Earth Worms

[MissChick@dee]

I found that some foods just take repeated exposure to, before they think of it as food. Do they like mealworms? If so, maybe mix a few smaller earthworms in with a few mealworms. Anyway, they are all individuals with their own preferences, but I suspect as they get older, they'll try them.

Mine were like that with yogurt until I dipped my finger into it and made a fuss about how GOOD it was.
Now I’m not saying (lol) eat some worms. But townchicks
Has a good point, keep offering them. Who knows.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Mine were like that with yogurt until I dipped my finger into it and made a fuss about how GOOD it was.

Yes... I make a call like mama hen... quick and higher pitched... "look babe, look"! They come running.

Creatures of habit of need more then one introduction.

True earth worms *can* carry oocysts (eggs) of round worms (though I don't believe the round worms themselves)... doesn't mean your chickens WILL be infected. My birds eat them all the time (some more than others, I guess they have moods) and took more than 9 years before I ever needed to consider treating for parasites.

If you cut it or rip it in half to reveal the tasty juiciness inside, they might blow their tops with excitement... otherwise they simply don't YET recognize it as food. They will!

Yes... please, eat some worms... Show the chicken AND us all how delicious they are!

 

[MissChick@dee]

Yes... I make a call like mama hen... quick and higher pitched... "look babe, look"! They come running.

Creatures of habit of need more then one introduction.

True earth worms *can* carry oocysts (eggs) of round worms (though I don't believe the round worms themselves)... doesn't mean your chickens WILL be infected. My birds eat them all the time (some more than others, I guess they have moods) and took more than 9 years before I ever needed to consider treating for parasites.

If you cut it or rip it in half to reveal the tasty juiciness inside, they might blow their tops with excitement... otherwise they simply don't YET recognize it as food. They will!

Yes... please, eat some worms... Show the chicken AND us all how delicious they are!

 

[lazy gardener]

Why not put a board or rock in the run. Flip it over every morning, and they will find plenty of creepy crawlies to munch on.

 

[anna-newhampshire]

If you cut it

Yes, that's exactly what I do for the quails. You have to cut up their steak and offer a side dish too if you want to be taken seriously. The quails refused it cut up too but then I mixed everything with some leftover mashed potatoes and ... voila! No bird can resist mashed potatoes lol (or cooked oatmeal, or cooked rice).

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Why not put a board or rock in the run. Flip it over every morning, and they will find plenty of creepy crawlies to munch on.

I do that plus wetting the ground underneath. Sometimes I have to wait a few days.

Yes, that's exactly what I do for the quails

Ah yes, we are in service to them. I will only do that for initial introduction if they don't get it. But I have sooo many birds, someone usually bust's out with a hilarious game of "keep the worm (or whatever) away, flag football". And the chase ensues.

Worms don't move that fast either. So they aren't immediately as interesting as some other things might be.

But even in my birds that really like them, sometimes interest wanes.