Feather pecking is widespread in intensive laying hens farming, negatively impacting performance, welfare and product quality. By increasing foraging behavior, live insect larvae can divert birds’ attention, reducing damage from injurious pecking and having positive repercussions on welfare. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of live black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae on laying hen behavior, feather conditions, and product quality. In total, 169 laying hens and 24 males of Bionda Piemontese (BP) and Bianca di Saluzzo (BS) breeds (308 days of age) were allotted to 12 pens and fed one of two dietary treatments (6 replicates/treatment, from 12 to 19 birds/replicate) as follows: i) control diet (C): commercial feed and ii) HI: C + H. illucens live larvae. The amount of live larvae was distributed based on 6% of the expected daily feed intake (120 g/bird). Feathering scores (neck, breast, cloaca/vent, back, wings, tail and bumble foot lesions) were given to all the birds. The behavioral observations were carried out using video recordings (5 minutes before larvae administration, 4 different periods) and divided into 2 different categories: duration (walking, ground pecking, standing still, resting) and frequencies (scratching, grooming, allogrooming, trotting, severe feather pecking, stretching, chasing, sand bath, feather shake, wing flapping). Eggs were collected in 3 different periods and analysed to determine: egg weigh, length, and width; shell weight; albumen weight; yolk weight and colour. Data were analysed by General Linear Mixed Model (IBM SPSS Statistics V20.0.0, P value < 0.05). No significant differences were observed for both the mean and the total feathering scores between the C and the HI hens independently of the breed. On the contrary, the HI BP animals showed higher (better) mean and total feathering scores when compared to the C group. The HI birds spent more time walking than the C group (P<0.05). Differently, the other duration behaviors were not affected by the treatment. Considering the frequencies, the HI hens displayed more grooming, allogrooming and trotting than the C birds. On the contrary, the C group performed more severe feather pecking than the HI hens. The egg, shell, albumen and yolk weights, as well as egg length and width, and yolk colour, were not affected by insect larvae administration. The use of live larvae as environmental enrichment led to a decrease in the severe feather pecking and increase in some comfort behaviors, also positively affecting the plumage status in the BP breed. Furthermore, the addition of live larvae to the commercial diet did not negatively affect the egg quality.

Various studies have investigated the use of black soldier fly (BSF) larvae as a protein rich ingredient in livestock diets. These studies mostly focused on effects on product quality and on production parameters such as feed conversion efficiency, growth and digestibility. More recently aspects such as gut health and morphological effects have also gained interest. The current study included product quality parameters and quantification of growth and feed conversion efficiency, but also assessed behavior and welfare of broilers provided with live BSF larvae. The experimental setup consisted of one control and three treatment groups in which 5, 10 or 15% of the DM was provided as live BSF larvae. Pens with groups of 7 male and 7 female one day old broiler chicks were used as experimental units and each treatment was replicated 17 times. In the larvae treatments consumption started within 1 second after provision from the second week onwards. Furthermore, the number of pecks per minute increased linearly over time, indicating that the BSF larvae were well accepted. Inclusion of 5% live BSF larvae decreased the feed conversion ratio compared to the control. However, inclusion of BSF larvae decreased total feed intake and consequently resulted in lower final weights in a dose dependent way. Whereas in all treatments activity levels decreased over time, this was more apparent in the control group than in the BSF supplemented treatments. Broilers provided with BSF larvae stood and walked more, and rested less. They also spent less time drinking water independent of the larval inclusion percentage. Larvae fed broilers also had lower incidences of foot pad dermatitis and hock burns. The provision of BSF larvae affected meat color and pH. Lastly, water holding capacity of the chicken breast was elevated in the 10% inclusion group. As differences in growth were apparent between treatments, the aforementioned effects might partially be due to weight differences rather than BSF provision per se.

In recent years, the development of indigenous chicken production has been a sustainable way of helping to meet the livelihood needs of rural populations and raise their living standards. However, regular supply of high-quality feeds is crucial to improve growth and laying performance of these birds. The prohibitive costs of fishmeal-based diet for poultry has hampered the growth of the sector. This study sought to evaluate the effects of substituting the expensive fishmeal (FM) with black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) on the weight change, egg production and egg characteristics of improved indigenous chicken (KALRO-Kienyeji). Fifty-five (55) hens aged 20 weeks-old were randomly assigned to five iso-energetic and iso-nitrogenous diets with different inclusion levels (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) of BSFLM to substitute FM. Each treatment was replicated 11 times. The average daily feed intake, average daily weight change, feed conversion ratio and overall weight gain varied significantly when birds were subjected to the various diets. Egg production was significantly affected by the various dietary treatments. Replacement of FM with 100% BSFLM had the highest and prolonged laying percentage (84.2%) compared to the control (100% FM) diet (54.0%). The weight of the eggs collected ranged between 57 - 63g, with significantly higher values recorded for hens fed 75% BSFLM inclusion compared to the control diet. Birds fed on diets with 100% BSFLM inclusion rates had the highest egg yolk colour intensity index, while the control had the lowest index. The gross profit margin, cost-benefit ratio and return of investment were significantly higher for hens provided diets with BSFLM inclusion. Our findings highlight the contribution of insect-based feeds in sustainable poultry production and provide opportunities for smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries to increase productivity, improve their livelihood and contribute to food and nutrition security.