Worms and other wrigglers!

[Wormhunter]

Hi, we have 7 larger breed chickens which joined us about 6 weeks ago
The girls are free range in our garden when we are there but also have a pen for when we’re not watching them
Just a question really, despite lots of digging we cannot find any earthworms up to at least a 12-18 inch down
There have been worms but they’ve quickly been gobbled up
We have lawn, flower beds a woodland area and a grassy hill area do space for them,, I worry they are not getting any protein in their diet, should I buy live worms or set up a workers to supplement my deprived girls diet?

 

[nchls school]

Hi, we have 7 larger breed chickens which joined us about 6 weeks ago
The girls are free range in our garden when we are there but also have a pen for when we’re not watching them
Just a question really, despite lots of digging we cannot find any earthworms up to at least a 12-18 inch down
There have been worms but they’ve quickly been gobbled up
We have lawn, flower beds a woodland area and a grassy hill area do space for them,, I worry they are not getting any protein in their diet, should I buy live worms or set up a workers to supplement my deprived girls diet?

Chickens eat many kinds of insects and I doubt you have a shortage of them. If you feed chicken mash there's protein in that too. Free range get a lot of protein foraging.

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

Mealworms are a better source of protein than earthworms, and don’t carry worms like they do. If you are feeding them a complete diet that meets all of their needs I wouldn’t be worried about it.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

A compost pile at the edge of that woody area will attract lots of worms.

 

[3KillerBs]

The regular feed you give them should be providing the majority of their protein.

Foraging should be considered a supplement rather than a complete diet.