Mealworms Alive or Dried?

Question

Hi everyone, I am thinking of possibly feeding live mealworms (not very sure how i will do this as i'm not too keen on maggots n' there pretty similar) but i am able to feed dried mealworms atm which they get everytime i fill the feeders.

For those of you who serve alive mealies, what do you need to know? where do you get them? are they really smelly? i've heard there expensive to constantly buy in so best to breed your own, how do you do this (this is on the asumption that i can bare to deal with the alive mealies lol!) What do you do when they bugs turn into beetles? do you feed them the beetles too?

I've been reading that alive mealies are better for chicks, as i have a blue tit in my box atm, i am hoping s/he will nest and have a wee family, so would like to help them along n' provide best for them. I also have 2 male robins (guessing this as they keep chasing each other from my garden) n' they like mealies too. (Also is there any way of getting these robins to share my garden? i know there very teritorial, n' my garden seems to be on the border line of each)

before i think of breeding mealies i will try and buy some n' see if i can stand being near them, (it took me a couple of days getting used to the dried ones) but any help and info would be great. As would be keeping them in shed (once tidied and re-arranged).

Thanks 
Lucy

TeeJay · Accepted Answer

Hi Lucy 
 Personally, I only buy live mealworms during the breeding season because they are quite expensive. I figure that's when the young chicks need the protein and moisture that mealworms provide and is the closest to their natural food. 
 They don't smell and are quite dry and not at all slimy. Once you get used to them they are easy to handle. Here's me feeding a Robin from my hand. 
 
 I get mine by post from HERE but you you may be able to get them locally. Try somewhere like Pets at Home which I think there's one in Inverness. Just don't buy too much in one go until you know how you get on with them. 
 Personally, I wouldn't try to breed them yourself but It's up to you.

HAZY · Answer

Hi Lucy, just like TJ, I bought live mealworms during the breeding season to help the parent birds find food more easily to take to their nestling (then fledgling) chicks as the Blue Tits in particular can make hundreds of trips each day back and forth to feed their young so offering them a good source of protein helps both parents and chicks, giving them a good start. I also order from same place as TJ and you will find its cheaper to order on Supersaver deal with regular weekly/fortnightly/monthly delivery than buy them in individual orders. I would suggest if you do this you start by ordering a small quantity to see how you get on. Mealworms will need to kept in a large surface area container, smooth sided and deep enough for them not to crawl out of (I used an oblong plastic storage box but left the lid off as they need to be able to breath ! ) they also need to be fed each day and you will have to clean the tub out every couple of days ! You can put a few green beans, thinnish sliced potato, apples or such which they will munch on and keep the worms hydrated. Our expert on the forum would be MC (Monkeycheese) as he keeps live mealworms and feeds the birds with them on a regular basis. MC was the person who gave me the best advice on buying/keeping live mealworms. 
 Meanwhile, here is a link HERE to care of mealworms 
 post edit: should have said I tried dried mealworms but they were not popular with the birds very much and because you have to hydrate them they tend to pong !

James · Answer

Hi Lucy, like TJ has said got from a good supplier they don&rsquo;t smell and are clean, I get mine from HERE Live Mealworms 500g bag for &pound;10.50, once they arrive I split them into eight individual plastic boxes and add oat meal then put them in the fridge the wife as no problems with this and she is not one who would do this unless she knew otherwise, and like above add a slice of potato so they can have a drink lol 
 EDIT 
 One of my Robins taken a few years ago. 
 
 Jim

monkeycheese · Answer

I would agree with the others regarding quantity. Start with maybe 250g and go from there. They are not like maggots in terms of how they feel in the hand. Mealies are much 'nicer' to handle. I keep mine in a large, high sided plastic container and feed them sliced runner beans. The leftovers need to be removed every day or so. I also put a section of egg carton in the box, the part the eggs go in, not the lid. Mealies like to climb around and this does the trick. Either that or tear some sheets of kitchen towel in half and lay them on the mealies. They will crawl around and hide inside them. This also helps to keep the container dry. They shouldn't smell. Mine have only had an odour when I have fed them broccoli, but that is probably the broccoli itself rather than mealie flatulence, although flatulent mealies had more comedic value! They eventually turn into beetles after a pupa stage. You shouldn't need to keep them long enough for those two changes to occur. The beetles, should you see one, can be released outdoors. Personally I haven't tried breeding mealies, I buy them from a nearby pet store. Some of my Robins also feed from my hand (see below).

Of course this might be overdoing it a wee bit!