crickets were to buy in bulk packs in melbourne

[west finch]

calci-gents are the larvae of the black Soldier fly(Hermetia Illucens). see web site http://blacksoldierflyblog.com/2011/05/ ... he-basics/

[Netsurfer]

calci-gents are the larvae of the black Soldier fly(Hermetia Illucens). see web site http://blacksoldierflyblog.com/2011/05/ ... he-basics/

Definitely not what I got of them, those were large hairy maggots that later turned into green Blow flies you often see outdoors. I breed these, "Soldier fly (Hermetia Illucens)" http://blacksoldierflyblog.com/tag/life-cycle/ but I'm not to sure about the name "Calci - gents". Non of these were any good to feed Wrens or any other Finches.

[Dutchlindsay]

is it correct that black soldier fly is the best live food for Finches?
And does anyone use one of these fly buckets?
This is a youtube clip of one making them:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kjNvE5 ... Ac73Zrkf6q
Or is a box with lamp and sugar etc preferable?
Cheers

[SamDavis]

We use house flies or bush flies. The contraption in that video looks highly complex compared to the fly boxes most use.
Have a read through this thread - http://www.aussiefinchforum.net/viewtopic.php?t=9844

You can buy house fly maggots ready to feed - http://frogs.org.au/arcade/index.php?cPath=27_71 - they call them "Gents"
Or you can get live house fly pupae to get your colony going - http://frogs.org.au/arcade/index.php?cPath=27_36
Or I'm sure someone with a fly box near you will give you some to get started.

[Dutchlindsay]

Thanks samdavis, much appreciated.

The fly breeding box from Borgs looks a bit steep at $265 and I assume that every time you open front you lose a lot of flies.
I like the option with the woman's stocking better