Worm Beeotch
Digging For Worms…
I think the expectation that I dig up the dirt daily for worm snacks began the day that I actually did it. Several days ago, I was observing how ineffective their little hen claws were, just barely scratching the surface of the ground to get what? A gnat or two? I decided to get out my hand tool and dig the dirt up a bit to show them where the worms were. I figured that they would get the idea and they would claw a bit deeper. Instead my hens — primarily Pepita and Esther (as shown above, respectively) stood by my claw tool waiting for the next chunk of dirt to go flying out, so they could pick out the worms without much effort at all. They have absolutely no fear of the hand claw tool, and I have to be very careful not to accidentally whack their little heads! What they actually prefer I do, is to dig up the dirt, pull out the worms, and feed them by hand… like feeding grapes to a lover….no kidding.
A day or so ago, I bought some live nightcrawlers to feed them. It’s basically just the same type of worm that one would find in the garden dirt. $3.95 for 12 large live worms. I bought 2 packets. The hens liked them OK, but for some reason, they really show more interest in the worms I dig out for them.
Today, I wasn’t planning on digging up any worms. I was rather busy and so the girls didn’t have much of my attention at all. When I went in the yard to get something, Pepita ran up to me and cackled “Where have you been? You are sooo late — are you gonna dig us up some worms today?” Oh my. I didn’t have the heart to say no to her, so I stopped whatever I was doing, and for about 45 minutes, I dug up worms for all 5 of the hens — hand feeding most of them.
What have I started? And is it sustainable? I thought hens were supposed to be “low maintenance” but I’m not really getting that impression at all…
Lol. My chickens are similar. We started turning dirt over with a shovel, and they jump on top of the shovel before we even have the dirt turned over!
Are those Barred Rocks? I have one that is similar, but she is a Dominique. She has a ‘rose comb’…different to yours.
Yes, they are all Barred Rocks. Isn’t it funny how they get so excited about us turning over the dirt? The people I got them from (a town or two over) said that I received all hens. No I did not. Helen of Troy and Ruby Redhead are definitely roosters!! So, I have 3 layers…which is just fine.
I guess it doesn’t take much in the chicken world to give a little excitement. 😉
Well, I’m not sure of your situation because I haven’t been able to look around yet as much as I’d like, but it seems like you have the space that you could raise some chicks since you have roosters. 🙂 (If you wanted to).
They don’t allow roosters in my neighborhood, but I don’t think I’d want them because they are so noisy. I’ve heard they can be mean, too. Hopefully yours are nice. They sure are pretty.
I do have roosters, but the actual night-time coop is rather small. I could expand it to hold more than 5 chickens, if I decide this is something I’d like to do on a more permanent basis. It’s alot more work and more money than I anticipated!! LOL!!