Soaking Mealworms

[Morn]

Hi Guys,

I have purchased some dried meal worms after reading that people soak them and put them out for the birds.

What I am wondering is how long and how soft they will potentially go, I assume that they will not be like their live counterparts, but a rough idea on the soaking time would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Graham

[georgie]

Hello Morn,

I always soak dried mealworms before putting them out, but find that they all tend to float and just don't take up water that well unless you agitate them around for a bit. Other than swooshing them around vigorously for about 30 seconds I don't bother to time the soaking. Usually for me it's the time between getting up and having to go out to work (less than an hour).

I can never make up my mind whether the dried worms smell nice or nasty!.... they remind me of crisps a bit but with a bit of an 'edge'. (never tried one though!!).

[Morn]

Glad to hear that you have never tried one (yet).

I have been experimenting and have found that an hour seems to be the answer, however to be honest the birds seem happy to eat them dry as well so I may well stop once the breeding season is over and done with.

Thanks for the reply

Graham

[georgie]

Well, if the weather continues like this there'll definitely be no need to pre-soak the worms!....:)

I keep topping up the feeders, and the weather doesn't seem to have deterred the birds from visiting. I do worry though whether they will be able to dry out their feathers before roosting overnight. Luckily the rain has just stopped (it's 8 o'clock) - the first time it's eased all day. I've never seen flooding like it......

Sorry I've digressed from the original subject - one of the hazards of browsing the message board.

[Morn]

I am sorry to hear about the flooding!

I consider myself and my feathered friends very fortunate here in London.


To be honest I am sure the birds are adept at coping, evolution has its wonders. Again cheers for the comment on this.

[Denise]

I've just read the interesting comments and questions about soaking mealworms which I used to do. However, much as I love starlings, I couldn't afford to keep them in mealworms and cannot find a feeder which allows small birds in and starlings out of the expensive 'stuff'. Can anyone recommend any makes or sources of them?
I wonder whether there are any wildlife lovers who, like us, also have a few chickens in the garden and would know how often to bathe them to ensure parasite control and general hygiene? Our vet is a dead loss, and the RSPB don't want to know.
Best wishes, Denise

[Morn]

You could always try a normal ground feeder and place over it one of these protectors.

http://shopping.rspb.org.uk/mall/productpage.cfm/rspb/R0093/81756

Hope that helps!

[oldtwitcher]

I've just read the interesting comments and questions about soaking mealworms which I used to do. However, much as I love starlings, I couldn't afford to keep them in mealworms and cannot find a feeder which allows small birds in and starlings out of the expensive 'stuff'. Can anyone recommend any makes or sources of them?
I wonder whether there are any wildlife lovers who, like us, also have a few chickens in the garden and would know how often to bathe them to ensure parasite control and general hygiene? Our vet is a dead loss, and the RSPB don't want to know.
Best wishes, Denise
Denise wrote:-
I cannot find a feeder which allows small birds in and starlings out of the expensive 'stuff'. Can anyone recommend any makes or sources of them?
------------------De
Cj wildbirdfods sell a Peanut cake guardian and works very well.
See catalogue 2007 page 14. A94510.
Have fun! oldtwitcher

[barn owl]

Hi Denise,
on the question of parasite control i also keep chickens, 12 to be exact, and we dont bath them as it will not help, the chicken house also gets infested and needs attention, so about once a month we spray them with a cattle spray which is used to keep flies at bay, but we make sure and do the hen house too at the same time. it works well enough but must be done fairly regular. inside and out. i know it sounds expensive but a can will do it twice and costs here in holland about 5 euros. around 4 pounds. sterling. the hen house is not that big and we cant walk inside we have to bend to get in so it shows you the approx size. anyway thats what we do and it keeps those creepies at bay, i hate it when i go inside as i itch bad and get straight in the shower lol.
regards owl.

[ExtraMedium]

Hi Denise,

Guardian cages will do as you ask, which feeder to have inside one is hard to say off the top of the head, but have a look at CJs range, you'll very likely find one that will suit very well. Guardians do a great job.

I got to use them to exclude squirrels, but noted that starlings are also now excluded from feeding, so I have to find something just for them and a few others now. Could be meal worms ununprotected for me I think as I've not heard of squirrels taking them yet. Starlings and Robins would do well out of that addition I'd imagine, maybe blackbirds and thrushes too with luck. They'll have to come to their own arrangements over who gets the lion's share.

Hope this helps