Hi,
We've been feeding our wild birds a variety of food including dried mealworms and have recently been recommended to buy the mealworms from a well known company on the web.
Upon reading the information on the meals worms i found that they are grown and processed in China and as we are trying to stop buying goods from China, mainly due to the carbon footprint of everything, i looked to source some mealworms that are UK grown. Further research revealed that feeding mealworms to chickens in the UK is illegal due to the risk of disease. This is mainly due to the suppliers feeding mealworms animal protein and basically anything they can lay their hands on to fatten up the mealworms.
So my question is, or should i say my questions are, is it safe to feed wild birds the same food? Are they able to resist the possible infections or are we just not bothered? Is there a chance for wild bird to eat infected mealworms and transmit this to chickens? Is it really responsible to the planet, inc wildlife, to buy irresponsibly manufactured goods from around the world to try to help wildlife.
Ultimately i find the whole save the wildlife by feeding the wildlife produce manufactured without a care for the planet very frustrating.
Thank you :-)
Morning Nidgester,
Other, far more knowledgeable, members of the Community will answer your questions, I'm sure.
I can only say that my answer to your question that ends paragraph 3 is "no". Not in my opinion.
Understand your frustrations.
Recently, I saw an invitation to a community garden initiative that called on participants to reflect on matters of biodiversity and sustainability.
When they installed the garden, they sacrificed 20 meters or so (by 2.5 m) of ivy, to enable them to grow produce that is all grown locally on various scales, and probably with a much smaller carbon footprint.
Basically, a greenwashed vanity project, with everyone a loser.
I find the contradictions all a bit... grim.
All the best -
Dave
There were quite a few questions in there clumped together, which made it a little hard to cipher at times.
While I'm not able to offer any answers, I am intrigued what will transpire, particularly as so much comes from China these days, making it difficult to make a choice.
Mike
Flickr Peak Rambler
In reply to Internetman:
Internetman said:the birds have nearly finished, not me personally
It's OK to say you shared, Internetman.
Not like these forums are open to everyone on the planet who has an Internet connection, and will be forever.
Oh. Wait...
Useful link though.
In reply to Dave - CH:
Internetman said:We'll all be eating them in the future
For some of us, that's a looonnnngggg future we're looking at there.
Old thread, but I agree with the latest post. Not just mealworms. Loads of bird food is imported. IMO, this is wrong for several reasons. I've question land use before, and the fact bird feeding in UK is barely anything to do with conservation. Almost all declining species don't benefit from bird feeding, and those that do use it like chaffinches and greenfinches, are declining at least in part because of it! n.b. I support targeted feeding e.g. cirl bunting farmland etc
edit.....and having seen a slightly related thread, I wanted to add that I also support supplementary feeding of birds where there's a benefit to society....e.g. feeding stations for birds at care homes and hospices, or schools......what I am against, and it's a personal opinion, is blanket 24x7x365 random bird feeding.
In reply to ItisaRobbo: