how to get chickens to eat worms...

[Peepsi]

Look at it this way: Earthworms eat dirt. Eating an earthworm is like eating dirt with some slime wrapped around it. Chickens don't eat dirt (not counting grit for their gizzard). A chicken would prefer a nice grasshopper or cricket with greens inside their bodies, because then you have greens wrapped in protein. Giving thought to what the live food eats, and comparing it to what a chicken might eat, is helpful for giving chickens live foods they'll probably like.

 

[BantyChooks]

Consumption of such fare by free-ranging chickens may have to do much with other options available. It appears that worms are not the most preferred prey. If the chickens with experience are given a choice, then they consume other protein rich items first. Worms are like a second choice option.

When I watch my birds closely as they forage, they majority of what they peck at appears to be vegetation of some sort. That said, they will expend considerable effort going after an insect. If they are providing insects in excess, then they start going after plant materials preferentially.

Interesting idea, I should have checked nearby insect populations each year. There's always an abundance of ticks, though, as I can attest to from experience!

 

[centrarchid]

Look at it this way: Earthworms eat dirt. Eating an earthworm is like eating dirt with some slime wrapped around it. Chickens don't eat dirt (not counting grit for their gizzard). A chicken would prefer a nice grasshopper or cricket with greens inside their bodies, because then you have greens wrapped in protein. Giving thought to what the live food eats, and comparing it to what a chicken might eat, is helpful for giving chickens live foods they'll probably like.

My chickens eat dirt, substantial amounts. Some is ingested incidentally with target items in contact with soil. Some is ingested purposely for a variety of reasons with at least some related to dealing with indigestion. Geophagy is part of reality for free-range chickens.

 

[Peepsi]

My chickens eat dirt, substantial amounts. Some is ingested incidentally with target items in contact with soil. Some is ingested purposely for a variety of reasons with at least some related to dealing with indigestion. Geophagy is part of reality for free-range chickens.

Incidental ingestion of dirt while they're picking for food does not count. No chicken sits around and eats copious amounts of dirt while ignoring food (unless there is something wrong with them). My chickens do not eat dirt. They'll pick things OUT of the dirt (dirt has all sorts of things living in it, both plant matter and animal matter), but they're not eating mouthfuls of just dirt (grit for gizzard's sake aside). I think that given the choice between a juicy grasshopper that was just feeding on the chicken's favorite plant, and an earthworm full of dirt...the chicken will choose the grasshopper (most of the time, there are always exceptions to every single rule out there).

 

[centrarchid]

Incidental ingestion of dirt while they're picking for food does not count. No chicken sits around and eats copious amounts of dirt while ignoring food (unless there is something wrong with them). My chickens do not eat dirt. They'll pick things OUT of the dirt (dirt has all sorts of things living in it, both plant matter and animal matter), but they're not eating mouthfuls of just dirt (grit for gizzard's sake aside). I think that given the choice between a juicy grasshopper that was just feeding on the chicken's favorite plant, and an earthworm full of dirt...the chicken will choose the grasshopper (most of the time, there are always exceptions to every single rule out there).

Look at contents of crop and feces. Even when consuming a grasshopper, especially one that requires dismemberment prior to ingestion will bring the item in contact with soil where the soil then adheres to be consumed. When food items are very small and in contact with soil, the birds make little or no effort to remove adhering soil particles.

The consumption rate of soil and associated microorganisms is enough to meet requirements for some micro-nutrients.

I really do get down to observe what and how the birds eat. You could try same to see things in a more complete light.

 

[Peepsi]

Look at contents of crop and feces. Even when consuming a grasshopper, especially one that requires dismemberment prior to ingestion will bring the item in contact with soil where the soil then adheres to be consumed. When food items are very small and in contact with soil, the birds make little or no effort to remove adhering soil particles.

The consumption rate of soil and associated microorganisms is enough to meet requirements for some micro-nutrients.

I really do get down to observe what and how the birds eat. You could try same to see things in a more complete light.

I think you and I are talking about two different things. I keep reiterating that incidental dirt consumption doesn't count in the point I'm trying to make, but you seem to be focusing on it. I do get down and observe what my birds eat, every day. Seeing as how I only have four birds and I interact with them very closely every day, I can observe everything about them (which is both amusing and informative).

Anyway, this is a pointless conversation now, so I'm done with it. Not trying to disrespect you (as you have a lot of knowledge), just saying that I don't think we're connecting or getting the point.

 

[sorce]

Not trying to disrespect you (as you have a lot of knowledge), just saying that I don't think we're connecting or getting the point.

This must be the nicest way to say this....ever!

I agree.

I am glad to have learned about geophagy in the process!

I LOVE how they eat grass seed off of a stem.

I believe their is enough fungi in any dirt to be consumed for reason.

Breed of chicken and foraging capability, feed from humans, also effects this.

Everyone is right.

But most importantly....the chickens are even more right than us!

Sorce

 

[centrarchid]

I am getting the point and have seen repeatedly chickens purposefully consuming soil usually high in clay. Other times it is high in materials such as ash or charcoal. Birds I track most closely are free-range as in totally most of the time. The eat a range of plants that appear to be toxic which I think stimulates at least some of the geophagy. Consumption rate is high enough to impact physical qualities of feces.

 

[Criticalicious]

In my flock, every bird has slightly different preferences about what they will or won't eat and it can change from day to day, for no logical reason. I have one hen who will fight for slugs while the others look at her like she's nuts. Sometimes she finds earth worms, yanks them out of their hole, and then walks away. Others come along behind and gobble it up. Two pullets love daddy long leg spiders but nobody else eats those. Sometimes things I've offered up were snubbed, UNTIL someone tried to eat it, and then everybody wanted it. The roosters nibbled on sardines a little then said yech - the hens went nuts for it. There is no accounting for taste!

 

[Chickassan]

I put it to the fact that these have never had to eat things they don't find completely agreeable either in taste or texture they're coddled.
Birds that never had any introduced treats or not even much milled food would eat the slimy things gladly.
You however have the stangest Speckled Sussex, never have I seen birds refuse a live mealworm that is curious.

It is experience that I have seen. We have been rearing about 30 Speckled Sussex exclusively on feed. They will not consume even live meal worms. I am certain they can learn the merits of eating them with a little more exposure. The pattern likely holds for most chickens fed only feed.