Old Speckled Hen Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I've just paid 18.52 + VAT for 2kg which I though was good value but I may be wrong. My chooks and the wild birds get through loads. Where do you get your mealworms from and how much are they/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 That's a very good price, I pay £57-00 including postage for 5kg off e-bay. My girls and our robin can't get enough of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Depends on whether you're buying dried or live worms. Dried ones taste nice to the birds but don't have much nutritional value at all. Bit like us eating crisps really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted February 11, 2009 Author Share Posted February 11, 2009 Depends on whether you're buying dried or live worms. Dried ones taste nice to the birds but don't have much nutritional value at all. Bit like us eating crisps really Ugggh too squeamish to deal with wrigglies Everywhere I look for mealworms says that the nutritional value is maintained when freeze drying. Is that wrong? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 £29.50 for 3 kg here. http://www.wildbirdfood.uk.com/cgi-shl/os000004.pl?ACTION=Start Approx £10 per kg then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aggienator Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 You could also breed your own: http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/feeding/whatfood/mealworms.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted February 11, 2009 Author Share Posted February 11, 2009 £29.50 for 3 kg here.http://www.wildbirdfood.uk.com/cgi-shl/os000004.pl?ACTION=Start Approx £10 per kg then Ah we are on the same website Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 You could also breed your own: http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/feeding/whatfood/mealworms.asp trying that mine are getting to be bettles then dying, not too many of them, been too caught up with ailing chooks to be aring tlc for beetles!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Depends on whether you're buying dried or live worms. Dried ones taste nice to the birds but don't have much nutritional value at all. Bit like us eating crisps really Ugggh too squeamish to deal with wrigglies Everywhere I look for mealworms says that the nutritional value is maintained when freeze drying. Is that wrong? That may be right, but I was told otherwise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alet_chicken Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I'm confused about this too. Every advertisement I see for mealworms says that the nutritional value is maintained when freeze drying. This seems sensible, since freeze drying only removes the moisture, right? However, I have heard from many sources (including some on the forum) that dried mealworms contain no nutritional value, so am not sure what to think. It would be nice if some expert could clarify this for us. To be honest, though, I'm not sure my chickens care as long as they can get their little beaks on some... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earl Grey Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Nutritional analysis for dried mealworms: 63% protein 22%oil (fat) 4% fibre 3% ash (source: side of the container I bought them in.) nutritional analysis for fresh mealworms: 62.44% moisture, 12.72% fat 20.27% protein 1.73% fiber, 1.57% ash (source: http://www.sialis.org/raisingmealworms.htm) So weight for weight, the nutritional value of dried mealworms is very high in comparison with fresh worms, but comparing a single dried mealworm with a single live mealworm, I would guess they are pretty much the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alet_chicken Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Thanks very much, Earl Grey. The fat:protein ratio (or is it protein:fat? ) is better in dried than fresh mealworms, which sounds good to me. To be fair though, this healthy feature is probably balanced out by the fact that it is oh so easy to give in to their whining for Just! One! More! when it's a dried and not a wriggly one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Thanks very much, Earl Grey. The fat:protein ratio (or is it protein:fat? ) is better in dried than fresh mealworms, which sounds good to me. To be fair though, this healthy feature is probably balanced out by the fact that it is oh so easy to give in to their whining for Just! One! More! when it's a dried and not a wriggly one only ONE more? you meany Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prudance Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 After discovering that I had been seriously overfeeding my chooks with mixed corn for the first two weeks, I've been laying off the treats. I've been giving four young chickens just a handful of dried mealworms, twice a week, and now slightly less than that of mixed corn too. They haven't been interested in most of the kitchen s"Ooops, word censored!"s I've tried them with apart from sweetcorn and broccoli. Am I being too tight with their treats? Can you overdo mealworms or veg kitchen s"Ooops, word censored!"s? Also, noticed that nearly half the mealworms in my tub are just worm shells. The equivalent of discarded snakeskin. Is this normal, or should I be looking for a different supplier? I'm hoping you're going to say I'm too tight because I've got two preschoolers who keep begging me for treats to give them! They resorted to tempting them with clothes pegs and dead worms today. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 oh dear let them dig up live worms! they love those Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted February 12, 2009 Author Share Posted February 12, 2009 oh dear let them dig up live worms! they love those They'd need a hammer drill to get those in my garden at the moment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 i'm confused so where did the dead ones come from, can you buy them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alet_chicken Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Hi Prudance, my chickens get a treat every day (at our house it's me that's always looking for something to tempt them with ), either a handful of mixed corn, a handful (if I can restrain myself to only one) of dried mealworms or (when it's cold) a handful of oats. I may be overdoing it, but am working on the principle that they tank themselves up with pellets all day, and the treat is an extra in the afternoon. I have been known to tempt them with pellets on lean days - so if the kids really need to give them something, you could try "watering down" the treats with pellets? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoice Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Every advertisement I see for mealworms says that the nutritional value is maintained when freeze drying. This seems sensible, since freeze drying only removes the moisture, right? I'd heard it was the same content, doesn't seem it though when they just flake away when pecked at. I bought some from homebase - the RSPB branded dried mealworms. They said they could also be re-hydrated by soaking them in water if you wanted. Haven't tried it yet but I guess if they re-hydrate ok then all they HAD taken out was the moisture. Grim though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nutterly_uts Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 I get my mealworms from here.. Not sure what 500ml equates to.. 500g? I pay £21 for 6 pots from there, and they last ages ahem.. forgot the link http://www.livefoodsdirect.co.uk/Dried-Mealworms-500ml/productinfo/DMW100/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
