Question about black soldier fly larvae

[rjohns39]

If I start the bsf outside and get it established, do you think it could survive the winter indoors? I mean without the bsf laying more eggs during that time...

I would think that worst case they go dormant.

 

[rjohns39]

I do grow fodder, do you think that could replace the benefits of bsf?

Fodder has a fairly good amount of protein, in a perfect world I'd like to have both. Seriously contemplating setting up my grow tent in the woodshop and trying to put together a system for both.

 

[FrankHomestead]

I've heard barley fodder has the most protein, I grow red winter wheat because I haven't found unhulled barley yet....how much difference in protein would you say there is between the two?

 

[rjohns39]

Wheat depending on type (not sure which is which) 10-14%, Barley 12%. So wheat is probably fine.

 

[FrankHomestead]

Wheat depending on type (not sure which is which) 10-14%, Barley 12%. So wheat is probably fine.

Ok good! the red winter is higher in protein which is why I use it, so I'll probably just stick with that!

 

[lazy gardener]

If I start the bsf outside and get it established, do you think it could survive the winter indoors? I mean without the bsf laying more eggs during that time...

Not likely. If it could feasibly be done, we would be hearing about it.

 

[barred2rock]

I do give them fruit and veggie scraps but I want bsfl for animal protein. I might figure out an indoor mealworm or some other gross creepy crawly, as long as they can't get out lol

My point is that you have to feed the flies & larva animal protein. Why not just feed that animal protein to the birds rather than the bugs?

 

[FrankHomestead]

My point is that you have to feed the flies & larva animal protein. Why not just feed that animal protein to the birds rather than the bugs?

Oh, see I know very little about this. I thought you just fed them compost material like produce lol

 

[lazy gardener]

No. YOu do not need to feed the flies and larvae animal protein, though they will consume it. The beauty of BSF larvae is that you can feed them stuff that you would never give to your chickens: you could give them the citrus culls that are rotting, you could give them any vegetation that is not fit for your chickens to eat. The larvae are eating machines. They grow rapidly, then crawl off to pupate. If you have your system set up with a crawl off chute leading into your run, the chickens will hang out there to collect the manna falling from the sky. BSF larvae are an excellent source of protein and calcium. They also cut down on the fly population, because they consume the material that would be attracting flies in the first place. The adult BSF actually has no mouth parts. Their only biological function is to breed... produce more larvae. So, as I understand it, they are far less likely to be a disease vector. (not sure about the physiology of that) Folks who raise them to be a main portion of their flock's diets collect the fruit and veggies and partially cook them in solar ovens to make them softer for the BSF larvae to more easily consume. They break down vegetation very quickly, yielding larvae for the flock and rich castings for the gardens. In the right climates, wild BSF will colonize a collection system.

 

[barred2rock]

No. YOu do not need to feed the flies and larvae animal protein, though they will consume it. The beauty of BSF larvae is that you can feed them stuff that you would never give to your chickens: you could give them the citrus culls that are rotting, you could give them any vegetation that is not fit for your chickens to eat. The larvae are eating machines. They grow rapidly, then crawl off to pupate. If you have your system set up with a crawl off chute leading into your run, the chickens will hang out there to collect the manna falling from the sky. BSF larvae are an excellent source of protein and calcium. They also cut down on the fly population, because they consume the material that would be attracting flies in the first place. The adult BSF actually has no mouth parts. Their only biological function is to breed... produce more larvae. So, as I understand it, they are far less likely to be a disease vector. (not sure about the physiology of that) Folks who raise them to be a main portion of their flock's diets collect the fruit and veggies and partially cook them in solar ovens to make them softer for the BSF larvae to more easily consume. They break down vegetation very quickly, yielding larvae for the flock and rich castings for the gardens. In the right climates, wild BSF will colonize a collection system.

Wow! I'm sorry, apparently I completely misunderstood what little I've seen on BSFL. Please forgive my ignorance!