Spring has finally sprung, which means that nesting season is well and truly under way in the UK! The days are growing longer, the weather is getting warmer, and it’ll be more and more common to see birds flitting about your garden in search of food for their young fledglings. 

Having wild birds visit your garden is one of life’s greatest pleasures, and if you’ve found your way to this blog, you’re likely wondering whether or not dried mealworms are a suitable snack for your feathered friends. So, without further ado, let’s get into it!

Dried mealworms are a highly nutritious (not to mention delicious!) snack perfect for wild bird feeding all year round. Dried mealworms are high in protein, fibre, and essential fats. Mealworms are a natural part of many wild birds’ diets, and are readily enjoyed by a wide variety of wild birds including robins, blue tits, blackbirds, starlings, dunnocks, sparrows, and wrens. 

Both dried and live mealworms are a great source of protein, which is very important since lack of protein in a diet can lead to dull and brittle feathers that easily break.

Feeding dried mealworms to wild birds FAQ’s

Are dried mealworms or live mealworms best?

Live mealworms are slightly more nutritionally beneficial to wild bird feeding than dried due to their moistness, but dried mealworms have the benefits of being significantly more convenient to keep and having a much longer storage life! Both dried and live meal worms are great sources of fat, protein, and fibre, although live mealworms offer more hydration.

Why soak dried mealworms?

Soaking dried mealworms is a great way to help wild birds get more hydration. Simply soak your dried mealworms in clean water for about 30 minutes before putting them out, et voila! 

When is the best time to feed dried mealworms?

Mealworms can be fed to wild birds all year round, but they're particularly beneficial during the winter periods when high-protein and high-fat foods are the most valuable. They're also great during the nesting season for keeping busy parent birds suitably energised. During nesting season, it's highly recommended to soak your dried mealworms since baby birds don’t drink water and rely on the moisture they get from their food.

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Here at Really Wild Bird Food, we’re passionate about providing wild birds with the essential nutrients they need to stay fit and healthy all year long. This is why we stock a variety of mealworms and worms.

Mealworms are available both dried and live – you can even get mini meal worms, bite-sized high-protein snacks perfect for fledgelings!

Dried Mealworms 

Dried mealworms are a good alternative to live mealworms – whether you don’t like the wriggling or don’t have the means to store live mealworms, dried mealworms offer the same high protein and high fibre content as live mealworms.

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Live Mealworms 

Mealworms are the larvae of the Flour Beetle and are made up of 48% protein, making them one of the most protein-dense feed options for wild birds! Live mealworms can be easily stored in a garage or utility rooms since they are clean and odourless. Store at room temperature. If you want them to last longer, you can keep them in the warmest part of your fridge.

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Live Mini Mealworms 

Live mini mealworms are loved by all manner of wild birds! Mini mealworms are very moist – that combined with their small size makes them the perfect feed for fledglings.

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If you’d like to browse our full collection of live and dried worms, calci worms, and mealworms for birds, check out the link below!

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Read More: Bird Feeding Tips: Live Mealworms and Wax Worms