Can i Solely feed free range chicken with worms?

[Carrie216]

I'm wondering if it is a good way to breed hundreds or thousands of free range chicken using mealworms only? Besides, if i cage hundreds or thousands of chicken in the steel cage with ample space for them to move around, can it still be classify as free range chicken? Free range chicken does not have to be breed in the wild, right? I'm a newbie, hope you could help me out. Appreciate it.

 

[Kiki]

Meal worms only...as in that being their only food source?
I would not call raising a chicken in a steel cage free range.

 

[Pork Pie]

Feeding solely mealworms will not constitute an adequate diet for birds to reach their productive potential (e.g. egg production). Thousands of birds is moving you onto commercial farming, where I'd imagine that existing profit margins are slim enough as it is, with optimum productivity.

Each country has its own definition of "free range" so be sure to check that.

All commercial birds are bred in hatcheries.

 

[Carrie216]

Usually, those free range chicken(not in the cage) will consume what? grass, insects?

 

[Isaac 0]

Usually, those free range chicken(not in the cage) will consume what? grass, insects?

Grass,Seeds,Bugs,Rocks,Berries,Mice,Frogs anything that looks appealing.

 

[ttrammell]

Well, where are you? (Country) Here in the U.S. there are laws as to how many square feet per bird and how much access to the outside they have to have to be "considered" "Free Range". For most people (other than the Government) Free Range means they are not confined, at all. If that is the case, I doubt it in your case with "Hundreds and thousands" of birds. But if it is the case and they have access to bugs, grass, weed seeds, then yes you can raise birds on nothing more than good quality pasture and added snacks of meal worms.

 

[Isaac 0]

Well, where are you? (Country) Here in the U.S. there are laws as to how many square feet per bird and how much access to the outside they have to have to be "considered" "Free Range". For most people (other than the Government) Free Range means they are not confined, at all. If that is the case, I doubt it in your case with "Hundreds and thousands" of birds. But if it is the case and they have access to bugs, grass, weed seeds, then yes you can raise birds on nothing more than good quality pasture and added snacks of meal worms.

After a while the birds will wipe out all the bugs on the pasture.Mealworms have too much protein which will cause a lot of problems.They would need layer feed 24/7

 

[Carrie216]

Thank you all for being so supportive and generous to share your knowledge.

@ttrammell I'm from Malaysia. I've read somewhere saying the farmer's chicken is free ranged chicken even when it is breed in the cage. However, the size of the cage need to provide at least 1 square foot for 1 chicken.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I'm wondering if it is a good way to breed hundreds or thousands of free range chicken using mealworms only? Besides, if i cage hundreds or thousands of chicken in the steel cage with ample space for them to move around, can it still be classify as free range chicken? Free range chicken does not have to be breed in the wild, right? I'm a newbie, hope you could help me out. Appreciate it.

Hi, welcome to BYC!

Sadly, what you are describing is considered free range if there is an open access door to an outside (even barren dirt) run for a specific period of time. Now matter how big the building is or IF the birds ever make it to the door.

As a self proclaimed newbie.. I suggest you get some real chicken experience before going all in. Illness can sweep out an entire flock and all your investment very rapidly under the conditions you describe. And not knowing what symptoms to look for or how to deal with them when they pop up will be a part of your challenge.

I wouldn't personally feed JUST meal worms. Though they have plenty of protein they are also high in fat... and growing meal worms isn't free. I suspect they would be seriously lacking as a complete feed source in many nutrients and micro nutrients.

Your goal sound like the opposite of most of the reason why people keep chickens... to be better than big industry and have higher quality eggs/meat. I have NO proof, but have heard birds fed high bug or fish intake can alter the flavor of the eggs. Balance is key, and meal worms WON't give you that.

My birds are pasture raised, has some of it's own risks. Though if they were confined with adequate space and nutrition is still good and I wouldn't feel bad about it.

You don't state your purpose of keeping "hundreds of thousands" of birds (eggs is what I'm guessing). Which here in the states would require major regulation compliance and treated as commercial.

That many birds would require employees, a whole other challenge and cost. Best to grow some fodder or have A LOT of land. Again start small, maybe a hundred birds on your scale. Sound like a nightmare in the making!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Thank you all for being so supportive and generous to share your knowledge.

@ttrammell I'm from Malaysia. I've read somewhere saying the farmer's chicken is free ranged chicken even when it is breed in the cage. However, the size of the cage need to provide at least 1 square foot for 1 chicken.

doesn't matter where the breeding took place, it matters WHERE the chickens live and GRAZE. 1 square foot per bird and you WILL see flock dynamics rear their ugly head, guaranteed!

The battery hen was the one kept IN the cage, verses the one kept in the open building. Good idea, BAD reality!!! JMHO

Going by those guide lines of 1 sq foot plan for the challenges. I wouldn't raise ANY with less than 3 square feet in a building, at least 1 ft EACH roost space (not mentioned by you), and 10 foot access to outside. Different seasons and weather may make for different challenges. Or... MAYBE 15 square feet each in the building. Thing is tighter you pack them more issues you have including maintenance.

Good luck either way.