*mummy_hen* Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 Hi All, Thinking of getting some mealworms for my girls whilst they are still in the run and not free-ranging yet, but wondered what your chooks liked best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puffball Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 i don't feed them mealworms but i thought i'd let you know im interested too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 we've never tried live ones -always dried (im quite squeamish with live insects and stuff) Our girls like the dried mealworms and found that with our old hen Ella (who is prone to illness), they are a good source of protein and help her recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chucknette Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 Hi Mine absolutely love live meal worms. I put some in with their sweetcorn or I scatter them so that they have to find them. If they see the meal worm pot they mug me. I have also given them the dried ones mixed in with lettice and tomatoes. I dont find that Im squeemish about them because you dont really have to touch them, I just shake some from the pot. You also need to feed the meal worms with apple of cucumber and they dont need to be kept in the fridge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surferdog Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 Can just about cope with dried and only then if I don't have to touch them. Where on earth do you keep live ones - in the fridge? Yeeeuuuuk! DD would leave home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 i dont find that Im squeemish about them because you dont really have to touch them, im even squeamish with the dried ones so I'd never cope with live ones!! I can hear the chickens crunching them up aswell *shudders* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puffball Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 once when i went fishing there were maggots left over and...wekinda fed them to the chickens! gross but i think they liked them... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 once when i went fishing there were maggots left over .. There's no way I would allow maggots here... *shivers*...I remember my sister putting maggots in my hair when I was a kid on a fishing trip. Nope I draw the line at maggots im afraid!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 I have never fed them the live ones- I find the dried ones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaylis1980 Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 i will never ever ever touch a maggot- ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 The dried ones go down very well with my girlies. They either have them as a crunchy topping on their pellet porridge with mixed in sweet corn, chopped lettuce and grapes Or I use them to entice them into the run when they are out in the garden - put some in my hand, let them see them but not so close that they can peck, they both tumble after me to the run door where I throw them inside (Mealworms, not the chooks). Shut the door - jobs a good'un. Couldn't face live wriggly MWs!! Yuk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*mummy_hen* Posted May 27, 2008 Author Share Posted May 27, 2008 Hve just ordered them 100g dried mealworms and see how we get on with them!! May progress to live at some point....we will see Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 Never tried live ones . My girls adore dried ones. I use them to entice them back into the run - they are putty in my hands . I got mine off Ebay (is there anything you can't buy on there ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 mine love dried mealworms also.. they didn't at first, I think they wondered what I was trying to offer them.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 I give mine dried meal worm occasionally, but they go mad for undyed fisherman's maggots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustyangel Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 My girls go utterly nuts for the live ones although they also like dried. I usually buy a big bag of live meal worms from a local pet shop which specialises in reptiles. I feed the meal worms on apple or bread and they live happily in the bag for a couple of weeks so my chooks can have a regular snack! As soon as I get the bag out the girls recognise it and start clucking noisily - they even jump up at me while I am trying to get some worms out for them. I would recommend you try live ones if you haven't already, your girls will love you for it! Debs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinkybijou Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 My girls LOVE LOVE LOVE the live mealworms! I get them from a reptile/spider shop too. They had dried ones first (from the Omlet shop) and loved them. Once I got the live ones, though, they absolutely go crazy for them. Dora has been broody for two weeks and only leaves her nest for two things - 1, if I take her off, 2, if she sees live mealworms! Nuff said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 they like either but the live ones are far too expensive and don't last long. We get massive tubs of dried ones because they're chesper, they last longer, the girls don't mind the difference and live meal worms have strong mouth parts and could (I'm not saying they would!) hurt the chickens' insides so I;d rather not take the risk. Some people say dried ones are not as nutritious but they're not meant to be, they're a treat! Anyway, according to the RSPB web site, dried ones ARE just as nutritious. Either way, they go mad for them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Huggers R Us Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 What's the matter with everyone?? Our girls absolutley adore maggotts my Dad and my DH are fishermen so it doesn't bother me touching the critters, I've been brought up fishing, the girls really appreciate it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*mummy_hen* Posted May 29, 2008 Author Share Posted May 29, 2008 I think they may have to rely on Dad if they ever want Maggots and i'm not too sure even he would do that!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slats Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 as soon as they see the pot of dried mealworms they go MAD!! better than sweetcorn for getting them in the run Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lydia Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 We do both dried and live and also keep flour beatles to harvest our own live mealworms. The return on grow your own isn't great but we find it quite interesting to watch the little flour beatles go about their business (not sure what that says about us!). Also, once the beatles die, it's another snack for the girls (and if you think them crunching dried mealworms makes a nasty noise, it's nothing compared to the crispy crunch of a dead beatle!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 At my garden center, dried mealworms cost £3-99 for 100g in a bag. But if you buy 100g in a plastic pot from the same company, then it's £5-99 However I just went on e-bay and bought 5kg of dried mealworms for £57 which includes postage. that works out at £1-14 for 100g looks like my girls are going to be well treated this summer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jos Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 Live ones for mine.... endless cheap supply as I breed them! But then as a farmers daughter I guess I'm used to all sorts of animals, even little wiggly ones! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
