Do Chickens Eat Worms

There was a time when chicken farming was just an idea that I had floating in mind. As the years go by, I am glad that I took the time to learn about chicken farming. My research was mostly about what chickens love to eat. 

Also, I tried to find out how they prefer to have their favorite meal. I hope to help curious people navigate through their questions about a chicken’s diet. 

Chickens Live For Worms

According to chicken farming experts, a chicken will eat almost anything. At least that is the way it was a while back when they could feed on meat. Apart from standard chicken meals, I have started them on a worm diet. 

I had difficulty deciding what I should feed them, but chicken experts everywhere explain that worms are a favorite for chicken. Their feeding habit where they are always scratching and pecking for insects and earthworms outside also confirms my discovery.

Worms provide chicken with nutrients, primarily protein and trace minerals such as iron, copper, manganese, zinc, and calcium. According to the Washington Post, feeding them protein-based food such as worms will help me keep them free of diseases. Also, enough protein in their diet suppresses the urge to feed on each other.  Survival instincts in chickens must be quite strict. I enjoy feeding worms to my chickens. Just like us, they get excited at the sight of their favorite snacks.

I love worm meals for my chickens because I can let them roam free occasionally and feed themselves. I do not have to purchase a meal. We all know how expensive animal feed can be to continue allowing them and how fast they can run through a bag of bird feed. Chicken can be picky, but I hope to feed them worms longer before they start turning them into play toys. 

What Kind Of Worms Do Chickens Prefer?

Earthworms are a fun worm meal for chicken, mostly when they go foraging for themselves. It is a usual occurrence to see a chicken playing with a worm by flipping it around. I believe that the chicken finds earthworms naturally delicious as much as we find chicken delicious. Chickens do not know anything about why some worms are better for them than others is. Therefore, it is up to me to decide.

As much as earthworms make a fun meal, they are also risky.  Therefore, I am always watchful about where I let my chicken feed. I prefer mealworms. Mealworm is carefully prepared and measured to ensure that they have the right amount of nutrients that my chickens are healthy.  To add to this, experts seem to believe that mealworms are delicious. It is like seasoned human food, but for chickens. 

In conclusion, I think that chickens prefer both types of worm meal. It also does not matter if the meal is a dry one or a new hunt; if the chickens like it, there is no changing the facts. However, they do prefer one type of worm meal to the other.  It is merely baffling how similar chickens’ behavior is identical to that of humans.

Amount of Worms to Feed Chicken

I have researched how many worms or how many mealworms I can feed my chicken. I found out that I can give them as many as I want. Chickens have self-control and can stop eating as soon as they feel satisfied. Although somewhat astonishing, their choosy behavior will serve me, especially when I decide to get them seasoned worm meal. 

After consultations, I found out that if I want my chicken to eat more worms, I will control their eating habits. That means that I will have to deny them other food types so that worms’ consumption level goes up. It is all about getting my math right.

One thing that bothers me is that the worms they do not feed on start rotting in the coops. Perhaps I will put them on a diet of 50- 100 worms a day.  I reasoned that it is best to ensure that I get the best products out of my chicken without overfeeding them.

Steps To Take When Feeding Your Chicken Worms

 It is easy to feed chickens. Feeding them becomes more straightforward in the rainy season when the earthworms come to the ground’s surface or nearer there. At that time, I take advantage of the state of things, and I let my chickens roam free. I often do not worry about my chickens overfeeding since they can stop eating when they get full. Who knew chicken could be that intuitive?

 Sometimes I am uncomfortable with letting my chickens go out, especially when it is cold. I handpick the worms and take them to my chickens. I cannot count how many times I have spotted my chickens waiting by the fence when they spot me with a bucket full of their favorite meal. Sometimes it is almost as if they smile at me.

I have entertained the idea of creating my homemade mealworm for my chickens. The process is relatively easy, and all I have to do is crush some specific kind of worm, and voila, it’s a feast. I cannot wait to add the worms to my chickens’ food the next time they refuse to have a particular food.

Benefits of Feeding Chicken Worms

Here is ore information on what I found out about the benefits of feeding your worms to your chicken

• The chickens will help air the bedding

Scattering worms on the chicken bedding awards pass time activity of playing around while chasing the worms. They peck and scratch into the bedding, which then mixes it up. They are excited to dig their beaks deep into a litter system to get the worms from their hiding spots. I know that scattering worms for my chicken will save me a lot of work too.

• Improve the Chickens Health

Having worms as part of the chickens’ diet adds essential protein nutrients to them. They have good nutrition, which means that they are safe from diseases. Also, protein is necessary for giving the feathers a shiny appearance.

• Creates Healthy Eggs

Eggs have high protein content. There is no better source of protein for chicken than worms, their favorite snack. The kind of food that a chicken consumes determines protein levels in an egg. The healthier the meal, the more likely, that they will lay equally healthy eggs.

• Good for Feather Formation

The molting season for chicken happens during the autumn and spring seasons. This time is one of the most vulnerable moments in the life of most chickens. Suppose the chickens have enough protein, their feathers back in no time. This process compromises their immune systems, so having enough proteins is also a plus value.

• Lasts Between Feeds

Giving enough mealworms to chickens means that they can stay satisfied and nourished for a long time. I can, therefore, go for a long time without having to feed them again. Ten worms are enough for a full-grown chicken. That number may sound a few, but I would not go overboard with the number of worms.

Risk Presented by a Worm Diet

One thing that I am careful about is the type of worms I feed to chicken. Worms can sometimes do more harm than good, especially the variety that has parasites. One species of worms that has this quality is the Gapeworm. If any of my chicken ever accidentally consumes a Gapeworm, I will know the signs present once this happens. Perhaps I should list them for anyone who might share my passion. They are:

• Respiratory issues
• Gasping
• Yawning
• Coughing 
• Choking

Once in the chicken body, they go to the trachea and block, causing the chicken to suffocate. I think that is the worst thing that could happen to a chicken. Gapeworms parasites reside in earthworms and will relentlessly infect chicken. 

As much as their effects are a sore sight, they are also rare. To ensure that I eliminate the chance of the parasites infecting my chickens, I prefer free-ranging worms and carefully prepared worm-treats. I select my treat from specific sellers as well. I make a point to examine my chicken regularly to spot any issues with their health. It is better to prevent a sick chicken from infecting healthy ones.

 Where to get Worms for Chickens

 Whoever came up with the idea of selling worm meals on the internet did everyone a great favor. Sometimes I find my chickens hungry and demanding a fast meal. When I know I will go out, it gives me great satisfaction to know that I request chicken food by dialing when I come back home tired.

Sometimes when I am out and about on my business, I decide to go into veterinary stalls where I receive guidance about how I can keep alternating between the kind of worms I feed my chicken. I have worm treats for my chickens.

As I mentioned earlier, I let my chickens roam free once in a while, especially during the rainy season when worms resurface. I often find that I do very little work with this method to ensure that my chickens are well fed. We could say that they are my little helpers sometimes. 

When they cannot hunt for themselves, I go into the fields with a bucket and a spade to collect the worms. It gives me great joy to know that I am doing what is best for my chickens. Plus, I get the chance to look for the softest young worms so that my chickens have an easy time swallowing and digesting them. The rewards are worth it.

Read More about Different Types of Chicken Breeds

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