Taking Advantage of Terrestrial Insect Hatch

[centrarchid]

Every year for about 45 days my land supports a massive hatch of May Beetles and Crane Flies. This represents a lot of low cost protein. Typically, in the evening, juvenile chickens that make most use of this bounty engage in "hawking" where they spread out in pasture / yard and catch insects as they emerge or fly through the chickens' field of view. In the 30 minutes or so it occurs each night it is easy for most birds to get a good crop fill in nothing but protein and fat rich insects. Currently all of my chicks and juveniles are penned during this time. Going to make adjustments to get those young birds in contact with the hatch.

 

[centrarchid]

Time to give UV setup a try.

 

[centrarchid]

We have competition from more flight capable birds. Night hawks are flying high and whip-poor-will buzzed us just below eye level. Latter I seldom seen feeding because they fly so low. Crane flies are mating and depositing eggs back into yard all over the place.

 

[centrarchid]

Light to my eye dim but pulls in night flying insects well. Tomorrow will shine it on white sheet. Will collect some insects but also let a bloody hen with chicks have a go at it.

 

[aart]

So birds are out after dark, hawking around that light?

 

[RWise]

Gota luv the hatch, my girls have been on top of this, jumping diving, all around!
The chicks are in the outdoor brooder, the lights attract bugs at night and they eat all of them, food cut in half when they went out! Smorgasbord, free eats!

 

[centrarchid]

So birds are out after dark, hawking around that light?

Should have specified dusk. Birds normally all on roost when hawking of interest here is done.

 

[centrarchid]

Hatch is getting as dense as I have ever seen where you see a large insect 6" above ground on just about every square yard. Must tackle the lack of overlap in time between hatch and chickens foraging. It is easy to find dead and dying May Beetles during the day but it is the newly emerged flying insects that are best for consuming.

 

[centrarchid]

Critters of interest.

Female of largest crane fly species. Several species appear to be present. Smaller species much more abundant and stay closer to ground. Another much larger species also present but not seen in yard where chickens forage.

May Beetles appears to be represented by only one species at this time. May be more than one species with that hatching later flying earlier. This species so far not flying when chickens foraging.

Demonstration that brooder reared chicks are morons. They would not spread out to forage as need for the crane flies or beetles.

 

[centrarchid]

Yesterday evening problems again. Used hen with chicks that got out to forage. My six year old son helped them catch crane flies which worked to too well. Birds had crops topped off before hatch got under way. Also found huge number of beetles working a black locust tree, I presume of extra-floral nectaries. Hen tried to use same tree as roost but chicks did get up fast enough for my taste. Her mother took and and siblings into same tree almost a year ago so likely memory involved.