Moths Galore

I'm trying to handle to birds more so that they don't freak out and run away from me when I want to put something in the brooder. I'm picking them up everyday and feeding them a little out of my hands. The Arcona and Sexlinks seem pretty Ok with but the Wyandotts are standoffish which is strange as I had read that they were quite affectionate birds and made good pets. Maybe they'll come around. The chicks are now standing on my hands to eat and pecking at my bracelets and ring, and occassionally just my fingers. I've been able to catch some moths for them to eat and previously one of the Wyandotts had taken them but now the darker Sexlinks gets it every time and then runs around with it being chased by most of the other chicks. I'm not sure they know what she has, just that she seems to be trying to make a break for it so it must be good.

We're now looking into vermiculture. I've done it before with mixed results, but it would be a good way to get rid of our kitchen waste as well as creating a good protein source for the chickens once they are out in the yard. I suggested a maggot bucket, but M seems resistant. I need to look into the Black Soldier flys which are apparently just a good maggot producer but without all the toxic smell. We want to try and feed the chicken as naturally as possible with as little supplemental food as possible. We hope to plant some grains and greens for them to range on, and of course getting them to eat as many bugs as possible outside the beds is one of their main purposes. Then in the spring and fall they can scratch and de-bug and de-weed the beds, as well as spreading their good nitrogen rich droppings directly into the soil.