Chicken Momma Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 I have just bought a large tub of mealworms in the local pet store marked "for wild birds". My chooks seem to love them and I'm assuming a mealworm is a mealworm is a mealworm? I have also bought some "suet pellets with insects" for wild birds which seem identical to those - again - for wild birds. Is this okay do you think? Chicken Momma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 Mine have dried mealworms for birds and will fight over them. I have not tried the others though . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenthelibrarian Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 The cheapest mealworms by far that I've found come from Wilkinson's, with the bonus of coming in a nice plastic tub. The wild bird food with suet might be a bit fatty for the chooks, and there is the issue of them eating animal fats. I have also found that the wild bird suet balls melt in the sunshine and make a greasy mess. A good recipe for home-made pecking bars is on here if you search, it's basic 'scratch' [corn mix] glued together with flour and water paste and an egg and baked hard. I also posted a recipe for carrot-based scone/biscuits which I have successfully baked with a hole for hanging in the run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 Mine love mealworms too but I wouldn't give anything with suet or fat in it to your hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Momma Posted October 15, 2012 Author Share Posted October 15, 2012 Thanks for the advice folks. The suet pellets with insects looks identical to the Hen Treats costing twice the price but I hadn't thought of the animal fat aspect. Perhaps one is made with vegetable suet (if there is such a thing). They do gobble it up though - although it's a bit like kids - most of them would pig out on icecream and chocolate given half a chance (oh wait! That's me...) I only give them a teeny tiny handful to get them back in the run at bedtime so hopefully that will be okay I really appreciate the support and ready advice I get from this forum! Angie (Chicken Momma) xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 Not even Veg suet.... Hens do not need that level of fat... They get fed regularly with pellets and treats so do not need to fat store like wild birds who don't know where their next meal is coming from. Honestly, you would be harming your hens by feeding them suet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
