Housefly larvae as a feed supplement for rural poultry - Research and Development Notes

Abstract

ABSTRACT The effect of supplementing the diet of scavenging chickens with housefly larvae on productivity was studied. Birds on supplement received 30-50 g of live housefly larvae from the age of 2 weeks until they laid and hatched their first clutch of eggs. Monthly body weight, age at first lay. egg weight. number of eggs hatched, and weight of chicks hatched by the supplemented birds were compared with those of the control group of birds which did not receive any supplement. There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in clutch size, egg weight, number of eggs hatched. and chick weight between supplemented birds and the control. Mean clutch size, egg weight, number of eggs hatched. and chick weight were 11.5 ± 2.57, 43.5 ± 25.53,9.8 ± 2.21. and 34.2 ± 0.78; and 9.5 ± 1.14,33.6 ± 2.72,7.1 ± 0.70. and 29.8 ± 1.89 for supplemented and control birds. respectively. The beneficial effects of supplementing the diets of local scavenging chickens with houseflylarvae are discussed