I'm sure any would do, ladybugs. What I'm not sure is what the relative protein content would be. The maggots in the rabbit litter were very small--but then chickens love to scratch up cowpatties which should have the same type of maggot. Let's think, what else would work and not be toooo disgusting.
Another duck question : )
um,,,,, wet chicken poo! you ougth to be used to that smell and have plenty around... and you don't have to hand it in a bucket. load up a trough and wet it down. give it a few days, turn with a shovel, and dump it out...
my bucket method with the dead animals...not sure it is working... maybe should have cut the wabbits up?... i will give it more time... no smell yet either.
But wouldn't the chicken stuff heat up really fast--might cook your maggots unless you mix it with straw or something?
Hey tf--maybe your "roadkill" is mummifying in the heat!
Ladybug, the bears are what I was thinking about too. We had one last year that thought our deer feeder was a trapeze. The first time it came out, it broke the motor off of it. The second time it went swinging on it. The feeder is on a pulley system so it can be filled easily, and it pulled it down about 3 feet against the grain so it is a large bear. I really don't need something like that hanging around here.
GG
My goodness granny, I would be scared to death! Do you have to worry if you go out after dark about what might be waiting around out there?
I admit it, I am a big scardy cat! I might have turned into a country girl from being a city one, but I'm afraid some of the city stuck, or it is just me. My DH has to go out with a bat when the dogs get anything cornered (coons, opossums) and take care of it. I have really really tried and just can't get over my fear of it. The only reason I ever venture out after dark when I do is because of the dogs and if I go out to the barn I take one with me to warn me of any surprises.
Did that bear completely destroy your deer feeder?
This message was edited Jun 17, 2008 8:49 AM
Lets see, Granny--First you shoot the bear, then you cut it up in bucket-sized pieces and then you hang the buckets.....LOL!
LOL Catscan!!
oh, man, you would need a trucklaod of buckets, and 1,000 chickens to eat all those before they turned back into flies...
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btw, patchouli, in case i didnt' mention it, i now have confirmed ONE male and three females. and he now KNOWS he is a male. hatched mid Feb, so that is four months old...
No, Catscan, first you shoot the bear, then you cut it up into steaks, chops, roasts, etc, etc. Then you cook the bear, and after that you eat the bear. What's left over after all that, THEN you put the bear in buckets, and hang the buckets!!! Roflmao.
Ladybug, you just have to remember that most critters are more afraid of you than you are of them. BTW, I was born and raised in Detroit (and I do mean DETROIT). So, I was a city girl too, but, it is much safer out here in the country with all the critters than it is in the city with all those two-legged critters running around.
GG
LOL...Granny, you are so funny! So......does that mean yur gonna go berr huntin? hee hee
You know, I try to tell myself over and over that they are more scared of me than I am of them, but then I wonder if maybe they won't change their minds about that if I go and thunk em in the head. You are sure right about it being safer in the country.......bears, coons and other varmits might come on right you from time to time, but at least they are not carrying guns!!
y'all can just bring all these buckets to my place....
GG I was born and raised in NYC and like you I feel way safer in the country!!!!
MollyD
Molly, that is one place I have never wanted to go to. Even to visit. Just way too many people.
Our nearest large town (about 15,000 people) is almost too many for me to be around. That is where the Wal-Mart is that we go to. That one is 35 miles and the other one which has a Wal-Mart is aldo 35 miles away. So, it's six of one, and a half dozen of the other as far as mileage is concerned. But, I just like the one town better. One is a college town and gets smaller in the summer, and the other is around a lake and gets larger in the summer due to tourists.
GG
Got it. Four months for sure then.
Hi Patchouli--So will you post pictures so all the other duck neophytes can see the real thing?
oi will take pics of the curly tail tomorrow?!
My digital camera is not currently working. Hopefully I can get it replaced soon!
Weeelllll, speaking of maggots......... Today was garbage day here. Hubby and I spent the morning loading up the car with multiple trips to the dump. We have a large coral we use in the garage. Usually the trash cans are overflowing with bags by the time we get to them. We only go about every 4-6 month. We do ALOT of recycling! Well, the trash cans bottoms were maggot breeding grounds. All that good stuff that seeps out the bags! Especially in the summer months! Lots of mouse carcases on the bottoms. Hubby just read this post and said "see, you didnt have to wash those out! Your chickens could have cleaned them out for you." and then added " dont you dare even think of doing that bucket thing!"
Just thought I'd add my own grossness to your stories! By the way, I hate maggots! I want to be cremated specifically for that reason!
LOL..... next tiem you go buy feed, pick up some buckets and lids, see what he says...
i used to have to deal with them on the terms of trash, etc... i got over it... but don't actually like them, just LOVE MY CHICKENS.
so, sound slike your chickens need a trip to the garage every few days to keep the fly supply down?