At least a few times per week, you probably feed your pet birds live mealworms, a popular treat that’s supposed to mimic the health benefits of eating bugs in nature. But just how nutritious are they, really? These live insects are often marketed as a more natural alternative to processed treats and food, but that’s not necessarily the case.
Read on to learn more about how live mealworms fit into a bird’s natural diet and whether they’re really the best way to supplement all those pellets.
Our Editor’s Best Live Meal Worms Bird Food Reviews
- Worms for Reptiles and Birds: Mealworms are Darkling Beetles in their larvae stage, and make an excellent food source for all sorts of different reptiles including various lizards, a pet gecko or a bearded dragon, and even chickens and other birds!
- Mealworms in Bulk: The mealworms from Uncle Jim's Worm Farm are raised domestically in Pennsylvania and are guaranteed upon arrival and can last up to 9 months, depending on moisture, feed, temperature, and other conditions. Each order includes simple mealworm instructions.
- A Nutritious Mealworm Meal: Mealworms are a great and healthy option to substitute for the diet of your chickens or reptiles along with crickets, hornworms, and other food. They can also be used reliably as bait for any fishing trip you may be planning!
- Mealworms for Science Class: Not only are mealworms a viable substitution meal for reptiles and chickens, but they can also be educational, you can use them to teach or study the life cycle of the Darkling Beetle, making them perfect for any science class, entomologist, or bug enthusiast!
- Uncle Jim's Worm Farm: We've been in business for over 50 years, using over 40 acres of land, the largest worm farm in the US! We're a “Down to Earth” company and handle the whole process of growing and farming mealworms for the market from start to finish. All of our worms are proudly raised in the USA. Here at Uncle Jim's, we really know worms!
- 【Superior Nutrition】-WORMSFARM Dried Black Soldier Fly Larvae with more calcium and insect protein than Meal Worm,would improve egg quality and Promote moult progress,WORMSFARM are superior snacks for hens.
- 【Healthy】-WORMSFARM Dried Black Soldier Fly Larvae chicken food is free from any additives and preservatives.Our BSF larvae raised on food waste (such as vegetables, fruits and okara) and expired food and never eat any poultry manure.
- 【Delicious Snack】-WORMSFARM Dried Black Soldier Fly Larvae for wild birds,Chicken,Crow,duck food,Whether you're trying to lure chickens or attract wild birds,Our Dried BSF Larvae have got you covered.
- 【Convenient Packaging】-WORMSFARM is packaged in a box, making it easy to store and ensuring that the larvae stay crispy and tasty(no resealable bag).
- 【Unbeatable Quality】-WORMSFARM keep supplying best BSF larvae for chickens.We offer a satisfaction guarantee and will gladly provide a refund if you or your hens or wild birds are not pleased.
- Mealworm Goodness: Enjoy food for laying hens and bird food for outside wild birds, free from additives and preservatives. Our non-GMO mealworms for chicken feed prioritize the health of your chickens, pets, and wildlife, making these dried meal worms for wild birds perfect chicken coop accessories
- Protein Power: This high protein chicken feed offers 52% protein, 20% fat, and 10% fiber to boost egg production, feather growth, and immune support. Ideal as chicken protein feed and nutritious hen treats for chickens, they can also serve as duck food for wild ducks, & quail feed
- Quality Assurance: Our dried meal worms for chickens undergo strict quality checks, raised on top-notch feed. Quick-dried for optimal crispness, these dried mealworms for birds are a favorite for poultry and pets. This pack of chicken treats for haying hens is also perfect as squirrel food
- Easy Storage: This pack of chicken treats for laying hens is packaged in a thick, resealable zip-top bag. Our dried mealworms for chickens ensure simple storage. Keep this high-quality bird food for outside feeders in a cool, dry place for a long shelf life. There is no need for refrigeration, making this chicken worms feed pack an addition to essential chicken supplies
- Wildlife Delight: This chicken mealworms feed is also excellent for squirrel food, quail food, and fish food. Attract a variety of birds like blue jays and robins by mixing our mealworms with bird seed for wild birds, creating a diverse feast for your feathered friends
- Enjoy BUNTIE WORMS 100% Natural, non-GMO mealworms for chickens, no preservatives and additives. Compared to black soldier fly larvae, mealworms offer 10% higher protein content, providing a delicious protein source for your poultry.
