How and When to Feed Mealworms

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ธ.ค. 2024

ความคิดเห็น • 93

  • @notesfromleisa-land
    @notesfromleisa-land ปีที่แล้ว +7

    I have fed live mealworms for the last 5 years. I'm tired of tending to my live meal worms. I just recently bought some dried mealworms. (My SIL has used dried mealworms exclusively). Today, for the first time, I am feeding dried.
    When I opened the bag of dried meal worms, I was unprepared to have such a lovely roasted aroma. They really did smell good enough to eat. My backyard birds (all are feeding fledglings now) are used to the wiggly. I put the dried out there: they are trying to figure it out. But the Wren Family Robinson (that's what I lovingly call my Carolina Wren family) didn't miss a beat). The parents clearly knew it was different, but they are desperate to feed their screaming meemies (begging fledglings!).
    Suet and mealworms keep Bluebirds and Wrens alive during the winter as neither are seed eaters. But most birds enjoy meal worms. Once they are trained to your noises (door opening, whistle, clanking about), they will come directly!

    • @MarksBackyardBirds
      @MarksBackyardBirds  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      They do get n a feeding schedule easily as well. My birds know what time I fill my feeders each morning

    • @notesfromleisa-land
      @notesfromleisa-land ปีที่แล้ว

      @@MarksBackyardBirds I also sprinkle KAL bone meal (not fert) on my meal worms as they are calcium robbing to birds.

  • @joycepetrina2791
    @joycepetrina2791 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Thank you so much for this.
    I got dry and live worms and had no idea what was the right way to integrate dry worms and live worms.

  • @dstevenson9489
    @dstevenson9489 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    My little wrens love the mealworms...but not dried ones...so I soak my dried mealworms in hot water for about 20 min while I have my first cup of coffee...then again soak some in the afternoon for a second feeding time...

  • @valeriemccann2502
    @valeriemccann2502 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Fantastic video Thank You

  • @coollemonshark5601
    @coollemonshark5601 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    My family and I are taking care of a wild bird, (a youngling yellow-beak sparrow.) to recover, so i've been working my butt off to find what food they eat. When I found out they eat insects, or commercial food, i searched this up. This is very helpful for me to understand if live or dried are better. thank you!

  • @tanadarko6991
    @tanadarko6991 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Thanks for this! I've got suet out and black oil sunflower seeds but the latter is attracting rats. Do you have issues with rodents eating your mealworms as well?

  • @jennifermorris4473
    @jennifermorris4473 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    I had a Mama bluebird become a widow last year. She had six nearly grown babies. Worried for her, I bought them live mealworms. Now I grow them in my basement. It’s been a learning curve, but it’s gratifying to feed the bb’s. I also supplement with dry mealworms if the live ones are still growing and not ready. My question. I recently tossed oyster shell flour in with the dried worms as I’ve read they are very calcium poor. What are your thoughts on this?

    • @MarksBackyardBirds
      @MarksBackyardBirds  9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I don’t think it can hurt. They are out gathering lots of other things insects that are more likely to be calcium rich. They diversify their diets naturally.

  • @bluedaughter
    @bluedaughter ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I live in a very rural area in Texas and the for the last 2 weeks or so I've seen 2 roadrunners roaming about my front yard and I'd love to have them stay. I know roadrunners will eat snakes, mice, lizards, insects, fruit, and seeds but I highly doubt I'll be releasing bags of live mice or snakes in my front yard. One of the insects listed that they'll eat are Mealworms. If I rehydrate the Mealworms will that make them more appealing to not only the roadrunners but to all the birds? After I rehydrated the Mealworms they did look bigger, fatter, and juicier. I enjoyed this video, thank you for sharing.

    • @MarksBackyardBirds
      @MarksBackyardBirds  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I’m glad you like the video. Roadrunners are awesome birds. Good luck with keeping them around!

  • @rociomena3150
    @rociomena3150 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Thank you. I learned a lot. But how many drops of oil?😐. I just put today my first bird house hoping the blue birds make a nest. They come to my feeders so hopefully they make a nest.

    • @MarksBackyardBirds
      @MarksBackyardBirds  2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Flaming Squirrels recommends 3 tablespoons per 5 lbs and shake it up well (like Shake N' Bake). Good luck with the bluebirds!

  • @coolroy4300
    @coolroy4300 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Mostly I feed my bluebirds dry meal worms but I also give them meal worms heated in water with added healthy oils and bird vitamins especially when they're feeding their babies.
    They love the doctored up version.

    • @MarksBackyardBirds
      @MarksBackyardBirds  ปีที่แล้ว

      Rehydration can help with for sure. Thanks for sharing.

