Mealworms in the feed

[ChickenFatHead]

If mealworms are a good addition to chicken diet for protein, would it work if live mealworms were grown in the feed bin? Or would that alter the composition of the feed enough that it will no longer be a balanced diet? Also, maintaining moisture for the mealworms is typically done by putting vegetables, like carrots, on top of the feed. Would this spoil the feed?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi there, hope you are enjoying BYC!

I disagree about mealworms a being a good addition to the diet for their protein content. While they are relatively high in protein they are also are very high in fat. They are an acceptable treat that is a good source of amino acids and protein, when used in moderation.

Adding them to your chicken feed they would consume it and leave behind frass with no nutritional value to the chickens. Some chicken feeds include diatomaceous earth.. as an anti-caking agent. I have accidentally used chicken feed as bedding before and it had no baring on my mealworms or darkling beetles or the pupa.

Also the chickens would be very likely to pick out the meal worms and toss the chicken feed all over the place, in my experience... and continue doing so to look for more even if they are never added again.

Suffice it to say... I suggest keeping the mealworms separate from your chicken feed and use it as a high value treat they correlate with you.

But you could keep them in chicken feed... I've tried a variety of things from chicken feed, wheat middlings, oats, dog food (not recommended as bedding but okay as a bonus snack), soon they will get the dust from my mini pig feed and probably my chicken feeder if I don't just add a little water and make a mash for them to eat. So many of my feeds leave a lot of feed "dust", I hate to toss it.

I like to use carrots, celery, broccoli stems, and cabbage for moisture as they keep a long time in the fridge. I use cucumber peels or whatever scrap I have also though... fruit like apples and such attract ants or fruit flies to quickly at my location.

True confession... If you don't maintain the moisture level... they will use each other. Their wings never help them fly away! Pupa are most vulnerable to being snacked on.

If I were to use an auto feeder and put any moisture on top... generally it will cause molding issues down under. Your mileage may vary. However, I collect my feed and put in rodent proof containers nightly. They also like meal worms.

So I don't THINK it can work. But I like the way you're thinking though! Skip the middle man, eliminate some work, save some space...

Good luck on your adventures!

 

[ChickenFatHead]

Hi there, hope you are enjoying BYC!

I disagree about mealworms a being a good addition to the diet for their protein content. While they are relatively high in protein they are also are very high in fat. They are an acceptable treat that is a good source of amino acids and protein, when used in moderation.

Adding them to your chicken feed they would consume it and leave behind frass with no nutritional value to the chickens. Some chicken feeds include diatomaceous earth.. as an anti-caking agent. I have accidentally used chicken feed as bedding before and it had no baring on my mealworms or darkling beetles or the pupa.

Also the chickens would be very likely to pick out the meal worms and toss the chicken feed all over the place, in my experience... and continue doing so to look for more even if they are never added again.

Suffice it to say... I suggest keeping the mealworms separate from your chicken feed and use it as a high value treat they correlate with you.

But you could keep them in chicken feed... I've tried a variety of things from chicken feed, wheat middlings, oats, dog food (not recommended as bedding but okay as a bonus snack), soon they will get the dust from my mini pig feed and probably my chicken feeder if I don't just add a little water and make a mash for them to eat. So many of my feeds leave a lot of feed "dust", I hate to toss it.

I like to use carrots, celery, broccoli stems, and cabbage for moisture as they keep a long time in the fridge. I use cucumber peels or whatever scrap I have also though... fruit like apples and such attract ants or fruit flies to quickly at my location.

True confession... If you don't maintain the moisture level... they will use each other. Their wings never help them fly away! Pupa are most vulnerable to being snacked on.

If I were to use an auto feeder and put any moisture on top... generally it will cause molding issues down under. Your mileage may vary. However, I collect my feed and put in rodent proof containers nightly. They also like meal worms.

So I don't THINK it can work. But I like the way you're thinking though! Skip the middle man, eliminate some work, save some space...

Good luck on your adventures!

Thanks for your input. I didn't realize that mealworms had a high fat content. I was thinking they wouldn't overrun the feed but you make a good point about them digging through the feed just to get at the worms; my feeder is pretty resistant to that habit though. I have had problems with molding mealworm bedding and wouldn't want to feed my chickens that. Thanks for your input.

 

[aart]

I was thinking they wouldn't overrun the feed

The chickens will eat mealworms faster than the mealworms will propagate.
But, no, definitely do not try to grow mealworms in the feeder.

 

[so lucky]

Hi there, hope you are enjoying BYC!

I disagree about mealworms a being a good addition to the diet for their protein content. While they are relatively high in protein they are also are very high in fat. They are an acceptable treat that is a good source of amino acids and protein, when used in moderation.


Adding them to your chicken feed they would consume it and leave behind frass with no nutritional value to the chickens. Some chicken feeds include diatomaceous earth.. as an anti-caking agent. I have accidentally used chicken feed as bedding before and it had no baring on my mealworms or darkling beetles or the pupa.

Also the chickens would be very likely to pick out the meal worms and toss the chicken feed all over the place, in my experience... and continue doing so to look for more even if they are never added again.

Suffice it to say... I suggest keeping the mealworms separate from your chicken feed and use it as a high value treat they correlate with you.

But you could keep them in chicken feed... I've tried a variety of things from chicken feed, wheat middlings, oats, dog food (not recommended as bedding but okay as a bonus snack), soon they will get the dust from my mini pig feed and probably my chicken feeder if I don't just add a little water and make a mash for them to eat. So many of my feeds leave a lot of feed "dust", I hate to toss it.

I like to use carrots, celery, broccoli stems, and cabbage for moisture as they keep a long time in the fridge. I use cucumber peels or whatever scrap I have also though... fruit like apples and such attract ants or fruit flies to quickly at my location.

True confession... If you don't maintain the moisture level... they will use each other. Their wings never help them fly away! Pupa are most vulnerable to being snacked on.

If I were to use an auto feeder and put any moisture on top... generally it will cause molding issues down under. Your mileage may vary. However, I collect my feed and put in rodent proof containers nightly. They also like meal worms.

So I don't THINK it can work. But I like the way you're thinking though! Skip the middle man, eliminate some work, save some space...

Good luck on your adventures!

Just a little off topic, sorry, but I was wondering if you compost the frass when changing out the mealworm bedding? Surely it would be of use to something.

 

[Ginmary]

Mealworm frass also stinks and to me would contaminate the feed.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Just a little off topic, sorry, but I was wondering if you compost the frass when changing out the mealworm bedding? Surely it would be of use to something.

I keep it around long enough for any eggs to hatch if it had beetles in it. Then I spread it in the garden or at the base of whatever plant I feel like.