[barley]

read with interest about giving maggots to treat impacted crop EWWWWWWW 

just wondered if they are a good idea to feed as a treat  - what with the winter coming and chooks needing to keep their pecker up !!!! during the cold snap

if so does any body know if the can be brought online as there don't seem to be shops in my area of Monmouthshire that sell them

[ANHBUC]

They are not good for them if fed too often as they are all protein which can cause health problems.  Usually fresh water fishing shops will have them but lots add colouring and some hens will not eat them.  Best to only give them occasionally or when using to clear a blockage.   

[mohs.ayaz]

I give mine insect suet pellets as a treat few times a week.

[8doubles]

Also bear in mind that a lot of maggot farms use poultry offal to grow the little darlings .

[nannytroll]

I'm picking lots of chestnuts at the moment, Any maggotty ones I boil for 10 mins, smash a bit and feed to the chucks, they love them .

[ANHBUC]

I give mine insect suet pellets as a treat few times a week.

I would not advise you to use any suet based feed mohs.ayaz, they really don't need fatty foods it is not good for them.  Better to give them a small amount of meal worms instead.   

Also bear in mind that a lot of maggot farms use poultry offal to grow the little darlings .

I didn't know that, thanks for the information.   

[agapanthus]

I remember once in Scotland when we had a lot of rabbits that Karl had got (shot) and he hung one in the large chicken run as a treat for the girls. As it went 'off' the maggots dropped onto the ground and the girls loved it!! Can't say I was enamoured!!!