Too many cicadas?

[PastaChickenBoo]

With all the Brood X cicadas emerging, my chickens have been chowing down on them. However, as of late, they have stopped eating cicadas (and are eating much less feed) and their egg yolks are very pale yellow. Could this be from too much protein from eating a lot of cicadas, and if so, how can I help their digestive systems get back on track? We are putting ACV in their water and giving them much lighter foods (veggies, etc)

 

[kerbotx]

I can't speak to cicadas, specifically, but I know too many June bugs in a short time can cause crop impaction, due to all the exoskeleton parts, so be sure your girls are getting plenty of grit. I'd add a probiotic to fortify their guts, maybe some low sugar yogurt. The pale yolk issue is interesting - perhaps by feasting on the cicadas, they were eating less grass/greens?

 

[dragonfly2pilot]

I have young chicks and found it impossible to keep them from eating cicadas! Had to feed them chick grit within their first few days. Stopped taking them outside...glad this isn't a yearly thing.

 

[PastaChickenBoo]

I can't speak to cicadas, specifically, but I know too many June bugs in a short time can cause crop impaction, due to all the exoskeleton parts, so be sure your girls are getting plenty of grit. I'd add a probiotic to fortify their guts, maybe some low sugar yogurt. The pale yolk issue is interesting - perhaps by feasting on the cicadas, they were eating less grass/greens?

Thank you, I'm fairly certain my chickens get enough grit but I will double check. I know that they ate less feed due to eating lots of cicadas, so maybe it's because of a nutritional deficiency? Hopefully they'll be back to eating more feed soon, they are absolutely SICK of cicadas by now haha.

 

[3KillerBs]

Thank you, I'm fairly certain my chickens get enough grit but I will double check. I know that they ate less feed due to eating lots of cicadas, so maybe it's because of a nutritional deficiency? Hopefully they'll be back to eating more feed soon, they are absolutely SICK of cicadas by now haha.

Chickens tend to be good at self-regulating their food. You said that they backed off on eating so many cicadas, perhaps their instincts are telling them to balance their diet better.