Newb asking about black soldier fly larva BSFL

[bbsnooks]

\ article of note.. about Black soldier fly supplementation and egg size.
http://naturalfarminghawaii.net/2013/03/dr-jeff-tomberlin-on-black-soldier-flies/

I thought you may want to check out the photo.. egg size increase on 2 wks worth of BSF I'm pretty sure I'd have to see this to believe it..
but i would like to try.. again.
my first attempt at the BSF probably didnt work I did see a few adults.. ; )
.. and with the wind today and the past few weeks.. they're probably in Missouri by now haha. ; )

a how to <written> lecture for those interested - http://compostmania.com/blog/hawaii-workshop/

 

[topgunbobby]

Sweet threadsurrection! Believe it or not I spoke with Mr. Tomberlin over the phone. I plan incorporating his advice and teachings as I construct my pupation bin. I've already constructed the BSFL compost bin, but need to hatch my fully mature larva.

 

[topgunbobby]

Double post.

 

[bbsnooks]

Sweet threadsurrection! Believe it or not I spoke with Mr. Tomberlin over the phone. I plan incorporating his advice and teachings as I construct my pupation bin. I've already constructed the BSFL compost bin, but need to hatch my fully mature larva.

Ok .. give it up!! --you really left me hanging..
you spoke with him.. he gave you advice.. and .. you think.. you'll keep it to your self?? Baah Humbug!
now.. share.. or I'll get my attack roosters on you.. or sic them on your your bsfl pile..
( just jokin.. ) but really now. .
what did he say.>> I < maybe we> want all the details.. we want huge!! eggs.. too.

I think mine over heated.. in the bin..
and it would be an ok time. to re start.. for the "hot summer"
I have a low spot.. on the north side of garden.. I was thinking .. of getting a big pile horse apples.. from brother.( 8 horses ) and piling them up in the low spot.. to start.. and hoping to innoculate the area..
... its fenced in on one side and the chicken s would have axcess on the other.. but there is a permaculture. / lasagna garden on one side with lots of cardboard.. to lay egg's on ..

however .. that's probly not what he said.. ... < are you going to share??>

ahh! its raining.. just blew in.. a " not fake " storm.. for the mid west.. prairie.. we've been needing the rain.. .. its music to my ears.. guess i'll stay up and listen..
peace.. to you and yours..

edit.. ps.. i really dont have attack roosters..
theyre jersey giants.. very nice. but they would eat the grubs.. ; )

 

[James the Bald]

Sorry I had to "resurrect" this thread, but I read an article on my break today that was worth sharing and since this was along the subject lines, I added it in.
With the price of feed only going up, this seems interesting.

The part that really caught my attention was this line: "By feeding insects to chickens, the use of antibiotics in the poultry industry – which may lead to human infection with drug-resistant bacterial strains (Box 4) – may be diminished."

 

[TwoCrows]

Sorry I had to "resurrect" this thread, but I read an article on my break today that was worth sharing and since this was along the subject lines, I added it in.
With the price of feed only going up, this seems interesting.

The part that really caught my attention was this line: "By feeding insects to chickens, the use of antibiotics in the poultry industry – which may lead to human infection with drug-resistant bacterial strains (Box 4) – may be diminished."

Good article James. I never knew that feeding insects can boost the immune systems of poultry. And I am thoroughly convinced that we as humans have developed immunity to various antibiotics because of their use in poultry and other animals. Bacteria in any body of mammals, avian or reptiles alike will develop immunity to antibacterial drugs if given only in trace amounts, which is exactly what happens to us when we eat animal protein with small amounts of these drugs in them. We are getting small amounts of antibacterial drugs through consumption. Penicillin was widely used in poultry for many many years and was of course getting into the eggs sold on the markets. Penicillin has lost it's ability to fight many bacteria because of it. So Penicillin is now banned in the professional market as is many other antibacterial drugs for use in poultry houses.

