type of worms for compost and chickens

[TexasLea]

Awesome bargain price on the mealies! I bet you have a flock of happy chickens today!

The worms don't need the newspaper in there, just the oatmeal as a bedding. Over time they will eat it down and it will eventually turn to a sandy dust. That's when you have to sift them out and put them in some fresh oatmeal. I usually just slice a potato in half and put it in there. I check the potato daily. It usually forms a dry scab on the top where it is cut so I sorta bend it around a little to crack the scab back open for the worms. I find if I use apples or any sort of greens I end up with fruit flies. I usally just stick to potatoes for that reason.

 

[galanie]

I put them all into one bin too. I do put in newspaper, but mainly because it makes things easier when it comes to taking out just worms. They congregate in the newspaper layers and I can just scoop out a bunch of worms that way.

Good luck!

 

[HEChicken]

It sounds like what you are looking for are black soldier fly larvae - they are better at composting than any kind of worm, including red wigglers, (you can even add things to the compost pile - like meat - that you can't typically add, because the BSL will process it all). And, they are a GREAT source of protein for chickens - every bit as good as mealworms. Although they are a type of fly, they are not a pest the way house flies and black flies are - the adults won't cause any issues at all.

 

[tallgrass]

I've been reading about worm composting. Night crawlers and the earth worms we find on pavement after a rain are not recommended by any site I've read. That said, I have no experience with this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermicompost#Suitable_species

I totally disagree. Chickens can eat almost anything and worms for sure. Like in the Old Timers Forum on chickens. Just throw it to them and get back. They are CHICKENS not pets.

 

[SunnyAlberta]

I totally disagree. Chickens can eat almost anything and worms for sure. Like in the Old Timers Forum on chickens. Just throw it to them and get back. They are CHICKENS not pets.

Tallgrass, I think you misunderstood my post. What I said was that earthworms are not recommended for composting.

My chickens are my pets.

 

[real_redhead]

It might have been said above and I missed it but what are the best worms to feed to the chickens and use in a compost bin? I have been wanting to do worms but didn't want a big start up cost. Thinking this will be a good project for my kids and maybe my cub scout den.

 

[LaPetiteFarmer]

So today I finally put my 2000 red worms in the worm factory with some food, newspaper... they seem very happy so far. I will use those mainly for composting but I believe my chickens will love them as well. My other mealworms are a hit though. The chicks are loving me now lol!!! The only thing different I will do next time is not putting them in a oatmeal bedding because they are much more difficult to grab than a more grinded cereal.... live and learn I guess.
A have another question.... how much is too much? We really enjoy giving them worms and we give them a several mealworms at least 3 times a day.... Is that too much?

 

[tallgrass]

Tallgrass, I think you misunderstood my post. What I said was that earthworms are not recommended for composting.

My chickens are my pets.

Sorry about that. I guess they are pets if you want them to be.

 

[midwestchickenwrangler]

It might have been said above and I missed it but what are the best worms to feed to the chickens and use in a compost bin? I have been wanting to do worms but didn't want a big start up cost. Thinking this will be a good project for my kids and maybe my cub scout den.

I think any worm would be fine to feed the chickens. As far as what worm will do best for composting, I have heard that red wigglers are better than night crawlers. I think its more of a personal preference to what you are looking for. I went with the european night crawlers because they are bigger than the red wigglers. They still compost just fine. I think I paid $30 for 1 pound of ENCs. That got me about 300-400 worms to get started.

 

[galanie]

So today I finally put my 2000 red worms in the worm factory with some food, newspaper... they seem very happy so far. I will use those mainly for composting but I believe my chickens will love them as well. My other mealworms are a hit though. The chicks are loving me now lol!!! The only thing different I will do next time is not putting them in a oatmeal bedding because they are much more difficult to grab than a more grinded cereal.... live and learn I guess.
A have another question.... how much is too much? We really enjoy giving them worms and we give them a several mealworms at least 3 times a day.... Is that too much?  

Too much is when you give them so many you dont' have any left. hehe. I don't think there is a "too much" unless they stop eating food and only want worms. And boy would you have to have a lot for that to happen.