- Our dried mealworms are high in protein with other essential nutrients for animals, boosting immunity, enhancing egg quality and quantity, and ensuring robust poultry health throughout winter.
- Our meal worms, dried for chickens are a nutritional powerhouse, providing high levels of protein, calcium, healthy fats, and essential amino acids. Ideal as a treat for chickens, ducks, birds, hedgehogs, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and more.
- Packaged in convenient resealable bags with firm zip-top closures, our mealworms are easy to access and store. No refrigeration is required—Simply store in a cool, dry place for freshness.
- Our delicious mealworms are a favorite among chickens, providing them with a healthy and nutritious meal. Spoil your chickens with our premium high-protein snacks! Your chickens will be delighted with every delicious bite, ensuring their happiness and health.
- WHY FRESH MEALWORMS SUPERIOR vs LIVE MEALWORMS - Fresh Mealworms much cleaner than live meal worms with no bacteria, our fresh meal worms clean by high temperature steam that kills bacteria’s and clean the worms. Our Fresh Mealworms preserve by ozone treatment technology, which keeps mealworms fresh with no preservatives and no lost nutrients. Tired of handling yucky live mealworms, freshly packed mealworms much easier to handle, easy to feed and contains as much nutrients as live mealworms.
- PREMIUM QUALITY - Our Fresh mealworms is BIG, THICK, JUICY and about 1 inch Long. Premium pets treat with an excellent source of Protein, Fiber, and Minerals. CONVENIENT PACKAGING: 8.4 oz of fresh Mealworms pack in 12 pouches inside a top resealable large zip bag for easy opening and closing, Zip bag keeps the mealworms fresh for a long time, no refrigeration required.
- 100% NATURAL MEALWORMS - These are packed fresh, NOT live! Mealworms were harvested with no preservatives and additives, NON GMO. Mealworms grown from feeding on organic fruits, grain and vegetables. FEEDING INSTRUCTIONS: With any fresh food, need to eat right away after opening. For example fresh apple: leave apple for an hour after cut open, apple will turn dark brown. Same goes with our fresh mealworms: leave worms an hour after opening bag, mealworms will turn dark color and won't be fresh.
- BULK MEALWORMS - 8.4 oz bag of mealworms. Comes with 12 pouches, each pouch weights 20 grams, approximately 130 pieces of Fresh, Long, Large mealworms. More treats and higher quality for your pets for less price, and no need the hassle of rushing to the store and overpaying for Fresh meal worms. Premium food for Leopard Gecko, Food for Exotic Birds, Food for Sugar Glider, Food for Hedgehog, Food for Chinchilla, Food for Baby Chicken, Food for Hyacinth Macaw, Crested Gecko Food and more!
- AMZEY provides an outstanding support experience for our customers. If you are not happy with your purchase of our ''8.4 oz Fresh Mealworms'' for any reason, you can easily find our customer support with the contact seller button and get help fast. We will address your issue promptly during business hours.
- Your pet receives all of the convenience of a nice, moist meal without the inconvenience of managing live food
- Reclosable 1.2oz. Jar
- Choice of Crickets, Mealworms, Shrimp and Grasshoppers
- Your pet receives all of the convenience of a nice, moist meal without the inconvenience of managing live food.
- Resealble 1.2oz. Jar
- Contains 100% protein packed mealworms
- Use alone, or mix with any other Wagner's wild bird food
- Feed your wild Birds with Wagner's mealworms in a hopper or platform feeder
- Convenient Velcro press-lock
- Predator Foods is a grower and distributor of high-quality organic mealworms located in the USA.
- Predator Foods guarantees LIVE DELIVERY of your mealworms. If temperature is above 80 degrees or below 40 degrees live delivery cannot be guaranteed. If a replacement or refund is needed contact us and include photos with your request.
- Predator Foods small, medium, and large bulk feeder insects can last for weeks when refrigerated.
- Meal worms can be pet food for Bearded Dragons, Frogs, Turtles, Lizards, some Snakes, Fish, Chickens, and Birds!
- To ensure you receive quality mealworms for your beloved pets (reptiles & amphibians) choose Predator Foods at check out.
- Kaytee Mealworms are an excellent, high-protein food source for many wild birds. They are a high-energy treat that will attract many species of birds that are difficult to attract with traditional seed blends.