  • @pabloco091
    @pabloco091 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Do you have a link for those blue pan type feeders?

    • @MarksBackyardBirds
      @MarksBackyardBirds  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      shopbackyardbirdcenter.com/collections/mealworm-feeders should work. Thanks

  • @jkentsan
    @jkentsan ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thank you for the video. I just started feeding my Bluebirds dried meal worms and they began eating within a day or two. I use a circular glass dish and hang it on a Sheppard's hook. I intend to switch to live worms after eggs hatch. My question, though, is how many dried worms to feed per day? You said about 30 or 40 live. Is it the same for dried or fill the dish up?? Not sure.

    • @MarksBackyardBirds
      @MarksBackyardBirds  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      It truly can vary from bird to bird. They will eat pretty much all that you give them. Especially live mealworms. I do only give them 20 to 40 a day. Dried mealworms, I fill the dish a couple of times a day if I can. Starlings are my worst problem there.

  • @billwatkins1041
    @billwatkins1041 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Next spring we will definitely feed live mealworms to our blue birds

  • @6862211
    @6862211 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thank you!

  • @terrykraker382
    @terrykraker382 ปีที่แล้ว

    Mark, I have a blue bird nest in my box but nothing in the nest. Should I dispose of the nest or leave it alone?
    Thanks!!
    Terry in NC

    • @MarksBackyardBirds
      @MarksBackyardBirds  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I would clean it out. Bluebirds don’t reuse old nest.

    • @terrykraker382
      @terrykraker382 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@MarksBackyardBirds Thanks Mark and will do!!👍🏻😃

  • @nicolepeters9929
    @nicolepeters9929 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    When feeding live mealworms, I noticed there's different sizes. Would they eat Large or Giant??

    • @MarksBackyardBirds
      @MarksBackyardBirds  6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      It depends on the size of the bird. My target species are smaller birds like bluebirds so stick with the medium to large size.

  • @lorimiller4253
    @lorimiller4253 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I have so many baby meal worms in each container.i feed everyday.eating out house an home.why are they not getting bigger ? An how do u get them red ?

    • @MarksBackyardBirds
      @MarksBackyardBirds  9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I really sorry but I have no experience raising them.

  • @jamesmiller6186
    @jamesmiller6186 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I found a dead female on top of her nest which also contained her five live babies. No apparent physical damage so I am wondering what may have caused her death; and will the male continue to raise the young. We did have a period of unusual weather being very hot for a couple days followed by very windy and rainy.

    • @MarksBackyardBirds
      @MarksBackyardBirds  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      He may try though he is not as dedicated as she is. Hopefully

    • @jamesmiller6186
      @jamesmiller6186 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@MarksBackyardBirds Any idea as to what caused the death.

    • @MarksBackyardBirds
      @MarksBackyardBirds  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@jamesmiller6186 There really is no way to know. Birds die of natural causes every day. Dehydration is a common cause but I doubt that was the case here. She may have had a parasite infection or any number of possible issues.

    • @FrankBoston
      @FrankBoston ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Parasite infection will always be my first guess by the description of the death scene you gave. Knowing if a nest was previously in there would help, because they'd of had longer to establish. Still, they could establish on a new nest and wreak havoc. Housing bluebirds is quite bittersweet. A lot of bad comes with the good... Nature happens... You care, and that's cool. Best of luck. After 1 batch hatch and fledge, clean out the box, even rinse with bleach and water. Dry and put back up.

  • @annereynolds66
    @annereynolds66 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    All winter , the wrens went into the bluebird house feeder but the bluebirds finally fought on a couple weeks ago . Those wrens are sassy little things . Thanks for you videos Mark . I know you used to be in PA , any chance you will come back ? We just moved to DE on the border of PA .

    • @MarksBackyardBirds
      @MarksBackyardBirds  2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      We loved our time in PA and hope to get back there for a visit soon.

    • @KateBates22zabu
      @KateBates22zabu ปีที่แล้ว +1

      ​@@MarksBackyardBirdsI'm in S.W. PA and love your content August 28, 2023

    • @MarksBackyardBirds
      @MarksBackyardBirds  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thank you. Glad you like the channel

  • @IDrawToothpicks
    @IDrawToothpicks ปีที่แล้ว

    I thought birds couldn't have oils in their b ird food. Or are there exeptions

    • @MarksBackyardBirds
      @MarksBackyardBirds  ปีที่แล้ว

      I am not sure what you mean. Certain oils are bad for their feathers. I’m not aware of “food oils” being bad for them.

