I finally tested my theory and dropped a couple minnows to the chickens. They fought over them. Minnows seem like the ultimate fish (for me). Fertilize the water for plants. If they breed will have bait to go fishing. If I get excess, feed them to the chickens. Sounds like a better option than goldfish or raising tilapia that I would probably never eat.
On another tidbit, I filled a stock tank with rainwater for the minnows. A few days later it was full of mosquito larvae. 4 hours after 3 dozen minnows in, and could not find a single larvae.
I since added a 12v bilge pump, set into a small pond filter box, with a variable timer. 30 seconds on, then 5 sec to 5 minutes off. It's fed off a
solar charged battery bank.
Next goal is to get them bred. A university (missouri?) Site showed 70 degree+ water and some "caves" would allow the breeding.
I'm hoping with the 5 minutes "off" the water will settle and the mosquito keep laying. I'd rather it be here than another area where they have a better chance of maturing.
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