Feeding worms from compost pile

[drowe005]

I've been looking for worms in my yard for a while now to feed the birds, but havent found any yet. I do have a a few hundred earthworms and red wigglers in a compost pile, but havent ever gave them any not knowing if it would be OK or not. The compost pile is 95% rabbit poop, thats why I was hesitant.

Any opinions on whether this would be OK to get worms out that pile to feed to them?

 

[Chicken Goddess]

possibly NOT. The chickens might get sick. and be careful about getting worms from the ground. they could catch a respiratory worm and you dont want that.

 

[Cyclingchix]

possibly NOT. The chickens might get sick. and be careful about getting worms from the ground. they could catch a respiratory worm and you dont want that.

Interesting? Don't chickens eat worms, bugs, and all sorts of stuff when they free range? Which is suppose to be good thing.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I wouldn't do it. I try not to encourage my chickens to eat earthworms as they carry worms to chickens.

Additionally if the earthworms have botulism spores all over them (moldy) they can get the chickens sick.
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/205400.htm

 

[Ashburnham]

What nonsense! My chickens have been scratching up worms and other bugs and eating them for 40 years with no problems!
It's what chooks do all day - scratch up the earth and eat what they find.

 

[De Wet]

eartworms is the carrier of the dangerous parasite which cause blackhead which is dangerous for turkeys. A chicken can be a carier and still be healthy when a turkey get along he will get sick....

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

What nonsense! My chickens have been scratching up worms and other bugs and eating them for 40 years with no problems!
It's what chooks do all day - scratch up the earth and eat what they find.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/VM/VM01500.pdf
see pg. 2, number 6 if interested in Univ. of Florida's recommendations about earthworms

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I just realized that this is in the chukar section of BYC -here is a website that mentions Chukar/game birds:
http://msucares.com/poultry/diseases/disparas.htm

 

[destinduck]

I side on the dont do it

 

[mississippifarmboy]

Our chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, guineas, and other birds have been scratching worms out of the compost pile and from under the rabbit coops for over 50 years and also eating the poo and never had a sick bird.

Maybe I'm just lucky.