Official BYC Poll: Do You Feed Your Chickens Cicadas?

[SLA]

Where exactly has or is this brood emerging? This is the first I’ve heard about Brood X. We had one of the 13 year broods come out in 2010 I think. It was deafening to go outside. I didn’t have chickens back then. I would gladly gather free snacks for my hard working cluckers!

Brood X are the 17 year cicadas, a bit larger than the 13 year ones. These are not the mid to late summer cicadas that add to the sounds of summer. These “Sing” all day at a decibel level of 80-100. These red-eyed creatures are full of protein and the girls love them. This brood is in southeast Ohio, Indiana, Northern Kentucky, parts of Virginia...sure I’m leaving some states out.

 

[Fallenone05]

I don't think Brood X is in Oklahoma. I haven't even heard the sounds of a cicada yet this year. But if my birds find them and want to eat them, lots of goodies for them and less feed bill for me.

 

[Miami Leghorn]

We buy them at our feed store...mix them in with mealworms. They tear them up.

 

[ladybrasa]

I am very disappointed - I’m in Virginia and not a one! At least not yet I hope! If we do get them, I certainly will grab some up and toss them in the run! May consider freezing them too!

 

[MTR]

Brood X are the 17 year cicadas, a bit larger than the 13 year ones. These are not the mid to late summer cicadas that add to the sounds of summer. These “Sing” all day at a decibel level of 80-100. These red-eyed creatures are full of protein and the girls love them. This brood is in southeast Ohio, Indiana, Northern Kentucky, parts of Virginia...sure I’m leaving some states out.

Pennsylvania. My chickens are loving them. For nights I was picking them off my house and giving them to my poults in the brooder. After they stopped coming up I felt bad for my Turks because every time I get in at night they get excited thing I have a treat.

 

[MTR]

I am not hunting cicadas but if the dum dums catch em' themselves, they are welcome to eat them.

I don’t hurt them either. I catch them and let my chickens enjoy them.

 

[chickentrains]

I don’t hurt them either. I catch them and let my chickens enjoy them.

I didn't say hurt, I said hunt! Lol!

I'm not spending my time hunting cicadas. That is my chickens job

 

[MTR]

I didn't say hurt, I said hunt! Lol!

I'm not spending my time hunting cicadas. That is my chickens job

If I could read I’d be dangerous

 

[Beer can]

I've only seen them a couple times.
Just a FYI, FDA has announced if your allergic to seafood don't eat cicadas, they are distant relatives in the same family of shrimp and lobsters.
I guess that means if you are not allergic to them go ahead and munch down

 

[nicolekathryn]

We are completely swarmed by them to the point that the sound hurts your ears outside. We gather them from literally anywhere we are and feed them to the chickens (we fill red solo cups with them every day). They also get them straight out of the ground when they emerge.