How many meal worms should I give a chicken?

[lindasking2175]

I started raising meal worms just as a treat for my chickens. The problem is, they will eat all I can give them. I do limit them. I was just wondering how many can they have without hurting their diet.

Any info on this would be helpful.

I'm really getting a lot of worms.

Thanks

 

[Chicks on DL]

A boy in Australia did a 120-day study and determined the more protein the larger the eggs. I have wondered about this myself because it seems that no matter how much table scraps I give them to eat they just keep eating. Can a chicken over eat?

 

[Mavrk]

I started raising meal worms just as a treat for my chickens. The problem is, they will eat all I can give them. I do limit them. I was just wondering how many can they have without hurting their diet.

Any info on this would be helpful.

I'm really getting a lot of worms.

Thanks

I was wondering this myself as I am about to start my mealworm farm. I hope someone has a good answer for us.

 

[Brisingr]

 

[pigeonguy]

I started raising meal worms just as a treat for my chickens. The problem is, they will eat all I can give them. I do limit them. I was just wondering how many can they have without hurting their diet.

Any info on this would be helpful.

I'm really getting a lot of worms.

Thanks

I found this on the meal worm thread.
Originally Posted by jchny2000


The crickets won but soo not doing those, mealies sure beat the waxworm... here's the info i found!
Grubco offered this info
http://www.grubco.com/nutritional_information.cfm

Nutritional Information

To keep you better informed, our products have been analyzed by an independent lab. We are the only live food producer to publish a nutritional analysis. We have done so for years and intend to continue our commitment to quality and consistency.
NUTRITIONAL ANALYSIS

​

Crickets​

Meal Worms​

Wax Worms​

Super Worms​

Fly Larvae​

Moisture, %​

69.07​

62.44​

61.73​

59.37​

68.18​

Fat, %​

6.01​

12.72​

22.19​

17.89​

7.81​

Protein, %​

21.32​

20.27​

15.50​

17.41​

15.58​

Fiber, %​

3.2​

1.73​

7.69​

6.80​

3.46​

Ash​

2.17​

1.57​

1.02​

1.20​

1.40​

Ca, ppm​

345​

133​

283​

124​

874​

P, ppm​

4238​

3345​

2161​

2320​

2405​

CA/P ratio %​

0.081​

0.040​

0.131​

0.053​

0.363​

So if this info is fact then because of the fat content I would say 10% of their diet. This is not fact just opinion. So lets go with that and say each chicken eats between 6 and 8 ounces of feed per day that would be .6 to .8 ounces of meal worms a day. If you have 10 chickens that would be 6 to 8 ounces of meal worms a day. 8 ounces is a half of a pound. I guess now the question is how many meal worms in a half pond? All I know is a lot.

 

[Mavrk]

So if this info is fact then because of the fat content I would say 10% of their diet. This is not fact just opinion. So lets go with that and say each chicken eats between 6 and 8 ounces of feed per day that would be .6 to .8 ounces of meal worms a day. If you have 10 chickens that would be 6 to 8 ounces of meal worms a day. 8 ounces is a half of a pound. I guess now the question is how many meal worms in a half pond? All I know is a lot.

This is for live ones, right? Dry would weigh less.

 

[pigeonguy]

This is for live ones, right? Dry would weigh less.

Live yes. What I find for dry is this.

:
Protein(min) 51%
Crude Fat(min) 23%
Fiber(max) 8%
Moisture(max) 7%
Weight: 11 lbs

From here
http://mealwormsbythepound.com/Bulk-Dried-Mealworms-11-lbs-Free-Shipping-POM11.htm

At this point you need to worry about protein and fat. Do you have live or dried?

For every 10 pound of feed at 16% protein if you add 10% dried meal worms 1 pound you would end up at 19.2% protein.

I'm still just worried about the fat. I do think adding that much fat is ok though would not want to go more.

 

[pigeonguy]

This is for live ones, right? Dry would weigh less.

Oh just for the record. A pound of dry weigh the same as a pound of live. The volume changes. LOL

You know the old saying a ton of bricks weighs the same as a ton of feathers. LOL

 

[lbrtyldy]

How are you raising meal worms. I harvest earthworms from my composters for them and have an indoor worm composter but don't create a fraction of the worms that they can easily eat. So adding meal worms could be helpful in keeping them satisfied and grain bills down.

 

[pigeonguy]

How are you raising meal worms. I harvest earthworms from my composters for them and have an indoor worm composter but don't create a fraction of the worms that they can easily eat. So adding meal worms could be helpful in keeping them satisfied and grain bills down.

Check this
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/492636/mealworm-farming