During times when protein penury are high-pitched , such as during a crybaby ’s annual molt or when hens reelect to egg laying in the spring , mealworm are an splendid protein supplement to help get together seasonal nutritionary necessity .
I thought for a brief time that I might try nurture some mealworm myself . wide-eyed system exist for raising all kinds of squirmy critters . Red worm , for example , can be raised in commercialvermicomposting systems , and now people who care mealworm in their human food or want to raise them for chickens can do so on the kitchen counter in atiered hotel contraption .
Coming To Terms With Mealworms
I knew the mealworm was the larvae of something , but I did n’t know what . When I began researching a method for farm mealworm for my chickens , it did n’t occur to me that I ’d be growing mallet — black , creepy - crawly darkling beetles . I also did n’t realize that I would have to separate the beetles from the larvae and pupa by paw . My naiveté amuses me . Clearly , parent mealworms is n’t for people who do n’t like germ .
If my local pet stores carried halt - dry out mealworm crybaby delicacy , I would have foot some up by now . Online prices seemed eminent for the six - legged “ louse , ” but when I establish live ones at my local pet store—100 for $ 3.99 — I realize the online prices are quite a buy . I decided to buy the ones available to me just this once . When I returned home , I pop my raw writhing friends into the freezer to kill them — at least , that ’s what was supposed to happen . I did n’t immobilise them long enough , and some reanimated upon the warmth of the egg frying beneath them .
Why Mealworms?
With the days produce longer , my flock is returning to egg - laying well before spring ’s insect explosion . Now is a great time to tally some insect protein to its diet . Not only are mealworms an fantabulous source of protein , they ’re full of essential mineral like atomic number 11 and potassium ( significant electrolytes for adequate hydration ) , iron , Cu , and zinc .
If you ’d like to feed your flock mealworm as they ’re gearing up for another prolific testicle - lay time of year , buy dried mealworms to get the most for your money . Or , do like I did and from time to time freeze alive 1 . you could even fudge them into the treats you already make in the kitchen for your chickens .
Using Mealworms With Caution
Keep in mind that mealworm should n’t be considered a feed germ . They ’re simply a supplement to equilibrise nutritionary motive along with even chicken feed and natural forage . Mealworms simply provide a protein cost increase when chickens need it most .
If you do purchase live mealworms , lie with that the darkling mallet is an invasive coinage to North America . Do not sprinkle live mealworm for forage like one might toss lively cricket into a ladder to flop wintertime boredom . Also , experience that springy mealworms can bite ; you probably wo n’t want to handle them with bare hired man .
Where To Buy Mealworms
heavy software package of mealworms are available fromChubby Mealwormsand are market as savage - bird treats . The 2 - pound bag ( 32,000 mealworms ) fly the coop about $ 25 , the 5 - lb bags ( 80,000 mealworm ) flow for about $ 49 on Amazon . They ’re also available on Chubby ’s website .
Happy Hen Treats ’ Mealworm Frenzy mealwormsare package especially for volaille keepers , and are available in smaller package for the modest quite a little of backyard chickens .
alive mealworms are also available online , should grow your own beetle interest you . I ’ll leave that hobby to the more avant-garde of you , while I return to my favourite store to quest they deport a freeze - dry out edition for my flock .
