Feeding WORMS to Chickens?

[aart]

Quote: Multi compartment sewing and craft containers work good too.

 

[TheBantyCoop]

Multi compartment sewing and craft containers work good too.

And supers can't be refrigerated like mealies can. If you refrigerate supers they will DIE.

When you refrigerate mealies they hibernate, thus they stay pretty much the same size and don't pupate.

 

[TheBantyCoop]

be careful with waxworms, if they by chance get away and aren't ate they can completely destroy bee hives during their life cycle.

just like them with the exception of supers won't pupate unless they are isolated (the larger multi compartment weekly medicine containers work good for this), makes it a good bit more labor intensive to raise them because of that.

Good to know!! I'd hate to risk losing any more bees! I'll be extra careful now.

I've been feeding one by one using tongs to ensure that every girl gets the same amount. They wouldn't miss a worm for anything!

Out of curiosity, how do they effect bees?

 

[enola]

They ruin the honey comb. Bees can't breed if they don't have a comb structure.

 

[aart]

Quote: Are wax worms the larvae of wax moths?

 

[JetCat]

Are wax worms the larvae of wax moths?

Yes and they will destroy bee hives by feeding on the comb, it only takes a few to quickly multiply and wipe out many hives.

 

[TheBantyCoop]

Yes and they will destroy bee hives by feeding on the comb, it only takes a few to quickly multiply and wipe out many hives.

Where are they native to?

 

[aart]

Quote: I'm pretty sure they can be found all over the US.

 

[pthor]

I too am on the coast (Up North) the rain has not been seriously hampering my chickens free ranging duties...

I haven't tried Super worms but, as I dig around with chickens at my side, I tend to find lots of centipedes and very large spiders.

The chickens seem to have an instinctual ability to sense the bugs that can bite them, even the chickens from other areas south. They will attack the bugs head and kill it before they will eat it.
I have also seen them eat wasps with great care not to get stung... Amazing animals they are!

 

[TheBantyCoop]

I too am on the coast (Up North) the rain has not been seriously hampering my chickens free ranging duties...

I haven't tried Super worms but, as I dig around with chickens at my side, I tend to find lots of centipedes and very large spiders.

The chickens seem to have an instinctual ability to sense the bugs that can bite them, even the chickens from other areas south. They will attack the bugs head and kill it before they will eat it.
I have also seen them eat wasps with great care not to get stung... Amazing animals they are!

Indeed!

Now that I own chickens, I'm starting to think that a lot more goes on in their minds than I gave them credit for!