Dried Mealworms

Cheryl · #1 (**permalink**) 03-05-2010, 06:25 PM

I regularly put out dried mealworms; the Starlings are really hogging them at the moment - sifting through the ground feeder just to get to them, then flying off with beakfulls to hopefully baby starlings

I've got some live mealworms on order but I was wondering whether there was any benefit to the birds if I were to soak dried mealworm?

LRM · #2 (**permalink**) 03-05-2010, 07:56 PM

I always soak the dried mealworms first. Soak them in warm - hot water to soften them up quickly and then rinse in cold water. I read somewhere that it is better to soak them. I think they prefer them wet and it is better for the babies - soft and moist. The Robins and Blackbirds love them. I break the big ones in half for the Robins as they try to break the big ones and flick them around. The Blackbird tries to pick up 12 at a time and then keeps dropping them and starting again.

Last year a sparrow was also taking some but the other sparrows ignored them.

RKB · #3 (**permalink**) 03-05-2010, 09:31 PM

Yes, do not feed dried mealworms as the young rely on moisture from insect food to keep hydrated (it's the only drink they get). Soak them, but this might leach out nutrients, so I'd suggest not feeding them at all. They're better off with natural food or live mealworms.

An economical option is to buy mini mealworms, rather than the full-sized. You get many more for your money, and if you put a carrot in with them and keep them at room temperature then they quickly grow - hey presto, many more large mealworms after about a week. To stop them growing as fast (and pupating), keep them in the fridge. I get them from livefood.co.uk