mealworm question

I've been really brave and bought a pot of mealworms( YUK!) for the birds a s I've stopped the peanuts for a while until the breeding season is over.
Now this is probably a really stupid question, but do you have to soak them before you leave them out or wil they eat them dry?
Thanks in advance

 

I just chuck them out Silmar. They seem to disappear very quickly.

 

Hey Silmar - not a silly question at all! I asked the very same thing the other day to our esteemed member Walnut!

Apparently you can give them dry or rehydrated. The plastic boxes which you can buy mealworms in sometimes indicate they are more attractive to birds rehydrated.

Nutty however definitely advocates buying the real live wriggling things for best results - and he certainly gets them - the birds literally eat out of his hands as he has shown us! :eek:

Hope this helps you Andi, our new fellow Devonian!

Walnut said...

PS: You don't have to stop giving the birds nuts during the breeding season - why not blitz them into peanut grinds in a blender and put them out - all the beneficial energy without the choking hazard. My mum does this to great effect so the adults can stock up on energy to catch the grubs.

 

EEwwwww,:eek: Not sure if the kids will stretch to that.I've had to enroll my 9 year old to do mealworm duty as it is lol
I ( my 9 year old ) put them out dry after school and the robin and the great tits thought it was their birthday.They didn't seem to mind they were rock hard lol

As for the peanuts I never thought of that :confused: how dozy am I ?:rolleyes:

Thanks for the info

 

Hey. Can I put the peanuts into my electric cocktail blender?

 

Add some cream and pineapple and rum and hey presto - a Peanutcolada!

 

Wher can I get a mealworm feeder.

 

Hi Compost!

Most garden centres will sell feeders for mealworm in the wildbird section. They can be quite expensive though. Do you know anyone who is handy with woodwork - they could probably easily knock you one up which would work just as well. It looks like they have to be starling proof in order to prevent all your mealworms going in seconds though!

Also, I have seen a wide range of bird feeders in our local large pet store outlet.

Here's a couple of examples I found googling...
http://www.greengardener.co.uk/bird.htm

 

I use a circular flat tray that hangs from the tree, like mesh, so you get drainage.( got it from the garden centre) They dont last long though, the robin and the male blackbird polish them off in no time. Glad we dont have starlings too, otherwise I'd have to take out a secong mortgage to pay for them :D