Poultry Manna From Heaven?

stonecypher · #1 08/17/08, 05:30 PM

This sounds pretty straightforward and seems to cover all the questions I'd have about trying this approach to saving money on chicken feed. I've already thrown a shovel and plastic bags in the trunk for any fresh roadkill to recycle. (Husband rolls eyes.)

http://www.themodernhomestead.us/art...s-Maggots.html

Have you tried it for your flock? How much money do you figure you saved on feed? Do the flies breed over the winter months, too?

Now if I could just get the mental image out of my head before I start this experiment...

**ladycat** · #2 08/17/08, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonecypher

Now if I could just get the mental image out of my head before I start this experiment...

That "mental image" is why I haven't tried it.

Blech.

Elizabeth · #3 08/17/08, 05:48 PM

I've done this before with a slightly different technique, and I am trying it again now the way it is described on the site you linked. It is not working as well now as it has using my old technique.

The flies do not breed in our climate during the winter (MN).
The "fly larvae" are NOT going to replace a large portion of the feed your chickens eat. I have not yet tried to calculate the savings, but I can tell by the amount of grain the chickens eat that they are not consuming a lot of larvae.

I don't use roadkill, either- I use butchering scraps, usually from non-poultry species, though I did toss a couple of heads in this morning while we were processing chickens.

diane · #4 08/17/08, 05:56 PM

Flies do not breed in the cold northern climates in the winter. I have thrown carcasses of racoons and woodchucks trapped in my gardens into a large kettle and cooked them up on a fire and then fed them to the chickens. It has been my experience that no amount of electrical fence keeps the coyotes out but 7 foot welded wire fence with a hot wire on top has kept everything out. Prior to that my chicken flock was constantly being preyed upon. I think this system would work if you didn't mind the constant smell of death throughout the warm weather months. I live way off in the boondocks but still have to keep my flock close so I wouldn't try this. Good luck and report back how it works for you.

maidservant · #5 08/17/08, 08:04 PM

The only problem that I see with road kill is the possibility of disease. If you can get it fresh enough and cook it, it shouldn't be a problem though. Mine get scraps from butchering the rabbits (not the digestive tract though), and on slaughter day for the bunnies, the chickens feast! They hardly eat any pellets or grain on those days, but I only process rabbits maybe once per month, so it doesn't make up an extremely large portion of their diet. The internal organs of critters contain many micronutrients and amino acids that are wonderful for other critters. I also feed kitchen and garden scraps. If I can thin out my flock a little I may begin freezing some leftovers to help stretch out their use.

Emily in NC

Dirtslinger · #6 08/18/08, 12:36 PM

Great way to attract bears, and probably other predators.

MaKettle · #7 08/18/08, 07:43 PM

Oh, yuck!

IMContrary · #8 08/19/08, 11:20 AM

http://www.vetstoria.co.uk/templates...amilyfarm.html

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/in.../bc/205400.htm

"Toxin is elaborated in dead carcasses after postmortem release of the organism from the gut. Maggots acquire toxin from carcass tissues and, when eaten by scavenging poultry, serve as a source of neurotoxin. Alternatively, if toxin levels are sufficiently high in carcass tissues, cannibalism can initiate disease. Other feed sources have been implicated in outbreaks in backyard poultry flocks. Botulism in water fowl may result after ingesting dead invertebrates found in water that contains decaying vegetation."

Something you might need to consider if going to try this.

mnn2501 · #9 08/19/08, 01:51 PM

The thought comes to me that "You are what you eat" applies to chickens also.

glenn amolenaar · #10 08/19/08, 02:01 PM

I think it is a VERY bad idea, as stated in some of the other posts. A backyard flock is not that costly to keep. Glenn

stonecypher · #11 08/19/08, 08:43 PM

This is why I love this forum! I get so many helpful, informative, and thought-provoking replies to my questions that I can always weigh the evidence and come up with the right approach.

Feed store, here I come! Roadkill will be left for the usual scavengers, instead of being recycled for my girls (hens).

Thanks for the reality check! I wonder if the guy who posted that original article ever lost any of his flock to neurotoxin issues. Maybe you should enlighten him, IM Contrary!