Springwatch/Autumnwatch prog

[Tringa]

Anyone see this last night?

If so, I'd like views on the comment on the programme about not soaking dried mealworms.

Apart from Kate and Chris saying you would end up with a mealworm icicle in the recent weather, which seemed to misunderstand the idea of soaking, if anyone has used dried mealworms what is your experience?

I tried dried mealworms quite a few times without soaking them and the birds ignored them. Then I heard Bill Oddie mention on another programme that they should be soaked first.

I tried some more and soaked them first and it worked - all were eaten very quickly.

What do others find?

Dave

[tameblackbirds]

Soaked, dried or live the birds eat every one in my garden

[toadpole]

the same here all my birds love them dried and i do crumble a few up as they are soo big .. ...sadly the birds have to share them with my cat Chester who hears the mealworm pot and comes running to get his daily portion ...and we have recently adopted a winter white hamster and he has 2 mealworms daily as well ...so they must taste good ! i really think some birds are just fussy Marion

[counterlady]

I did soak them at first but then just put them out dry in the end and they have always been the first to go - I dont think its harmful probably just easier for them to digest!!!!

[LRM]

I almost always soak mealworms first, I soak them in hot water as they soften up faster and then cool them down in cold water and strain before handing them out. Also I break some up first before soaking, as some are too big for the robin and sparrows and they struggle to break them in half. The blackbirds happily take any size. (It takes longer to break them after soaking, though they are less likely to crumble to dust).

I threw some stale ones out to the rooks dry who didn't seem interested but the seagulls ate them all.

[pressld2]

I've tried soaking them but they never seem to absorb any water. They just float on the top and even after two days they're stil as crisp as they always were.

I put them out dry and the blackbirds, robins and dunnocks are on them like a shot.

Dave P.

[Madmills]

Yes, i too never got them to absorb water.
I've offered them dried and no-one takes them.

[Harold Smith]

Never had any problem with dried mealworms. They always go very quickly. Its mostly the Blackbirds and Starlings that eat them in my garden. The Wrens, Robins and Dunnocks also tuck in especially if I toss a few handfuls under the shrubbery by the fence. The Great Tits and Blue Tits have their fill but do not seem as keen on them as the other birds. If the Jackdaws or Magpies are about then the other do not get a look in.

Harold.