Black Fly or Black SOLDIER Fly larvae

[Netsurfer]

Black Flies

The other day I bought some "Calci gents" of Green Blow Fly (or as some call them Bottle Flies) http://www.whatsthatbug.com/2009/08/16/ ... e-believe/
I offered them to my birds, the Wrens ate at least one each and then they haven't touched them since. Has or does anyone feed them to Wrens and do they eat them? There are other species of Blow Flies but they are either black or grey!
I bought them thinking they were the Black Soldier Fly larvae for which I even ended up making a special 20 liters breeding Bucket. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnfkW4WgtG8

Black Soldier Fly larvae:
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=blac ... 65&bih=723

Anyhow, few weeks past and from the name "Black Soldier Flies" I started calling them "Black Flies" and the other day I thought I'd try to find a supplier in Australia and somehow I opened up this page http://www.lawestvector.org/black_flies.htm this quickly changed my mind about breeding the "Black Flies" Thinking I spent my time and money buying and making that breeding bucket. Then again by chance with corner of my eye I caught a word "Black Soldier Fly" then I realized they were two totally different flies, didn't know should I kick my self or lough. Therefore there is Black Fly and there is Black Soldier Fly! Just remember that!

The question here is: Has anyone bred or is anyone breeding and feeding the "Black SOLDIER Fly" larvae to their finches?

[Trilobite]

I havent any expereince but the pupal case I think would be far too leathery for most smaller finches. Might be worth trying some fresh ones before you invest in a breeding set up. If you have acccess to a compost heap you will get a few for a trial and yes yu wil get all the std comments on them carrying parasites if harvested froma compost heap.
Let us know how you go!!!

[Netsurfer]

I havent any expereince but the pupal case I think would be far too leathery for most smaller finches. Might be worth trying some fresh ones before you invest in a breeding set up. If you have acccess to a compost heap you will get a few for a trial and yes yu wil get all the std comments on them carrying parasites if harvested from a compost heap.
Let us know how you go!!!

Just as well you mentioned it, one of the videos on the YouTube suggests you could feed them "anything" even the dog's and other animal's extrements, the statement I find unreal if you are going to breed the Black Soldier Flies larvae to feed other animals like Lizards, Frogs and Birds. Some parasites can be transmitted that way. Anyhow, I only put in the "compost Bucket" the leftovers of fruit and vegetables, the dog or the wild birds can't get at it! The problem is I can't find a supplier here in Australia to be able to try first, I guess I'll have to wait until summer, I can't see any Solder Flies around in this cold.

Check this out: http://blacksoldierflyblog.com/

[djb78]

One of the problems is their skin which could he a bit hard to get through but another would be size for finches, they can get to nearly 3cm in length but can also get 6mm in with which could possibly be on the bit to big side for finches but would probably be great for softbills.

[Craig52]

Netsurfer,what is the reason you want to feed this type of live food? Why are they so different to the bush fly maggot? Why would you want to try to get them up and going in the first place if you can't get them, Craig

[Danny]

Netsurfer,what is the reason you want to feed this type of live food? Why are they so different to the bush fly maggot? Why would you want to try to get them up and going in the first place if you can't get them, Craig

They breed fast, they have a balanced Ca:P ratio, they don't esape and form 'flocks' as they are solitary except when mating, they self harvest (you can set the breeder directly in the aviary if you like) and they run on household scraps so are essentially free but convert 1 tonne of household/aviary/pet waste per year into 90 kg of worms - Why wouldn't you.
They are prolific anywhere on the east coast. They'll turn up again in August. I have been successful in artificial culture of them but not sustainably. What I have managed to do is have a crap load of dormant pupae waiting and ready to seed the Biopod with as soon as the cold weather has passed. If you can harvest small then wrens will take them once they learn to (like anything) but as adults they are a bit big - great for mesias, pekins, magpie robins, quail, pheasants, large softbills. My larger birds ate them equal too or with greater gusto than they did mealworms.
Netsurfer, If you find they are a bit sluggish to start give me a pm and I can send you some to seed the culture. If you set the culture up in a hothouse they can be maintained most of the year. The adults don't feed so require nothing but some sunlight and a potted fig to shag on.

Danny

[Craig52]

Ah Ha,thanks Danny Craig

[Netsurfer]

Netsurfer,what is the reason you want to feed this type of live food? Why are they so different to the bush fly maggot? Why would you want to try to get them up and going in the first place if you can't get them, Craig

If you can harvest small then wrens will take them once they learn to (like anything) but as adults they are a bit big - great for mesias, pekins, magpie robins, quail, pheasants, large softbills. My larger birds ate them equal too or with greater gusto than they did mealworms.
Netsurfer, If you find they are a bit sluggish to start give me a pm and I can send you some to seed the culture. If you set the culture up in a hothouse they can be maintained most of the year. The adults don't feed so require nothing but some sunlight and a potted fig to shag on.

Danny

Thanks Danny that's what I wanted to hear, since I can no longer get 1 kilo bags of small Mealworms I have to try other live food, now that I got two species of Wrens to feed. It's not so bad now but in a week or two they'll start to breed, as you know you should never run out of live food. Thanks god mine got use to egg & biscuit mix but yes live food is essential when young hatch. I also bought two heating pads and couple of thermostats, I'll try my luck with Crickets, they apparently breed well. I hate breeding Mealworms simply because with every little bit of moisture in the air you get millions of those tiny lice not that they do anything but I hate picking up things with lice on it!

As for the Soldier Fly Larvae I remember seeing black Caterpillars about 3cm long and about 6-7mm diameter if that's the BFL then I guess Wrens will take them I know they eat green Cabbage Caterpillars. I bought some "Green Bottle Fly" maggots they are much larger than the Bush fly maggot they would be quite a mouth-full for young Wrens but for some reason Wrens are still going for Melworms and Crickets only. Large black Blow Fly Maggots are also available, I'll try them next time. Anyhow my Bush Fllies don't breed too well in winter and buying these other Fly Maggots is not bad at all they are very reasonably price. If I can get them to eat all this then I'll be OK.

PS. Thank for the offer Danny, I know they are around, let's wait till August - September if I'm not successful by then I'll PM you then!