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One of the most popular foods to feed to the birds that visit your garden has to be live mealworms. If you’ve never offered them, then it is worth considering giving them a try as the advantages offered are significant.

Mealworms are the larvae of the Yellow Tenebrio beetle and are very popular with many of the species you will often see in UK gardens. Robins, Blue tits, Blackbirds, and Starlings will all appreciate them. Why? Because they are roughly 50% protein, which, as we know, is essential for muscle development and feather growth.

During the breeding season, parent birds often struggle to find enough insects. As a result, mealworms provide an easy, high-energy, moisture-rich alternative for feeding to hungry chicks. In warmer weather, as live mealworms have a high water content, this helps birds to hydrate.

For those who are not keen to handle live food, there is the alternative of offering dried mealworms. These are convenient and will last a lot longer on the shelf than live food; however, they are brittle and hard. As a result, they can pose a risk to small chicks who can struggle to swallow them. To overcome this, it is recommended that you soak dried mealworms in warm water for 15–30 minutes before putting them out. This rehydrates them and makes them easier for the birds to swallow and digest.

When it comes to cost, live mealworms are more expensive when compared to Sunflower Hearts or seed mixes. But the advantages for the birds are significant, and when offered alongside seed mixes or similar foods, you will be providing a well-balanced diet. If you are new to feeding live food, keep in mind that, like any raw food, there is the potential to harbour bacteria if the feeding dish isn’t cleaned daily. Live mealworms also need to be kept in a cool, ventilated container to prevent them from dying and rotting.

Live mealworms come in a variety of quantities, as can be seen here, this will allow you to test out what quantity will be best for the birds in your garden. And don’t forget that live mealworms need feeding too. It’s advisable to buy mealworm food to keep them healthy, which, in turn, will be of benefit to the birds that feed on them. Vine House Farm’s mealworm food is made from nutrient-dense bran and is available here. You will also need a live food feeder, designed to keep them in place as they do have a tendency to wriggle away! Although your local Robins will probably make short work of them, it is best to have a dedicated feeder that will also be easy to keep clean.

If you’ve never offered live food to your birds, it is worth a try as your garden will very quickly become very popular.