Night Crawlers?

[Chicken0Boy]

Can I give my chooks Night Crawlers as treats?

 

[Lollipop]

BIG NO NO, Chicken0Boy. Night crawlers/red worms are a common source of round worms. Sure, they get some free ranging, but don`t contribute to it.......Pop

 

[bigredfeather]

Absolutely! With the Spring rains hitting us, I make it a point to go out and pick them up every chance I get. It's a free treat they really like and it is a good feed supplement(animal protein). Just for fun, throw just one in a pen full of chickens and watch "the chase" - Hilarious! If you keep any unfed ones in the fridge, they will keep a long time if kept moist.

ETA: Oops! I didn't know about that (above)

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Chickens are going to get roundworms anyway, why worry about it. If you have a worm supply feed it to them.

 

[Chicken0Boy]

I guess I could throw maybe a few in a pen fukll of 30 chickens. Ill have to think about it though.

 

[Organics North]

Well,
Farm Boy logic tells me that if redworms/earthworms are feeding on chicken poo their is a slight chance of parasites such as round worm and gape worm. HOWEVER, I feel if the redworms/earthworms have not been associated or feeding on the droppings of chickens. The chance is very very slim.

SO, I raise worms and feed worms to my chickens on occasion, I do feed chicken poo to my worms. My birds free range, if they find a worm in the woods I do not worry about it.

I personally question the few studies out there. Most of these studies are done in massive factory farm type settings with huge flocks and all...

Just my opinion...

ON

 

[Pet Duck Boy]

I don't feed worms to my chickens intentionally, but they get plenty of earthworms outside. Just to be safe from parasites, I make sure not too give them anymore worms than they find outside.