earthworms eradication

[blondekatedog]

what is the best way to eradicate earthworms from your flypens?

[CharlieHorse]

Turn some birds loose in there?     :mrgreen:

[magnumhntr]

According to my local ag extension, and Michigan State University, heavy doses of salt will drive the worms out of the area. But it's alot of salt, like 50lbs per 100 sq/ft . Do you have a problem with gapeworm, or some parasite that is piggybacking in on the earthworms?

Chris

[blondekatedog]

no, I am new to the quail business and a quail producer told me that earthworms carried blackhead. Was I misinformed?

[magnumhntr]

I'm not sure about the blackhead, but part of the life cycle of gapeworm is through the earthworm. And trust me, once your birds get gapeworm, it is there for the long haul. Your best bet is to put them on wire and be done with it. There are so many diseases that quail can get, and %99 of them come from the ground.
Chris

[CalebK273]

You could even put gravel in your pen to keep the birds from eating any worms.  4-6 inches of gravel should work.  I suggest pete gravel (don't know if that's spelled right) since it is small and would keep worms from digging up into your pen.

Hope it helps,

Caleb K.

[CharlieHorse]

You could even put gravel in your pen to keep the birds from eating any worms.  4-6 inches of gravel should work.  I suggest pete gravel (don't know if that's spelled right) since it is small and would keep worms from digging up into your pen.

Hope it helps,

Caleb K.

Good Idea!

[Reeves]

That would be pea gravel. No problems with Quail. But how would you clean the pen ?
With some Pheasants, pea gravel is not recommended, as they may choke on it.

[CalebK273]

Definately don't use with pheasants because they regularly pick through rocks and small gravel pieces.  I can see that they might choke on them.  With the pea gravel, you could put it down then just cover it with hay.  I would have to see your pen set up to tell you the correct way to keep from having earthworms, but I was just making suggestions.

[Pheasant Hollow Farm]

That would be pea gravel. No problems with Quail. But how would you clean the pen ?
With some Pheasants, pea gravel is not recommended, as they may choke on it.

Reeves is correct on this. Not so much as the pheasant choking, but the amount of waste that the pheasants generate.

Adding hay or straw on top of the gravel will only retain the moisture no matter how sufficient your drainage is, and turn the pen into mud after a heavy rain. If the base is clay, you would need a significant slope just for the water drainage.

The only suggestion I can say is either till the ground once a month and lime, or put down a woven black polypropylene barrier and cover it with sand and rake the pen once a week to remove the waste.

Steve
Pheasant Hollow Farm