Training chicken to eat flies...hopefully!

[WhisperingOaks]

It usually is parallel to the ground along the entire back wall of the run but I wanted to show how the chickens were picking the flies off of where they can reach ( proof they are eating what is in their reach ).

 

[centrarchid]

Height and orientation might impact encounter rate the strip has with flies. The flies are not uniformly distributed with respect to distance from ground. Hopefully chickens can reach that optimal fly highway elevation.

 

[Teila]

This is definitely a question, not a criticism or negative post.

As I mentioned earlier, my mumma hens use flies as a training aid for their babies but once they have grown up, flies are pretty much ignored. They might still catch the occasional one.

However, I have read that flies can lead to tapeworm and also spread bacteria including Salmonella, Campylobacter, E.Coli and others. What have the flies been feeding on before the chickens eat them? So, while catching the occasional fly is probably harmless, would having a smorgasbord of them available for chickens to eat in large quantities not increase those risks?

 

[WhisperingOaks]

Does the digestive process neutralize above mentioned pathogens?

 

[centrarchid]

My free-range chickens eat insects as a major part of their diet. You will not find formula feed fed birds that match them in terms of overall all health. This fear of parasites and pathogens has gotten out of hand. What you want to avoid is having the birds consuming an imbalanced diet. When insects are involved, that is difficult to realize at least in terms of chickens eating too much.

 

[WhisperingOaks]

I will let y'all know if my feathered friends appear to show any deleterious effects from the new addition to their diet.

 

[clfrannie]

I have read scientific reports that the reason chicken meat or eggs may carry salmonella is because the hens have been eating flies. I personally do all I can to eliminate flies from my chicken coop.

 

[WhisperingOaks]

I am interested in those reports- please post links!

 

[clfrannie]

I have read that chicken meat and eggs contain salmonella because the chickens were eating flies. I do not think it is a good idea to encourage fly eating. It would be better to eliminate the fly problem some other way.

 

[centrarchid]

I have read that chicken meat and eggs contain salmonella because the chickens were eating flies. I do not think it is a good idea to encourage fly eating. It would be better to eliminate the fly problem some other way.

Please provide a link to what you read. I am not able to find it.