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question for winter mealworm feeders

16 years ago

To those of you that feed mealworms during the winter, may I ask around how many do you feed, and how many times a day? I estimate that I'm feeding around 50 to 70 mealworms at a time. On days I have to work, they get fed twice (before work, and after work). On days that I'm home when I see them sitting in the tree waiting I just can't resist and end up feeding them four or five times. It does put a dent in my mealworm populations. I've had to buy 2000 twice in the weeks since they arrived because my own supply isn't growing fast enough. I am feeding a flock of 10, so they eat a lot. I also supplement with suet crumbles, which they do eat, but they prefer the mealworms. So how much do you feed in a day?

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Comments (4)

donnalovesblue
16 years ago
Kendra, where do you purchae your mealworms? I haven't seen my blues in quite awhile, so I'm hoping to get them back by offering mealworms again. Thanks.

Donna
kendra2003
Original Author
16 years ago
I buy mine from New York Worms. I've always had good luck with them, and I know the price up front because they don't charge for shipping.
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dave_in_va
16 years ago
I have 10 bluebirds, two Carolina wrens, three or four song sparrows, three or four tufted titmice and some chickadees. I go through 10,000 meal worms every week and a half. I see all of them first thing in the morning and then they come back two or three at a time several times throughout the afternoon. I probably put out 100 or more at a time. I order large but haven't seen any I would consider large for quite some time. I think that is one reason they eat as many as they do.

Dave
kendra2003
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for your reply Dave. So you also go through lots of them, feeding 10 as I am doing. I have reptile heaters under three of my mealworm bins to get them growing faster. Like you said, if the mealworms are small, you have to put a lot more of them out. I started this particular mealworm colony with 2000 beetles, so they have produced tons of little mealworms. I keep hoping I can get them to grow fast enough that I can stop purchasing them. It does get expensive.

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