The escalating demand for sustainable animal protein sources has intensified the search for alternative feed ingredients in poultry production. Insects, long overlooked in mainstream agriculture, are now gaining global recognition as viable components of poultry diets due to their high protein content, efficient feed conversion, and low environmental footprint. This review explores the intersection between poultry nutrition and entomology, focusing on the application of insect-derived meals—particularly black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens), mealworms (Tenebrio molitor), and housefly larvae (Musca domestica)—as novel protein sources in poultry feeding programs.

We examine the nutritional profiles of commonly farmed insect species, including crude protein levels, amino acid composition, lipid content, and bioactive compounds, and how these attributes vary with rearing conditions, substrate, and developmental stage. From an entomological perspective, the paper reviews mass-rearing technologies, life cycle optimization, and biosecurity protocols relevant to feed safety and scalability. Performance metrics such as growth rate, feed conversion ratio, egg production, and meat quality in poultry are analyzed alongside health-related benefits such as improved gut microbiota and immune modulation.