If you have chickens that are allowed to range freely, you've probably seen your flock gnawing on the soil and devouring insects like centipedes, snails, worms, and spiders. You might be thinking to yourself, "Can hens eat earthworms" when you see this.
Can Chickens Eat Earthworms?
Yes, Earthworms and red roundworms, which are best when young, are indeed Chicken's favorite eats. The cause of the birds' prolonged foraging in the field for these delectable goodies Since individuals who knew what would make them happy first tamed chickens thousands of years ago, this has been taking place.
What Are Earthworms?
One type of worm that is frequently found dwelling on land is the earthworm. These worms inhabit soil or compost piles and can be found both above and below ground. The glands that produce the mucus that keeps this animal from drying out make it special.
Because they aid in the mixing, aeration, and recycling of organic matter in the soil as well as by feeding on it through composting, earthworms are crucial to the environment.
Is It Good For Chickens to Eat Earthworms?
When they are digging and scratching around the earth in search of food or playing with each other, are they safe from exposure to worms there?
Can a Chicken Eat a Whole Earthworm?
A chicken technically has the option of eating an unlimited number of earthworms. However, before you let your hens go in the backyard after dark, there are several crucial things to keep in mind!
How to Feed Earthworms to Chickens
First of all, since chickens lack teeth, they won't be able to bite off sections of an earthworm. Instead, they would swallow the whole thing or tear it apart with their feet and peck at the fragments until they are broken up enough for the chicken's gizzard, a part of its stomach, to digest.
What Are Earthworms Health Benefits As Feed?
Chickens benefit from the high protein, mineral, and fat content of earthworms.
Some feeding trials were conducted with chickens from 1 day old to 8 weeks of age to evaluate the nutritional value of earthworms. The trial made 2 useful findings.
To assess the nutritional value of earthworms, some feeding experiments were carried out on hens ranging in age from 1 day to 8 weeks. The trial produced 2 insightful results.
- There was no discernible difference in the growth rate of hens fed maize or a protein-free diet supplemented with earthworms and vitamins compared to control birds fed a complete grower diet (150 g protein/kg). This indicates that a proper commercial diet was not significantly affected by the diet of earthworms.
- It was discovered that the amino acid makeup of earthworms and the requirements of hens were pretty similar. This indicates that earthworms make wonderful chicken feed.
Can Young Birds And Chicks Eat Earthworms?
Yes, from their first day, chicks can consume worms. Mother chickens will teach their young how to find worms and insects.
Just keep in mind to regularly worm your flock, including the young. Young birds may take some time to start eating certain items since they are naturally leery of them.
How Many Worms Can A Chicken Consume In A Day?
They fed roughly 50 earthworm equivalents per day during the trial I outlined above. That indicates that an adult chicken would receive 50 worms each day, but because the research began with chicks, they received fewer.
A wide variety of foods is the best course of action if you want the greatest meat and eggs from your fowl.
Depending on their size, each bird would require between 50 and 150 worms per day, every day, to provide them with an adequate amount of protein on a worm-only diet.
A free-range chicken would do well to peck around and discover 10 worms each day. If you have hens and a compost pile, you already know that your flock will swiftly sift through it and consume any insects they come across.
Can You Give Earthworms And Other Worms To Chickens?
Additionally, chickens eat many sorts of slugs, insects, and earthworms. Finally, they must consume a small amount of grit, such as sand and/or coarse dirt. They maintain it in their gizzards to aid in the grinding of the foraged wild meals. A rooster occasionally catches a mouse and feeds it to his hens.
It is a great idea to feed poultry soil and red worms. However, mealworms are a different matter.
Red Wiggler worms make excellent composting worms but can also be used to make nutrient- and protein-rich animal feed (i.e., chicken feed).
Can Nightcrawlers Eat by Chickens?
Chickens can indeed eat nightcrawlers.
Earthworms that dwell in the wild are referred to as nightcrawlers, dew worms, or angle worms When it rains or there is moisture above ground, they emerge from underground at temperatures between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. They are not used as fishing bait. and they go to the top, where they will be at ground level and have the option of eating or exploring.
Mealworms: Can Chickens Eat Them?
Although mealworms can offer nutrition, can birds consume them?
Yes, if the birds have access to a contained area where they can scavenge for insects on the ground. The chickens will ultimately make their way into the feed trough and consume the worms.
For them to grow quickly, chickens need a diet high in calcium and protein. Red wigglers are a form of composting worm that can also be used as animal food, although not being as well recognized. They are a good source of protein and critical nutrients for your garden.
Although cleaning up after meals may seem unpleasant at first, there is no doubting the beneficial effects this practice has on our environment. Additionally, because these animals enjoy eating anything, including leaves and paper, they also create excellent organic fertilizers.
Last Word
Now, chickens are omnivores and will eat just about anything they can find, including worms and other bugs. Do not give them worms if you are concerned that, they may contract a gapeworm. Let them eat everything they find in the mud.
However, most chickens would never consume enough worms to get parasites like gapeworm. To ensure that your flock doesn't overeat, you may always keep an eye on them.
Worms are a rich source of minerals and nutrients that will help your flock.
