Loose mealworms

[lettucegrow!]

On my stock up trip to GM Growers I found mealworms sold loose amongst their bin selections of feeds. Sure they didn't have them last time.They're £18 a kilo which does sound a lot but I think if you price the tubs up this is a great deal cheaper. My girls love them, given as a treat now and again.

[Eco-Chic]

Are they dried or wriggling and squiggling Lettuce?

I flipping forgot to look for some today when I was in Jollyes.

[RichmondHens]

Mealworms are expensive. I had to buy them when I raised a few partridges earlier this year. I wouldn't bother getting them for my chooks although they would love them. I think a lot of people buy them for wild garden birds. The dried ones should be soaked for a while before feeding though.

[Suechooks]

On my stock up trip to GM Growers I found mealworms sold loose amongst their bin selections of feeds. Sure they didn't have them last time.They're £18 a kilo which does sound a lot but I think if you price the tubs up this is a great deal cheaper. My girls love them, given as a treat now and again.

I got 2 kilos delivered to home for £21.50 from Anne Kennedy - online.

[lettucegrow!]

Bargain Suechooks and no they were dried up worms, you don't think I'd handle those live wriggly things do you?
I know they are a bit of an extravagance Richmond but Im still nurturing mine back to full health after the dog attack so I'm afraid they do still get treats I wouldn't normally buy. I hadn't read any where that you should soak them first,why's that. They don't come back to life do they??

[TPeers]

No they don't come back to life!

Having tried to soak dried worms...... it takes a flippin' age! Best done over night if you can be that organised. Must say I chuck in the odd handful dry - the hens go ballistic! As long as there is a good supply of water available it shouldn't be a problem.

If I remember correctly the reason for soaking them is that they are digested more easily or more completely or some such. That said if you have an issue handling live worms I should warn you that a well soaked ex-dry worm is horribly life like.

[RichmondHens]

I'm sure for adult chickens it's fine to feed them dry. When I bought them for the partridge chicks I was told to soak them, and they should also be soaked for wild birds too. For small birds it makes them easier to swallow.

[lettucegrow!]

I was kidding Tpeers-- don't mind earth worms but meal worms en-mass no thankyou. I'll just give a few now and then and lots of water. They do love them though.