  • @robertmason4448
    @robertmason4448 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I make my own suet cakes and put dried mealworms in them.

  • @fordwayne3833
    @fordwayne3833 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hello, I found your channel today because I just rescued a juvenile mourning dove that had fallen in a parking lot. It appears to have dropped from the nest 1 week too early. I know they fly off 30 days after hatching. I know a lot about cats and dogs, but not birds. Called my vet, he was no help. Saw a video on how to feed it. Fed it some ground sesame mixed in water to a paste. It ate, but I hope it survives. Should I try oatmeal? Any advice would be really apreciated. I'm an engineer and animal enthusiast, studied lot of biology in college, but little experience with birds. Thanks.

    • @MarksBackyardBirds
      @MarksBackyardBirds  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      thanks for tuning in. I am not an expert in caring for orphaned wildlife. I do know that doves feed their young pigeon milk. I would recommend calling Lakeside Nature Center in Kansas City. They are the animal care experts in our area.

    • @fordwayne3833
      @fordwayne3833 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@MarksBackyardBirds Thanks for replying, unfortunately the bird died a couple hours after feeding.

    • @MarksBackyardBirds
      @MarksBackyardBirds  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@fordwayne3833 Sorry to hear that.

    • @fordwayne3833
      @fordwayne3833 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@MarksBackyardBirds I tried, better than leaving it with stray cats around.

  • @Joel-k2w
    @Joel-k2w 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I’ve had them out for a month and I live in Ohio. None have came and there dried mealworms, I need help.

    • @MarksBackyardBirds
      @MarksBackyardBirds  9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Are they in a feeder all by themselves or are the mixed in with seed? If they are by themselves, I would try stirring in a drop or two of olive oil. Do you regularly see bluebirds in your area?

    • @Joel-k2w
      @Joel-k2w 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@MarksBackyardBirds I do have eastern bluebirds and a lot of them they just don’t eat my mealworms

    • @MarksBackyardBirds
      @MarksBackyardBirds  9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@Joel-k2w wow! I would try some live ones (at least once) and see if you can't train them to eat the dried.

    • @Joel-k2w
      @Joel-k2w 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@MarksBackyardBirds one more question. I ordered shelled peanuts for a feeder I have that is wired and has like a 1 inch by 1 inch square for them to get the food out of. Is that to big or too small for birds to get the shelled peanuta

  • @yes350yes
    @yes350yes 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Ive tried to attract bluebirds to my mid-west yard although I live on a small lot and with no success , in fact ive never even seen a bluebird here, but there are lots of birds. I blame it on my location.

  • @combatduckie
    @combatduckie 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    i feed mine mealworms all year round, they re eating me POOR!!! 😭😭 i feed them 5-10 kgs. dried mealworms per month....

    • @MarksBackyardBirds
      @MarksBackyardBirds  2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      As much as you will put out, they will consume!

    • @crystalo3550
      @crystalo3550 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I feel you I'm trying to farm them specifically for my chickens and I just can't seem to figure it out

  • @carl5381
    @carl5381 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    i just mixed them with regular seed blend and over here in the UK, the magpies and Jackdaw love them! Not so much the woodpigeons, they're really picky about their food

    • @MarksBackyardBirds
      @MarksBackyardBirds  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      That is a perfectly good method to use. Glad your birds like them

  • @straightforward
    @straightforward 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thank you! I started feeding dry mealworms this winter, for the wren's. At first, I think they (and the starlings) liked the cat food better. They caught on, though. Also found out chipmunks know how to chow down on dry meal worms. lol Enjoyed all of them. Do you know if there's a suet bluebirds like? & is there a suet with meal worms? I suppose I could make my own. I've never seen a bluebird that goes to a feeder. I might have my robins figured out, though. They came back early this year and covered my neighbor's hawthorn. I'll be planting a few!

    • @MarksBackyardBirds
      @MarksBackyardBirds  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      There is a mealworm suet cake. shopbackyardbirdcenter.com/collections/no-melt-suet-cakes/products/birdwatchers-best-nevermelt-suet-insect-cake There are also suet nuggets that are great to mix in with the dried mealworms and sunflower kernels. shopbackyardbirdcenter.com/collections/specialty-suets

    • @annereynolds66
      @annereynolds66 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@MarksBackyardBirds you are right of course. I bought the suet nuggets with the hot pepper and they loved it this winter

    • @mattcarr2050
      @mattcarr2050 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      starlings are terrible and very bad for native species

    • @straightforward
      @straightforward 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@mattcarr2050 But, they are here...and they love my lawn. They do make a beautiful song when they want to. And a beautiful skyline in the fall. js

  • @JT-sl3ui
    @JT-sl3ui 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I found it much easier to never feed the live mealworms. Always give the dried and that’s what they immediately adjust to.

