VIDEO - Hen back from Coma. Botulism from eating larva in meat left by compost pile

[Folly's place]

The spores can be out there anywhere, and grow in the right conditions for them. So, anaerobic conditions, meaning no oxygen.
There's no 'good' clostridia; tetanus, blackleg, botulism, and other nasties.
Mary

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

So, if I put plate scrapings into a thriving BSF bin, no contact with soil, could any meat be contaminated with botulism and the larvae are then toxic to the hens?

Possibly yes. But not just meat. Vegetable matter can also produce the toxin if the conditions are right.

I don’t think there’s much you can do to prevent botulism in a situation where you’re feeding your chickens insects that eat decaying things. I think its just a fact of life. It might happen. Its not terribly likely to happen. But it can.

As an aside, remember that the botulism toxin is a byproduct of the bacteria and the bacteria has spores. The toxin is destroyed at or around 185F, and the bacteria and spores need much higher temperatures. I would be curious to know what the temperature of a mass of BFS larvae is. When I reach into a mass of them in compost they’re hot to the touch.

 

[Folly's place]

Actually those maggots would need to be cooked to be safe! I think it's fifteen minutes at boiling temps.
IMO feeding maggots off rotting anything isn't worth it...
Mary