Centipedes are slender and long insects that you will probably often see in your backyard, especially if you’re doing yard work. If you see this insect, you may wonder if you can let your chickens eat them.
So, do chickens eat centipedes? Yes, chickens do eat centipedes. This insect is a good source of protein, which makes them a good snack for chickens. The centipedes have poison, but it’s not strong enough to hurt a chicken.
Is It Safe for Chickens To Eat Centipedes?
Centipedes are perfectly fine for chickens to eat. Like most other insects, centipedes have a good amount of nutrition content. They are high in carbohydrates, fats, and protein. Not a lot, but enough for the chickens to benefit from it.
Just want you to be aware that centipedes are not technically insects. They are in fact arthropods. However, since they move, look, and act like insects, they are referred to as insects.
In the wild, insects make up the bulk of their diet, which also includes centipedes.
Is It Healthy For Chickens To Eat Centipedes?
Centipedes don’t have a lot of nutrition. It has some protein and fat content, which can benefit the chickens a bit.
Chickens in the wild will eat a lot of insects including centipedes. The centipedes won’t provide them with enough nutrition, but they will help meet their daily dietary needs.
If you allow your chickens to free roam, they will most likely eat centipedes when they see one. Due to their low nutritional content, they can eat as many centipedes as they want without having any negative effect on their health.
Unfortunately, centipedes are one of those creatures that like to live alone, so the chickens won’t be able to find many of them.
Are Centipedes Poisonous or Dangerous?
Centipedes are carnivores which means they eat meat. Centipedes prefer to eat prey that is small such as bugs, slugs, worms, and even small rodents.
To help make the kill, they will bite their prey and inject poison. The poison will help immobilize the prey, which will make it easier for the centipedes to eat.
Fortunately, the poison is too weak for it to cause any serious damage to chickens or humans.
Since the centipedes are not able to hurt the chickens, they will go after them whenever they see one.
How Many Centipedes Can Chickens Eat?
In the wild, chickens depend on insects to make up the bulk of their diet. Insects are what is abundant in the wild and easy for the chickens to find and eat.
Therefore, backyard chickens are able to eat as many centipedes as they can find. These creatures like to live alone so there won’t be many of them around.
What Other Insects Can Chickens Eat?
Japanese Beetles
Japanese beetles are small insects that are found across the entire country. This beetle is small in size, but it can do a lot of damage to crops. If you have Japanese beetles in your yard or garden, you will know how destructive they can be, especially when in large numbers. To prevent plants from being destroyed, you can let your chickens eat them. Like any other species of beetles, chickens enjoy eating them, and they are nutritious for them as well.
Millipedes
A millipede is an insect that you can find in your backyard anywhere in the country. This insect is dark in color with hundreds of legs. They pose no danger to chickens, so you can let them eat them.
Crickets
Crickets are a favorite feeder insect for reptile owners, but chickens can eat them as well. You can find crickets at the pet store or in your backyard. However, crickets found in the yard can be contaminated with chemicals. If you use pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers, the crickets can contain these chemicals which are harmful to the chickens.
Conclusion
The centipede is an insect that’s found across the entire country. This insect is not usually found out in the open. They are usually under rocks, plants, and other objects. If the chickens see any centipede, they will most likely catch and eat them. Centipedes have poison, but it’s not strong enough to harm the chicken.
