If you have chickens or hens in your backyard and love raising them, you will have to consider feeding them. You can have a healthy flock, but they must be fed right. And what happens if they are fed wrong? Feeding them wrong can lead to feather picking, deformed eggs, decreased egg production, etc. Some individuals feed larvae and other insects, whereas others feed grubs or grub worms. You can find “Made in USA” grubs or American grubs that ensure quality at a reasonable price for a healthy chicken. And yes, you can feed grubs made for your chicken from America. But what are grub worms? How often must you feed them? What are the benefits? Here is everything you have to know about feeding grub worms to chickens.
What are grub worms?
Grub worms or grubs are the scarab beetle’s larvae form and are primarily found in several gardens and lawns of North America. They multiply and thrive in Florida due to the humid temperate conditions. In a nutshell, grubs can’t endure harsh winter conditions. They feed on thatch and roots of turfgrass in the soil damaging gardens or lawns. They consist of six little legs near the body’s head. Many grub worms species can stay in their larval stage for two to three months. Fewer species live as grub worms before transforming into beetle for a year.
Why are grub worms beneficial for chickens?
Grub worms are a rich source of fats and proteins. In addition, they are an excellent source of minerals and calcium. Since chickens enjoy eating them, it is a win-win situation for you. You can confine them in a tractor to feed, or a backyard is sufficient enough. You can feed them in a location where they can eat properly and move around. The California Department of Food and Agriculture states that grubs are an excellent source of calcium and proteins for chickens. It also helps improve the eggshells of hens. Well, eggshells are created from calcium carbonate, which is deposited onto them after the hen utilizes it from the body. When the hen lays eggs, the calcium will be utilized for the eggshell. Hence, she needs a lot of calcium to lay more eggs. If she doesn’t have sufficient calcium in her body, she will start digging into the bones and use her own calcium. This process is called molt, and it can make the eggshells fragile and thin. Hence, it is crucial to give grubs to the hens to allow them to attain various forms of calcium and stop the molt.
How many grub worms must you feed the chicken?
Overfeeding is a big mistake made by many people. For instance, to make the chicken or hen happy, they give grub worms as a treat. And these hens or chickens consume the grubs in excess, which can impact their health. So, you can start by providing them with a generous amount at first. After a week or two, you can control the number of grubs you want your chicken to eat. You can feed them a cup of grubs but make sure that they don’t eat twice the amount or more. Overfeeding can lead to health issues like obesity. An overweight chicken will not live a healthy and long life. As a result, they won’t be able to lay as many eggs as possible.
How often must the chickens be fed?
You can feed them grubs once in the morning and in the evening. Hence, feeding the chickens or hens twice is an excellent choice.
Conclusion:
American grubs make the perfect meal for your chickens or hens. After all, most companies follow regulatory standards by the FDA, making it an excellent supplement for a healthy hen or chicken.