Growing Termites for Feeding Chicken

It is an old practice by poultry keepers in India to grow termites for feeding country chicken. Termites provide a tasty and nutritious food for the chicken and keeps them healthy.

My interest recently turned into keeping few country chicken in our home garden. I am also growing termites for feeding them in an old mud pot. If you are a poultry keeper, this instructable will guide you on how to grow termites for feeding your chicken.

Please also see the video above for more details.

Step 1: What You Need

For growing termites, you need a large mud pot as you see here in the picture . I found this one in our home which was used to store rice and no longer in use. The mud pot absorbs moisture and keeps the inside cool even during hot weather.

Step 2: Fill the Pot With Organic Waste

• Collect all rotting organic matter around you. You can use things like fallen leaves, old jute bags, coconut husk, dried cow dung, old cotton clothes, paddy straw and all. Do not use any raw material like green leaves and raw cow dung.
• Fill the pot in layers mixed with little bit of soil. Do not compact the layers, but keep them loose
• Sprinkle small amount of water over each layer. The layers should me just moist and not wet.
• Invert the pot and keep it in a shaded area in your backyard or nearer to your chicken coop.

Step 3: Feed Termites to Chicken

• If the weather is hot sprinkle water over the pot to keep it cool. Leave it undisturbed for three to four days.
• In morning hours slightly turn over the pot and see if it contains termites. If you do not find termites, keep it inverted and wait for a day or two till you find termites.
• Please see the second picture. The mix inside the pot has termites. The chicken will rush towards the pot even when you are checking for termites.
• Now empty the contents in little quantities. The chicken will feast on the termites

The pot contains lots of termites. Even after emptying the pot, you will find termites inside as you see in the last picture. One of our very bright chicken even enters inside the pot and feeds on them.

Step 4: Fill the Pot Again

Once the chicken finished feeding, fill the pot in layers as you did earlier. You can use the same material which you have emptied from the pot.

Keep it inverted in a shaded area and you will find more termites for feeding chicken once in every two to three days.