 

[James the Bald]

And when TopGun B started this thread, I didn't have much real interest in it... In my head, I was thinking, "I'm trying to raise quail, not bugs..." Now, I'm thinking about stopping by the Bait and Tackle place to get some live crickets, red wigglers or something along those lines.

 

[topgunbobby]

And when TopGun B started this thread, I didn't have much real interest in it... In my head, I was thinking, "I'm trying to raise quail, not bugs..." Now, I'm thinking about stopping by the Bait and Tackle place to get some live crickets, red wigglers or something along those lines.

Plus, there is the whole self-sustaining/microponics aspect of this process, too. If, you build a compost pile, you get a lot of those for free.

Ok .. give it up!! --you really left me hanging..
you spoke with him.. he gave you advice.. and .. you think.. you'll keep it to your self?? Baah Humbug!
now.. share.. or I'll get my attack roosters on you.. or sic them on your your bsfl pile..
( just jokin.. ) but really now. .
what did he say.>> I < maybe we> want all the details.. we want huge!! eggs.. too.

I think mine over heated.. in the bin..
and it would be an ok time. to re start.. for the "hot summer"
I have a low spot.. on the north side of garden.. I was thinking .. of getting a big pile horse apples.. from brother.( 8 horses ) and piling them up in the low spot.. to start.. and hoping to innoculate the area..
... its fenced in on one side and the chicken s would have axcess on the other.. but there is a permaculture. / lasagna garden on one side with lots of cardboard.. to lay egg's on ..

however .. that's probly not what he said.. ... < are you going to share??>

ahh! its raining.. just blew in.. a " not fake " storm.. for the mid west.. prairie.. we've been needing the rain.. .. its music to my ears.. guess i'll stay up and listen..
peace.. to you and yours..

edit.. ps.. i really dont have attack roosters..
theyre jersey giants.. very nice. but they would eat the grubs.. ; )

yea, I wanted to put some of it into practice, before I go on blabbing about the perfect technique. Basically, for the pupation process you want to keep the pupation separate from the egg laying and the lekking station. Hopefully, I will have my setup by this weekend and follow up with some pics and ask for feedback from Prof. Tomberlin. As far as suitability for quail/poultry, BSFL are high in protein and calcium, which is nice for egg laying. I don't plan an entire diet of BSFL. I will just supplement between my game bird feed. You don't want to have too much protein in their diet.

In related news, I just finished my lasagna garden almost two weeks ago, but haven't planted. So busy

 

[bbsnooks]

- garden talk.. off topic..
please excuse..

In related news, I just finished my lasagna garden almost two weeks ago, but haven't planted. So busy

yea!! thats what i made last year.. ( i injured my back hauling dirt up hill _ humm not to smart.. )
and decided.. a no dig garden.. was the only way i could go.. ( new home to me new garden on top of old dog run.. very compacted.. )
results..!! some mushrooms grew for me last year.. and i rarely watered more than 2x/ wk.. 20 min. ( in 100+ temp and high winds)
I didnt get every thing. in.. ( same this year..) but one pumpkin.. took over a 10 x 15 spot.. and went to town..

I think.. i may have even over watered.. so.. i really like the lasagna - only had trouble with wind.. picking up cardboard this winter in high winds..
I'll need to secure better.. for my area.. ( sw kansas)

I think.. the trick is to .. germinate out side of garden.. and place in the lasagna.. I have several melons.. that have not come up yet..
but that volunteer pumpkin is back.. ; )

If i could do it again.. i would make some lactic acid bacteria.. to start it off with.. - we've been having a discussion over here
at natural chicken keeping here is a written directions post..
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...eeping-thread-ots-welcome/16070#post_11366675
and more links i had gathered from 2 blogs and a pdf.. with more recipes. for garden/farming fermenting.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...eeping-thread-ots-welcome/16110#post_11368464

 

[Julbrod]

There's this zoo med bug napper that basically catches random insects over night with light. You just bring the cup at the bottom filled with insects to your coop. I was thinking of making one from a soda bottle myself.
A different option if you don't want to raise insects.