Japanese Beetle chicken-feeders!

Our chickens LOVE Japanese Beetles. The eat them like popcorn. When they free-ranged, they would sit under the Rose of Sharon bush, waiting for free meals to drop Last year we collected jars full of them, and they would vanish instantly when we opened the jars.

This year, I had the novel idea of buying some Japanese beetle traps, hang them in the coop, and cut holes in the bottom of the collection bags. That way, when the beetles fell into the bag, they would end up on the ground and become free protein for my birds. I just hung the traps this evening, and can't wait until morning to see what happens tomorrow.

When buying the traps, the cashier warned me, "Those traps will attract more beetles to your yard. You will get millions of them!"
"I sure hope so!" I replied. Of course, she looked puzzled, so I explained my plan. She thought that was a great idea, as long as the chickens didn't get sick of eating them.


This seems like a simple idea to me, so I'm guessing that I'm not the first... Has anyone else ever tried this?

-TH

Great idea, Tony! I'm going to try this too.

Update:

I tried using them without the bags, but that didn't work, as they would keep flying

But with the bags, it works well. The chickens love it! Unfortunately, its been cool and rainy, so I'm not getting as many as I wish. But they will come. They always do!

-TH

Sweet! Do you have any photos?

Here is a pic of the traps I'm using. I just tied it to a tree near the chicken run AWAY from our garden. There is a scented packet that attracts them, and then they hit the yellow plastic and fall into the catch bag below. I dump them in the coop every couple of days, and that makes for some happy chickens!

That is a good idea, which other critters are caught with traps? You could convert them all in chicken feeders!

Curious, why is It wet inside to bag where the beetles are. It did not rain today?