  • @coolroy4300
    @coolroy4300 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I've never met a bluebird that didn't like dried meal worms .

  • @julieackerson3111
    @julieackerson3111 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I have been contemplating feeding my Hooded Orioles mealworms here in San Diego CA. No bird took up the dried mealworms...so I would have to feed live. It’s just hard for me because I am vegan....although spoiler alert 🚨....my cat is NOT. He is not even a vegetarian. Just the live feeding makes things much more difficult for me. Anyhow....the days, months have gone by and me still not offering live mealworms. Would it be too late now in the season - mid summer to offer hooded Orioles mealworms. I feel like I see several juveniles already on my jelly feeder and heard Orioles only have one clutch per year. Mostly I wanted to offer mealworms during nesting...

    • @MarksBackyardBirds
      @MarksBackyardBirds  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I'm not sure of your exact timing but my guess is the young are pretty far along in their maturation cycle. If you feed them now, they may remember that dependable food source in the future!

    • @MegInWhispers
      @MegInWhispers 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      cats are obligate carnivores. i hope you are not trying to feed your cat a vegetarian diet. they require meat, ideally wet canned food (because it contains much more water and less additives than dry kibble, and cats need to ingest a large portion of thwir daily water intake via their food) to thrive.

  • @jefwisse1957
    @jefwisse1957 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    My biggest problem with feeding mealworms is rain. That's why I don't feed them in an open tray where they get soaked if its raining. I usually feed the mealworms in palntpots or just disperse them between the flower beds and in the grass. In the Netherlands we don't have bluebirds but we do have blue tits blackbirds, robins, wrens, sparrows, great tits, finches, tree creepers, woodpeckers thrushes, pigeons turtledoves and also starlings. All of these birds, except the finches, eat about 3 pounds of life mealworm a week. They know when it's feeding time and the appear as soon as they see me. If I don't show up in time the call me or they peck at the window. In the spring they eat the mealworms out of my hand and feed them to their offspring. If a leave the door open the blue tits fly into my garden shed where I keep the mealworms. I keep the mealworms alive by feeding them apple peels and rusks. In the summer time the wrongs fly up to me when I play their songs on the computer. The sit even on the computer and try to figure out where this other wrens are hiding, its so funny.

    • @MarksBackyardBirds
      @MarksBackyardBirds  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Wow. You definitely go through a lot of mealworms. We do t have nearly the issue with rain that you do. Thanks for sharing

    • @jefwisse1957
      @jefwisse1957 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@MarksBackyardBirds I don't think the birds agree, they think; why don't you feed us more mealworms dude. I've got more than 70 birds in my back garden and they can eat a formidable amount of food although they are small creatures.

    • @MarksBackyardBirds
      @MarksBackyardBirds  ปีที่แล้ว

      Eating like a bird just means you eat all the time!

    • @jefwisse1957
      @jefwisse1957 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@MarksBackyardBirds And they do 😂😂😂

  • @knoxtheox897
    @knoxtheox897 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    how do you deter starling from you mealworms?

    • @MarksBackyardBirds
      @MarksBackyardBirds  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      The feeder style I featured at the end of the video is the only way that I know of. Use their size against them.

    • @knoxtheox897
      @knoxtheox897 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@MarksBackyardBirds I would also like robins to come to

    • @MarksBackyardBirds
      @MarksBackyardBirds  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@knoxtheox897 That feeder would keep the robins out as well. Not sure of any method that would allow robins and not starlings.

    • @mattcarr2050
      @mattcarr2050 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      BB gun

  • @coolroy4300
    @coolroy4300 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    The closer you put your bluebird feeders to a window the easier it is to keep the unwanted birds away .
    Trust me mine are like no more than 2 feet away. No way can I afford to feed everyone especially Squirrels meal worms.

  • @joequillun7790
    @joequillun7790 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Dried meal worms @ the 8 min. mark. Of course the black birds will eat them too. How bout squirrels?

    • @MarksBackyardBirds
      @MarksBackyardBirds  ปีที่แล้ว

      While you never say never, I just not had problems with, or many reports of squirrels eating my them

  • @hldizio
    @hldizio 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    So far I only have ants

    • @MarksBackyardBirds
      @MarksBackyardBirds  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Lots of insects available for them at this time. May take a while for them to find them. Are you feeding live or dried ones?

  • @causeydawg
    @causeydawg 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Thanks!