Dust Bath Crazy/Dried Meal Worm Questions

[FinleyMcChicken]

2 questions

1. The past few days when I have come home from work when I check in on my girls in their brooder they have gone dust bath crazy and kicked all their bedding into their water and feeder. It's to the point where I have to take everything out and refill the 5 qt water (with probiotics) and dump the food out because there's so much wood shavings in it. Is this normal or is this behavior suggesting I should get a bigger brooder so they can kick like crazy.


2. How much, or how many, dried meal worms can I feed my chicks? They're about 8-9 days old and go CRAZY for meal worms. I'm a new chicken owner and may be thinking more like a dog owner but is over-feeding a possibility?

Thanks guys

 

[rosemarythyme]

1. It's normal. I went through a crazy amount of food and had to refill water quite often because of the mess the chicks made. You didn't mention how much space you're working with nor how many chicks you have, but yes, more space will always help. You can try raising the height of the waterer/feeder a little as well but at a certain point they'll start ping ponging around the brooder and knocking everything over. It's just what chicks do.

2. I fed my chicks maybe 3-4 mealworms a day, broken up in smaller pieces to make them last longer. You don't want to overdo it on treats when you mainly want them to be eating their feed. Do make sure they have some chick grit to help them digest the worms.

 

[FinleyMcChicken]

Ahh yes. I've been giving too many meal worms then!

For the 4 chicks they've gotten about 8 each throughout the day. I have grit in the food, I'll throttle back on the worms now!!

We have 4 chicks in an oversized storage tub--its about 3 feet long. We put the water and food up higher than they were and that's already starting to help! Thanks!!

 

[Kellycbf]

I would not fill the water up so much or I would just dump a little out. If it were me and the food is dry, don't throw the food out, just put it in the bedding, they will pick through the bedding to get to it. I switched to fermented feed for this very reason. I am very happy with fermented feed.

 

[blackdog043]

For your water, you can raise it or make a horizontal nipple waterer. These nipples can be bought from amazon. The pitcher from Walmart. The water stays clean and lasts for quite a few days. I now have a 5 gallon bucket waterer and feeder in my coop. Makes it real easy to take care of them.

 

[FinleyMcChicken]

brilliant!

 

[Billy Bobmuff]

I just read an article on byc about meal worms..
I've experience worms for chickens for the pass 7years and I'll tell what I've learned the hardway..
Mealworms are horrible because
-Chickens like to play with the worms a little before eat them, These haveno wiggly in them. There real slow and no fun.
No real food value and can have problems I was reading here about milo in chicken food (milo be careful)I'm having a awful time with my feed store,they changed the mix and my birds won't touch it, 12 birds! anyhow...
They carry weird health problems to your birds. It all depends where you buy them and what was their diet? Which you cant tell anything by looking at them. They tell you to keep in ref. but their ok if you don"t, find a cool place to keep them, in the garage or anywhere outside, don't keep in house!
Small qty ok 100.. But Dont Buy Meal worms!!
You want to buy Superworms! They're wiggly, heard they are like eating butter to your birds and they are full of protein good stuff you really want to feed these in the winter for sure. I've nine big birds, 3 silkies. i buy 2000 to 3000 thousand, once a month. They come different lengths 1", 1 1\2", 2"size. I buy 2". I feed as a group 100+ few more? I hand feed these guys, don't want one bird hogging them!It won't hurt them if they eat to many, running poops for a bit,they really don't over eat, just till they are satisfied. You got to know the vendor processes. You can buy on eBay or Amazon or Google "live Superworms" Easy and clean storing. You need wheat bran for them to eat and live in and carrots, other dandelion leaves, turnip , It took me 5years to start growing my own. Finally i got the mix and I'm growing few hundred or so...takes a long time for them to get to 2"!!!
Let me know if you have any questions, I've the answer, really! No Meal Worms!

 

[Billy Bobmuff]

I just read an article on byc about meal worms..
I've experience worms for chickens for the pass 7years and I'll tell what I've learned the hardway..
Mealworms are horrible because
-Chickens like to play with the worms a little before eat them, These haveno wiggly in them. There real slow and no fun.
No real food value and can have problems I was reading here about milo in chicken food (milo be careful)I'm having a awful time with my feed store,they changed the mix and my birds won't touch it, 12 birds! anyhow...
They carry weird health problems to your birds. It all depends where you buy them and what was their diet? Which you cant tell anything by looking at them. They tell you to keep in ref. but their ok if you don"t, find a cool place to keep them, in the garage or anywhere outside, don't keep in house!
Small qty ok 100.. But Dont Buy Meal worms!!
You want to buy Superworms! They're wiggly, heard they are like eating butter to your birds and they are full of protein good stuff you really want to feed these in the winter for sure. I've nine big birds, 3 silkies. i buy 2000 to 3000 thousand, once a month. They come different lengths 1", 1 1\2", 2"size. I buy 2". I feed as a group 100+ few more? I hand feed these guys, don't want one bird hogging them!It won't hurt them if they eat to many, running poops for a bit,they really don't over eat, just till they are satisfied. You got to know the vendor processes. You can buy on eBay or Amazon or Google "live Superworms" Easy and clean storing. You need wheat bran for them to eat and live in and carrots, other dandelion leaves, turnip , It took me 5years to start growing my own. Finally i got the mix and I'm growing few hundred or so...takes a long time for them to get to 2"!!!
Let me know if you have any questions, I've the answer, really! No Meal Worms!