Feeding worms to chickens

[Serina81]

Has anyone ever had any experience feeding worms to chickens? How much would a chicken eat in a day?

 

[Alaskan]

dunno.

I feed mine earthworms and slugs when I find them in the garden.

They sure do love them!

I have no idea what their max consumption would be.

 

[mrszlopez]

I feed my Silkie Girls worms whenever I get the chance !! They LOVE them just as much as they would any other bug. Actually today, I saw one of my chicks eat a giant Cricket ! But as far as worms - they love them. Not sure how many they would eat in a day, but im sure itd be a whole lot.

 

[MoTownChickie]

I actually have a vermicomposter, so occassionally I will grab a handful of the worm rich compost and let my duck go at it.

My chicks are still young, but they will eat as many worms as I'll give them at a time. Sometimes I'll swing by the bait shop for the 100 pack of worms and some mealies - they will eat both packages bug free within minutes.

I don't think you could feed them too many worms.

 

[dave3877]

well i have a gross but relevant story. first off ill start with its 100 degrees here in crockett texas and no rain for almost 2 weeks so yeah the flies have been bad. i compost my birds manure so guess where they go - the pile of course. i was out there the other day dumping a barrow full on it and it was moving. the whole pile was filled with maggots

. i can handle most anything but maggots arent one of them. i have rir hens that are molting so i figured id let them take a break from breeding and they have been working that pile over for a week now. i dont think ill be able to get them back in the pen now they are spoiled. the first day they mowed into it and ate til they couldnt move. im sure your birds will eat as many things that wont them until they cant take anymore in.

 

[Serina81]

Thanks for the info. The reason I'm asking is I'm trying to do vermicomposting and grow worms to feed the chickens. I want to raise enough worms to be able to feed the chickens every day with them. I feel you with the maggot story. I actually raise maggots for the chickens too! I have a chum bucket hanging from a branch that I put all dead animals. The flies lay eggs, the maggots start eating the chum and then fall out the chicken wire bottom. So it's self-feeding.

 

[okiecountrygirl]

well here goes I have to admit something, I am hooked on my chickens and wanted to thank them for all they provide for me and my family soooo
I go to the horse lot and I use my hay fork and I turn over the horse poop that I have allowed to stand for a while and get rained on and mixed with the hay and dirt and get packed down....

and battabing big ole juicy grubs
I probably got 100 or more for my chickens They LOVE them and chase each other around for the one she got away with. lol
Plus I use 'em for catfishin

I also have a worm composting farm with 1000 worms and every now and then I will take out a few and feed em to my girls good source of protein and they never let me down

 

[BJ_BOBBI_JO]

Im not sure how many worms a chicken would eat in a day but I bet they would eat a lot. Mine love worms. After it rains in the late evening we like going outside to gather the large earthworms that come out. The chickens love them and would enjoy a buffet of them daily.

 

[nsbchickens]

Don't worms carry worms that are potentially dangerous to chickens? I would say worms are good but only in moderation.

 

[Serina81]

I dunno about worms having worms, but I read about a guy who fed his chickens nothing but worms and zucchini and they were perfectly healthy.