Chook Me!

Can I make quality poultry feed from caterpillars and other insects?

I'm thinking of making my own feed with cheap locally available insects like caterpillar and others hoping all essential nutrients in the mix. I'm hoping to develop an organic natural tasting poultry brand. Any ideas would be welcome. I'm in Zambia, southern Africa so the insects are cheap as dirt.

Public Comments

1. I would say you need to plant a crop that attracts the bugs, fence the area off and let your birds eat the ones they like. Next, you need to "sample" a couple of of your birds to see how they taste. I am unsure of the " taste preference" of the locals in Zambia. Most people do not care for the taste of "carnivores" - there are exceptions (like many fish). What a critter eats will effect how it tastes. Poultry needs a well balanced diet. Make sure you birds have access to fresh water, "grit" and "greens", and some grain.
2. Seriously, Veritas is right. Unless you want your chicken meat, but mostly your eggs, to have whatever "flavor" the bugs biological basis has, you really should reconsider this idea? Besides, PETA would be all over you for killing the bugs? Remember how they chastised our "mean" pres for catching and killing that fly on live TV? FUNNY!!!!!!!! Anyway, if you want the best tasting meat, but especially the best tasting eggs, keep your chickens to no more then 2-3 hour access per day (even less) of free range eating. (bugs) The rest of the time, have them in a moderate temp controlled confine where they can still exercise plenty, (a pen under the old oak tree - for instance) and feed them a diet of grains. Oats are pretty cheap, healthy and produce a great tasting egg. The "egg shell" or "common chicken feed" they sell is CRAP, and UNNATURAL and will produce even worse tasting eggs and meat then feeding them bugs. Get or make a chicken tractor and you can control their daily intake of bugs vs feed, and keep them in the shade. Have fun
3. You can check some about nutrients here: nutrientshealth.net