Maggots

[dorte]

:eek:

I had a little problem in keeping up with the live mini mealworms that I fed my garden birds (sparrows, both tree & house, bluetits, starling, robins, green finch and the occassional sighting of a wren, although I've not seen her for a while?!):(

So I went to my local takcle & bait shop in the hope that they sold stuff like that (I know nothing about fishing, no patience me) They recommend live maggots, said the robins robbed their stock when they were out fishing. Bought 1/2 pint yesterday and have less that 1/2 of that left this morning. I feed the maggots mixed with the seed on top of my shed and the sparrows are fighting over them, even mrs robin is up there, rather than where she normally feeds. So I have started to spread the maggots around a little in small pots around the garden. Noticed that they attract the baby slugs YES!?!:rolleyes: so not only could my birds have maggots but to nibble on a slug without having to hunt for it and my hostas might live a life a litle longer with glorious foliage rather than sorry stumps of leaves.;) Anybody else had experience of maggots for birdfood, please enlighten me. DD

[Emma]

Maggots are larvae reared, bred and fed on dead meat and are not recommended for feeding to birds as they carry Salmonella and Botulism, amongst other diseases, both of which are poisonous and deadly to birds. Both the RSPB and BTO ask people NOT to feed maggots to birds.

Instead, you should stick to mealworms and waxworms which are not meat-reared and carry no diseases.

You will be doing more harm than good by provinding maggots, I'm afraid.

[dorte]

:eek:Thank you for your advise. I shall definitely stick to meal worms etc. as I do not wish my birds to become ill or die. I wish them to become healthy and strong. DD

[optrex]

Got to agree with Emma I'm afraid. Another source would be worms. Make some soapy water using washing up liquid and pour it over a 3ft square area of lawn. The worms will be irritated by the soap and come up. Collect them, rinse them off then watch the birds enjoy the food ;)

[dorte]

thanks optrex. no need to pour 'poison' on my lawn. fortunately i have plenty of worms naturally in my garden. the blackbirds make the most of that. if i want more worms I'll to back to fish & tackle & buy some, rather than deprive my soil.....

[justsomeoneelse]

Got to agree with Emma I'm afraid. Another source would be worms. Make some soapy water using washing up liquid and pour it over a 3ft square area of lawn. The worms will be irritated by the soap and come up. Collect them, rinse them off then watch the birds enjoy the food ;)


..hmm, oh i see, care for birds but not for worms eh ! how cruel can some people be...:rolleyes:


justsomeoneelse

[optrex]

LOL you guys. Slated twice for cruelty to worms and "poisoning" in the space of one day :rolleyes: Good job I'm not feeding the birds, potentially lethal maggots or I would be in trouble :p

Question is, if I started a "Save Our Worms" campaign, it would by its very nature include Waxworms and Mealworms...... so where would that leave us....... and the birds? ;)

[Kerry L]

With this drought that we are suffering these past few weeks:rolleyes: , the garden is quite saturated, and the worms are coming up thick and fast! But I must get some more meal worms for my outdoor pets.
Regards, Kerry

[dorte]

Feeding maggots to the birds only happened once, out out ignorence, naivety or what ever some might call it. I have now received a large order of meal worms and have no need for poisioning my lawn to bring up worms.
The top of my shed is still like an aircraft carrier (finally remembered the word) when the sparrows come in for their meal.........worms


If I am desparate for earthworms I'll dig them up. No poison plus exercise, must be a bonus:D