Bugs

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

Hi

Since getting my girls at Christmas, the world has taken on a totally new perspective for me. Especially Bugs.

Can anyone help me with what is a good or bad bug for my girls?

I have learnt that both crickets & mealworms are excellent sources of protein.

What about Grasshoppers, Snails (garden variety), Spiders (e.g.: brown grass spiders & black house spiders), Earwigs, Cockroaches & any other critter not mentioned, that may be of nutritional value?

Also I have read that chickens like mice. Do they mean live ones or dead ones? As this just seems really wrong to feed a mouse to a chicken (be it dead or alive). Or is it just a community joke that has gone over my head?

Would love some feedback as I don't want to feed them to my girls if they will cause intestinal parasites or any type of binding.

wickedwings · **Posted:** Sun Jan 29, 2012 10:04 am

A lot of bugs, slugs and such have the potential to pass on worms to your chooks, that said however, all insects are excellent sources of extra protein for the girls, if they are free ranging they will snap up anything that takes their fancy. My chooks love to eat mice, alive or dead. I have given them mice that I have caught in traps and I have seen them catch and consume a live one, it's all just extra protein. You have to remember that chooks are omnivorous, they can and will eat nearly anything, they're almost like feathered goats.

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Just remember to worm them regularly, most people do it quarterly at the commencement of each season so they don't forget.

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

Okay then thanks PP & WW

I will just keep them wormed regularly (just did it a week ago) as was unsure how long it had been since they had been done, but wanted some sort of regular routine like PP said (quarterly) to go by.

As for the mice, I may have to catch one as an experiment to see what my girls do. This has got me quite intrigued & a little bit disturbed, but hey I can overcome the disturbed part if the girls like them. Can eating mice give them any intestinal problems?

Thought I better ask before doing this & then finding out i should give them something after eating mice.

wickedwings · **Posted:** Sun Jan 29, 2012 1:09 pm

I doubt that you would be so foolish but I will throw this in for safety's sake, don't of course feed them mice if there is baiting in the area unless you are satisfied the mouse was alive and well not long before he was dead and lunch. With the mouse plague on at the moment a lot of farmers are baiting, particularly grain growers, you might not bait on your property but if you are in close proximity to the neighbours you might take heed of what they're doing.

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Chooks actually do eat mice and rats, it is not a community joke

I PERSONALLY DO NOT DIRECTLY FEED my chooks any rodents, there are people who do feed their chooks rodents I and I think it is abhorrent

Chooks also get poisoned eating baited mice and rats and die painfully slow excruciatingly painful deaths.

At full moon in between chemical wormings( I alternate the brands as so the chooks do not become immune), I use garlic infused water then apple cider vinegar water to treat the wee beasties.

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=13199&start=40

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

Oh yes of course,

I only bait mice so I would not be feeding my little darlings a feral mouse caught in a trap, but thought i might get one from a pet shop or reptile seller. That way they/it would be sure to be bait free.

So you think I should feed it to them dead? As I think seeing them running around chasing it could be much more entertainment value. But it may have a larger chance of escaping.

I say this bravely like I am going to do it, but i may just end up with a pet mouse out of all of this, you understand.

But the warning was definitely good to be put out there, just in case those who only read, do not put 2 & 2 together.

Cheers Witty & PP
Chicka-Dee

wickedwings · **Posted:** Sun Jan 29, 2012 4:27 pm

I wouldn't go out and buy mice to feed the chooks, they don't need the protein that much, a $1 tin of cat food would be a much better investment if you wanted to do that. I only feed mine the wild mice that I manage to catch or that they catch themselves, I wouldn't bother introducing any more rodents around the place, I'm trying to reduce the population.

kelliecat · **Posted:** Sun Jan 29, 2012 5:18 pm

The other problem with buying mice is that it is illegal to feed live mammals to other animals. All feed for snakes and reptiles must be dead unless they are insects. I do feed mice to my hens, but I do not bait my mice, but snap trap them, and as I live on acreage, feel safe to feed them to my hens. I have no problem feeding mice to chickens, but they must be dead, because if you feed them live, then the mice will be pecked apart while alive. That isn't very nice, but dead....go for it. You can buy dead mice from pet shops as well. good luck.

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

No thanks, I thought about this & dead or alive I just couldn't do it.

I just couldn't witness the carnage.

I love my girls but WW is right, a $1 investment into a tin of cat food is far more up my alley.

But Bugs on the other hand is definitely what I will be feeding them.

I have just started my cricket population & mealworm colony so well on my way to having plenty of critters to feed my girls.

The main reason for my post was to find out if there are any bugs that I should/shouldn't feed them.

Got a little of track with the whole mouse topic. Not that it didn't give me more to learn for the day.

Tonight I will go o bed a little richer with knowledge.

Thanks all, hope you all had a lovely Sunday too.

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