks I saw eating them died. I know they excrete a fowl smelling odor, but I don't think it is toxic, just probably tastes bad to deter predators. They have no natural enemy here in the States, which keeps bring to mind the question, "Why the hell did our oh-so-smart govt bring them over here?"
To the OP, OF COURSE let them eat those maggots, after all they are baby flies and they are just extra food for them to enjoy. They are probably like little jalapeno poppers to them. Mmmmmm!

 

[gritsar]

OT - We get lady bugs dumped on us twice a year (via helicopter) thanks to Weyerhauser Timber Co. Lady bugs eat pine beetles, saving the pine trees, etc. etc. After a dumping, walls are entirely coverd in lady bug.
I looked forward to getting chickens, in part because I thought they'd eat up the lady bugs. Nope, won't even go near one.