- Attract Bluebirds, Wrens, Robins, Chickadees, Woodpeckers and Cardinals
- Can be fed alone in a feeder or mixed with a favorited seed
- An important source of food for baby birds
- Oven dried for best quality
- Highly Nutritious Dried Bugs: Nutrient-packed meal alternative, ideal for reptiles, birds, fish, hedgehogs, sugar gliders Convenient dried bugs without the hassle of managing live food
- Freeze Dried Meal Worms: These meal worms small in size are freeze dried to retain their nutrients and moisture, providing a healthy, moist meal for your pets Perfect as hedgehog worms
- Bulk Supply of Dried Worms: These dried meal worms are available in bulk for your convenience They serve as an excellent source of protein for your pets, including as freeze dried worms for chickens
- Versatile Mealworm Food: Whether you're looking for dried mealworms for turtles, mill worm for chicken, or mealworms dried bulk for reptiles, these freeze dried meal worms are the perfect choice
- Quality Meal Worms Dried: These dried mealworms are a versatile and nutritious alternative to live feed Ideal as bulk worms, they serve as real worms packed with nutrients for your pets
Best Live Meal Worms Bird Food Buying Guide
Before choosing the best live meal worms you should consider following options:
1. Temperature: Mealworms thrive in a temperature range between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature drops below or rises above this range, the worms will die.
In the wild, mealworms live in decaying wood. In your home, they will live in their nesting materials and the substrate in their tank. Keeping these temperatures constant will help keep your worms healthy.
2. Humidity: Measuring humidity in a tank of mealworms is difficult. You can’t stick a wet-bar into the tank and expect to get an accurate reading.
You can, however, put a hygrometer in the tank and watch for signs of high humidity. If the substrate in the tank is wet, it’s too humid. If the substrate is dry, it’s not humid enough.
3. Airflow: To keep the substrate from getting too wet, you’ll need to provide good airflow in the tank.
When choosing the location for your mealworm bin, keep in mind that you’ll need to reach into the tank to harvest the worms.
4. Substrate: Mealworms live in a wide variety of materials. You can house them in chicken scratch, dog chow, wheat bran, oatmeal, or wild birdseed.
Check your substrate for mold or a bad smell. If you detect either, you’ll need to replace it. If you have a moldy or smelly substrate, the worms probably aren’t getting the nutrition they need to grow.
5. Water: Provide your worms with a source of fresh water. If your substrate is moist, they’ll have easy access to water.
Mealworms will drown in deep water, so keep the water shallow. If you’re using a wild birdseed-based substrate, you can put water in the bottom of the tank and the worms will have easy access.
6. Food: Your mealworms will need to eat. If you put them in a tank without food, they’ll die.
Keep them in a tank with a source of protein. The worms will eat tiny pieces of raw or cooked meat, fish, or poultry.
They’ll also eat the grains and seeds in their substrate. You won’t want to leave their food in the tank all the time, or you’ll have drowned worms.
You can feed them several times a day or just once a week. It depends on how many mealworms you have and how much food you put in the tank.
7. Harvesting: You’ll need to check your tank every couple of days and harvest any worms that have grown large. You can then feed them to your pet or freeze them for later.
You can freeze them in a single layer on a plate. Once they’re frozen, you can transfer them to a freezer bag and keep them for months.
What else you should know about live meal worms bird food
1. What is the nutritional value of live mealworms for birds?
The nutritional value of live mealworms for birds is high in protein and fat.
2. What are the benefits of feeding live mealworms to birds?
Mealworms are an excellent source of protein for birds. They are also a good source of essential vitamins and minerals, including calcium, phosphorus, and iron. Live mealworms are also a good source of entertainment for birds, as they can be fun to watch as they move around.
3. What is the best way to store live mealworms?
The best way to store live mealworms is to keep them in a cool, dry place.
4. How often should live mealworms be fed to birds?
Live mealworms should be fed to birds no more than once a day.
5. What are the risks associated with feeding live mealworms to birds?
The risks associated with feeding live mealworms to birds include contracting parasites or diseases from the mealworms, being bitten by the mealworms, and choking on the mealworms.
Conclusion
On the market, there are numerous best live meal worms bird food. Hopefully, the list of the top ten best live meal worms bird food will save you time researching and deciding on the best one for you.