Black Soldier Fly Composting

[injunjoe]

I just caught two Black Soldier Flies.

I am so happy!. I thought they were BSFs but until I caught some I was not sure if it was them or not.
Last year I was wanting to get this going a Bio-Compost unit.
Check out this link for a little info about the wonderful Fly!
http://blacksoldierflyblog.com/

 

[AmyRey]

There's a very interesting thread on BYC about BSF larvae.

Don't know how to do links, but I suppose you can copy and paste.

http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=11556

Edited to add: A-ha! They do themselves!

 

[injunjoe]

That is the same thread that got me interested in them for food for my girls.

I am happy to report that the two I caught I put in a container for the last two days with some rotting lettuce.
They laid what looks like a hundred or more eggs.

Here is a picture. I like pictures!

They are tiny here is a pic with a penny.

 

[Nifty]

WOW, fantastic job & great pics!!!



That's great you caught them and got the eggs deposited so quickly... how exciting.

No pics of the loverbirds... er bugs you caught?

Keep us posted on your brood, I'm going to subscribe to this thread!

 

[injunjoe]

Well thank you Sir.
I am honored !
No pictures of the flies they were in a to go container, not so clear.
I am happy to report that no flies were harmed in the making of this project! They were released after the experiment to do what ever they do after laying eggs. ( We all Know what they do! ).

On a sad note while I was inside ants found my project and tried moving in! I have it hung now. I put two sided tape on the chain to stop them.

Any ideas for an ant barrier would be very helpful.

I like spiders and I like snakes, but ants I just can't take! :rose :rose

 

[injunjoe]

Ok With the ant problem I thought I would like to try this captured egg collecting thing again.
Just a little bit ago one got stuck in the house.
I got her and made a better home this time. Able to photograph through.
I put black cardboard in for to lay her eggs on and to make them easy to see.

Here is a close up of her.

Lets see if I can get the ball rolling.

 

[injunjoe]

Just went to check on the bucket/farm.



This has got to be the grossest project I have ever under taken.
I understand once it gets going it will not be so bad.
But at this point I am not opening that thing again till I see BSF swarming that thing!

I now have two captured BSF in my egg collection unit (fancy name for pitcher with pantyhose on the top)

 

[injunjoe]

Yippie I've got maggots!

These have to be BSF.

They are in that glass container.

So there is no way any other type of fly could have laid eggs in there.

Pictures of maggots at 6:00.
Just like the news, stuff you don't want to see at dinner time.

 

[injunjoe]

Aye mate shes a bute take a look a er'

All the scraps I put in to start are gone now and I added coffee grounds, I read they love them!

If you look you can see the little bugger.

It does not smell nearly as bad as it did!

I can't wait to have free food for my girls.

I think I may open the big unit soon to take a look!

It also stopped stinking as bad as it did!

 

[injunjoe]

Ok just went out to check on the chickens and took a look into the bucket. I am all about pictures but trust me on this one words are much better!

It don't stink near as bad as it did. It is starting to smell a little like coffee and Grapefruit but not so nice.

There is a bunch of Larvae in there. I am worried I wont have enough scraps to keep them fed.

This project seems weird I know But I am working on a good source of protein for my girls. Times are tough !

I need to go back and do somemore reading.
And I also need to build a self harvesting ramp for them to feed them selves to the ladies.

I have a spigot on the bottom to drain off the juice, this is going to go into the compost pile.

Anyone else tried to harvest BSF?