Everyone is different on what they do. Some don't feed mealworms at all. I like to keep the Blues around so I pretty much feed mealworms from the start of nesting until they leave in the Fall, for me they leave the end of October. Personally I think feeding the mealworms at fledging time is the most important as they need to keep the babies fed and safe out of the nestbox where there are so many dangers to the fledglings. I wouldn't stop now if I were you but that is up to you and your budget. I generally go through about 10,000 mealworms in a month or less and I also feed waxworms and sometimes even crickets. The fledglings will eventually follow the adults to the mealworm feeder and eat out of it on there own if you keep feeding them. Normally my first nesting fledges stay around through the second nesting too although sometimes the adult male won't allow them to stay and they get chased off. I am hoping the male this year lets them stay. I have the same female this year that I had the last two years. In September I usually switch from live mealworms to rehydrated dried ones as there are less and less live bugs available to them so they take the switch quite well. Good luck to your Blues, mine are due to hatch next week which is the earliest I have ever had them hatch here in WI.

Donna

Like Donna said, it is entirely up to you. Personally I like to keep feeding them. Not only does this make it easier on the parent birds, but the young will learn to use the feeder as well. Since they will start a second nesting after the first babies fledge, the parents should continue to use the feeder anyway. That is just what I do. The decision is yours as the parent birds can certainly take care of their young on their own. I just like to make it easier on them.

I go through about 5,000 mealworms a month and feed them pretty much all year. Here in SE Georgia they tend to stay around so I just enjoy watching them come to the feeders. OBTW, I was doing that very thing this morning (watching) when I looked over at the sunflower seed feeders and there was a male and female "Painted Bunting". I was amazed. First Painted Bunting I've ever seen in the wild.
Dean

Dean

Has anyone tried raising their own mealworms??

I had blues in July 3 summers ago, and decided that I would raise them since I wasn't fond of buying them. Well I still have them in my garage, and they are still producing, I don't go to the trouble I did at first, afraid I'd lose an egg. My birds never came back. I suppose if I get rid of the darn things, they'd be here. I thought sure they'd be back, but not.

It's not hard to raise them, I just got a plastic square or oblong container at the dollar store, filled it half full with cornmeal/oatmeal. Cut the top out about an inch from each side and hot glued a screen on. Put the worms in and they took care of things. I keep a carrot, a potato or celery in there, so they can get moisture and they are pretty much on their own, In the winter they slow down because it's heated out there, but still chilly. Probably around 50, kinda like being kept in the refrigerator I guess. I guess I should go pick out ant dead ones, do that once in awhile. At first I kept the pupa in a different box and and took the beetles out, but that got to be more work than necessary.If you want them to produce faster, keep them warmer. I didn't want them in the house though. If you look it up on the internet, breeding mealworms, there are videos on u-tube and instructions.