Topic of the Week - Feeding mealworms, bugs etc.

[Sussex19]

Is there any problems with feeding locusts and grasshoppers?
Last summer I was catching them and feeding them, for some extra protein, and they really love them.

 

[featherhead007]

Is there any problems with feeding locusts and grasshoppers?
Last summer I was catching them and feeding them, for some extra protein, and they really love them.

I think that they are great for the chickens, but I don’t make a habit of eating them!

 

[Sussex19]

I think that they are great for the chickens, but I don’t make a habit of eating them!

Are you sure you don't want a locust pie?

 

[luvthebeach]

Mine will consume almost all insect fare, with exception of insects that have red on them. Insects with red here typically use compounds they collect from milkweed to keep predators at bay.

May through June in some years I have placed a light near roost of young game chickens. Night flying insects (May Beetles mostly) then come into range where chickens can pick them off from their roost. Some nights allow for very rapid crop fill. This seasonal and not well suited for feeding more than a few birds at a time.

When working on beehives some of the chickens follow me and wait for me to drop burr comb. They consume the drone brood very well. I also have been throwing scratch at base of beehive to encourage chickens inspecting area for insects. Hope is to use that as a measure for controlling hive beetles in and just before the pupal stage.

At work I have a lot of ponds and a river nearby where mayflies (burrowing mostly) emerge in mass. Chickens really like those.

Recently I have begun exploring the use of mass harvested Japanese Beetles as eats. The beetles do not keep well outside of a freezer so working on ways to increase their density and dry them so they can be kept year round. Below is an ongoing thread working on the procedure.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/making-feed-from-japanese-beetles.1223688/

I also have a huge problem with Japanese Beetles. I have a pond with fish too, and if i could use the beetles as you are, that would be great! What temperature and for how long in a convection oven? Thanks!

 

[Ladies-Eight]

Bug Catchers good afternoon one and all!

81 cloudy with 95 % humidity and rain off and on.

I buy crickets for my ladies.

Have a great day!

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

Some of mine enjoy live feeder mice:

 

[featherhead007]

Are you sure you don't want a locust pie?

You know that those dried meally worms taste great on vanilla ice cream!

 

[featherhead007]

Bug Catchers good afternoon one and all!

81 cloudy with 95 % humidity and rain off and on.

I buy crickets for my ladies.

Have a great day!

102f and 89% humidity here. And too bad my chickens won’t eat mosquitoes!

 

[EIEIO Funny Farm]

If

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Chickens are omnivorous and when given the chance, will happily devour a surprising assortment of bugs and small animals. I've seen mine eat frogs, small snakes, mice… Most of us prefer to be a bit less adventurous when meeting our flocks' craving for meat and stick to providing things like mealworms, crickets, roaches, etc. This week I would like to hear your thoughts and practices on feeding "live" treats. What do you offer your flocks, what can you feed them safely, etc?

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Pic by @aoxa​

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https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/topic-of-the-week-thread-archive

If I see grasshoppers in my garden, I’ll catch them and hand it over to the hens.

 

[spruett386]

I Found this awesome frozen raw meat dog food called primal, our dogs love it, I tossed some to the chicken feeders and they devour them like vultures.

Primal is top tier dog food. I have a friend who's a rep.