Research on adding invertabrates to chicken diet, pasture model??

DianeB

Crowing
16 Years
Mar 12, 2009
780
253
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I am interested in learning more about including invertabrates (spiders, insects, slugs, etc.) in my chickens diet. There is only a few sources I have found about adding snails and earthworms to suppliment grower feed, but nothing on layers diet. Also, there seems to be limited nutritional information on insects.

Right now, my girls free range in my backyard and garden. About 30-50% of their diet comes from some type of invertabrate (I am not exaggerating), another 15-20 % is greens and grass and the rest is a sprouted seed/legume/grain mixture I make based on a recipe I from Greener Pasture's website http://www.greenerpasturesfarm.com/ChickenFeedRecipe.html. (Two of my hens detest layer feed) They are all very healthy (no disease, stunted growth, egg bound, etc.). So, I am not worried about malnutrition. I would just like to know how to better construct my current feeding system.

Also, I want to satisfy my curiousity. From what I understand, pasture and semi-intensive models were the standard prior to the 1950's and that 19th century and early 20th century dual-purpose breeds (RIR, NHR and Wyandottes were developed for this system. Yet, there is almost no work on pasture or other alternative models, lately. Even with an interest in organic farming and backyard flocks.

I have already taken some permaculture classes in college and have read some books on the subject. So, I do know the basics.

Thanks
DB
 
Wow, I hope you post any info you find out. Would be very interested in that also.
I'm trying to figure out what kind of "protein" I can grow for my flock - worms, crickets, etc.
 
Here is what I have found on the internet. Don't worry it is mostly academic or government resources.

Effect of snail meal on boiler production http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd20/12/diom20192.htm;
The
use if golden snail as animal feed in the Phillipines http://www.cababstractsplus.org/abstracts/Abstract.aspx?AcNo=19991406828;
Insects as Human Food (Has info on nutiritonal content) http://www.food-insects.com/Insects as Human Food.htm;
Pasture-Raised Poultry Nutrition http://www.sustainablepoultry.ncat.org/downloads/chnutritionhpinew.pdf;
How
to Feed Chickens in Hawaii (This page has a lot of info on raising healthy, productive chickens without commerical feed. It is still relevant to those in temeprate climates.) http://ahualoa.net/chickens/;
WESTERN
RESEARCH ON INSECTS AS FOOD AND ANIMAL FEEDSTUFFS (A chapter of an old book on insects as food. It has several references that I have yet to checkout.) http://www.food-insects.com/book7_31/Chapter%2010%20Western%20Research.htm;
Some
nutrient info on insects http://www.planetscott.com/babes/nutrition.asp and http://www.ent.iastate.edu/Misc/insectnutrition.html;

When
I have more time, I intend to search the UC library for more info on pasture'semi-intensive models.

If anyone else has any info, please post it.
Does anyone want to start a seperate forum or page to discuss alternative poultry systems?

Thank You
DB
 

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