Small "Moths" in Chicken Pens

[centrarchid]

I have four chicken pens defined by 10' x 10' dog kennels. Floor is 3" gravel. It appears I have some some of moth that is very abundant living in the gravel. A broody hen with a single chick is largely forgoing the chick starter I provide. She and chick in particular are eating the moths. I have not seen the pupae of larvae but suspect they are also present. Chick's crop is full of the insects almost all day long. Hen digs pretty good wholes in to gravel to get at them.

 

[Sara Ranch]

That's awesome!

 

[Dayrel]

Free protein and pest control at the same time. Sounds like a win-win.

 

[jvls1942]

Look up Pantry Moths.
they occur around wheat, flour and feed.

 

[Chickassan]

Pantry moths make cocoons on and in anything once they get going. When I had birds in the house they would hatch, cocoons everywhere even in electronics.

 

[jvls1942]

yep, when my wife had cockatiels we had those pesky moths all the time.
they are so common, that they sell pantry moth traps. we could fill one up in a couple of days.
my wife got so good that she could clap her hands and squash them in mid flight.
I got my chuckles watching her chase them down.