SECTIONS   LOGIN

How to make mealworms as

chicken feed
Livestock 
By Jennifer Anyango | Mar     
09, 2022

Mealworms are a healthy, nutritious snack full of protein

that help hens lay a lot of eggs.

For Joy Waylen, raising worms as chicken feed has

become quite easy and very rewarding. She says
mealworm combined with sukuma and green vegetables
produce yellow-yolked eggs and kienyeji tasting chickens.

Waylen has a five-acre organic farm in one of the Nairobi

suburbs – Karen. She uses organic ways to maintain her
farm, she grows food, keeps bees, chicken and a few
To personalise content, tailor ads and provide best user experience, we use cookies. By using our
exotic birds.
site, you agree to use our cookies. Privacy Policy Accept & Continue
 . Keep Reading

 How to successfully farm broiler chicken PREMIUM

 Six tips to make profit from poultry farming

 Vaccination's vital role in poultry farming success

 Want to rear 1,000 birds? This is what you will need PREMIUM

She has been raising worms for her chicken since the
time they started the farm with her parents and uncles.

“The advantages of raising worms do not end with just

feeding your chickens. Besides helping to cut down on
your feed costs, worms are incredibly proficient at
reducing your kitchen waste to compost,” said Waylen.

The compost, called worm castings or vermicompost, is

an excellent source of fertilizer for the garden or potted
plants.

Waylen says it is rich in humic acids that help condition

the soil and contains more nitrogen, more phosphorus
and potassium than ordinary soil, nutrients essential for
healthy plant growth.

Nutritional Benefits of Mealworms for Chickens

Mealworms are very good for your chicken, in

moderation, of course.

To personalise content, tailor ads and provide best user experience, we use cookies. By using our
site, you agree to use our cookies. Privacy Policy
 Chickens need protein, and more of it when they are sick,
growing, molting, or laying eggs. Mealworms and black
soldier fly larva pack a protein punch for chickens who
need it.

Stressed-out chickens (due to moving, molting, or the

addition of a new flockmate) need a little extra protein to
get through the low points and emerge on the other side,
happy and healthy.

What is needed

All that one needs to raise worms is a container to hold

them, food scraps and some kind of bedding.

The bedding can be shredded newspaper, composted

manure, fallen leaves, or just about any organic,
compostable material.

“Avoid using highly acidic leaves such as the Oak, they are
not liked much. I also avoid using white paper because of
To personalise content,
the bleach used intailor ads and provide
its production, best papers
or colored user experience, we use cookies. By using our
site, you agree the
because to use our
inks cookies.
and Privacy
dyes may harmPolicy
the worms,” said
Waylen.
 Prepare your container

Thoroughly clean and dry your container.

Use large plastic bins with a lid for the container. Drill an
eighth to a quarter holes in the bottom of the container
for drainage and several holes in the sides and top for
ventilation. Choose a size according to how much waste
you have. It is very easy to add bins in the future if you
find that it is necessary.

You can catch the drainage water by placing the worm

bin inside a second bin which has no holes in it. The
water that collects should be disposed of periodically.

Add worms

Add worms and food scraps and let them go to work. Red
wigglers, eisenia fetida, are best for composting.

“You can usually find red wigglers at a local nursery or

they can be bought online. The composting,” said Waylen.

Feed Them and Let Them Grow

You now just need to keep your mealworms fed and let
them grow and multiply. You can feed them as much as
you like, remember: more food means the more they
multiply.

Waylen noted that it is possible to buy mealworm farm

kits online, but it is much cheaper and more fun to make
your own.

This is also an excellent project for the kids – it is easy, . Latest Stories
does not require any high maintenance, and is not labor-
intensive. It is also a natural, self-replicating food source
for your flock.

. Keep Reading
To personalise content, tailor ads and provide best user experience, we use cookies. By using our
site, you Poultrytofarming
agree use ourfullcookies.
guide for beginners
Privacy- The FarmGuide Sn1 E2
Policy How to grow lemons -
Guide
 Poultry farming full guide for beginners - The FarmGuide Sn1 E2
Crop
 Jan. 19,
 Poultry farming full guide for beginners - The FarmGuide Sn1 E2 By Jennifer Anyango 2024

How wheat, rice and

maize are driving Kenya
Want to get latest farming tips and videos?
on the path to a green
Join Us
revolution
Crop
S H A R E T H I S A R T I C L E O N Jan. 15,
By Ayoki Onyango
S O C I A L
2024

      PREMIUM

How to successfully farm

broiler chicken
Livestock
. Trending Now By Dr Watson Messo
Jan. 15,
2024

 Tapping the benefits of moringa farming Pigeon pea farming as a

sweet money maker
 How to turn kitchen waste into rich manure
Crop
Jan. 11,
By Jennifer Anyango
2024

Related Topics PREMIUM

Mealworms;poultry farming;Chicken feeds Vihiga abuzz with

beekeeping success
Livestock
Jan. 11,
. Similar Articles By Alexander Chagema
2024

. Recommended Articles

PREMIUM By Dr Watson Jan. 07, By Standard Jan. 07,

By Jackline Jan. 08, Messo 2024 Digital 2024 By Nathan Dec. 29,
2024 Ochunge 2023
Inyanji
New Year selling Bayer Calls on
Farmers embrace How Climate-
tips for your Stakeholders to
permaculture smart forage
poultry farm Debunk GM Food
farming to grasses turned
to Farmers as
increase food around milk
Climate
To personalise content, tailor ads and provide best user Changewe use cookies. By using our
experience,
production yields for
Bites
site, you agree to use our cookies. Privacy Policy smallholder
 farmers in
Western Kenya

. Digger Classified
DIGGER MOTORS DIGGER REAL ESTATE DIGGER JOBS

GET OUR NEWSLETTER CONNECT WITH US

Subscribe to our newsletter and
stay updated on the latest
developments and special
offers!
FOR THE LATEST JOB ADVERT
Enter your email SUBMIT
join @standardjobs telegram channel

©2024 The Standard Group PLC. All rights reserved.

To personalise content, tailor ads and provide best user experience, we use cookies. By using our
site, you agree to use our cookies. Privacy Policy