Feeding with mealworms as the only protein source

[WhiteTreeOfGondor]

We would like to feed our chickens and ducks without GMOs, but the bagged feeds have been very expensive. I am thinking of starting a mealworm farm as a protein source for them. They also free range in a large yard. If anyone has used a mealworm farm as the main protein source for their poultry, I have a couple of questions! How many containers of worms I would need to produce enough daily for about 38 birds? With the worms, chicken scratch, and oyster shells, would they need anything else to supply necessary nutrients?
Thanks in advance!

 

[6BeachChicks]

We would like to feed our chickens and ducks without GMOs, but the bagged feeds have been very expensive. I am thinking of starting a mealworm farm as a protein source for them. They also free range in a large yard. If anyone has used a mealworm farm as the main protein source for their poultry, I have a couple of questions! How many containers of worms I would need to produce enough daily for about 37 birds? With the worms, chicken scratch, and oyster shells, would they need anything else to supply necessary nutrients?
Thanks in advance!

NO! Please don’t feed anything other than regular layer pellets. @Kiki
doesn’t even feed treats I think…

 

[MysteryChicken]

We would like to feed our chickens and ducks without GMOs, but the bagged feeds have been very expensive. I am thinking of starting a mealworm farm as a protein source for them. They also free range in a large yard. If anyone has used a mealworm farm as the main protein source for their poultry, I have a couple of questions! How many containers of worms I would need to produce enough daily for about 38 birds? With the worms, chicken scratch, and oyster shells, would they need anything else to supply necessary nutrients?
Thanks in advance!

Feed a 20% All Flock, or Flock Raiser diet with oyster shells on the side.

Mealworms should only be given as a snack. They be a good protein source, but are also very high in fat.

 

[6BeachChicks]

Feed a 20% All Flock, or Flock Raiser diet with oyster shells on the side.

Mealworms should only be given as a snack. They be a good protein source, but are also very high in fat.

Agreed!

 

[MysteryChicken]

Organic Feed is more expensive then regular chicken feed, just to give the heads up.

 

[Folly's place]

Poultry feed is cheap! By the pound, very inexpensive, compared to the food necessary to keep dogs, and especially cats, alive and healthy.
Feedinga good balanced diet is needed, not mealworms.
Mary

 

[WhiteTreeOfGondor]

Thank you for your input; and I know bagged feed is the easiest way to make sure they are getting proper nutrition. They are currently on layer feed and I'm not going to start experimenting on them with my guesses. However, I can't imagine that all historical chickens were nutritionally unbalanced and unhealthy before the relatively recent addition of bagged feed to the market. I am sure there are combinations of foods that would work for them. I want to do some research on this, and talk to anyone else who may be ahead of me or had experience feeding this way.

 

[Folly's place]

'Historical chickens' weren't the high producing birds we have now, and the farms they inhabited had a much more diverse source of foodstuffs.
Mary

 

[Crazy Maizie]

This thread is very similar to what you are asking.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/feeding-your-flock-amidst-of-feed-shortages.1496915/

 

[WhiteTreeOfGondor]

'Historical chickens' weren't the high producing birds we have now, and the farms they inhabited had a much more diverse source of foodstuffs.
Mary

It sounds like we've bred our chickens into a problem then