Mealworm massacre

[MisterGribs]

So last night, after losing my final zeeb chick, I went to bed feeling rather sad. Animals are very sensitive to our emotions, and birds are by far no exception.

I have free range finches, basically half of the bedroom is theirs and is set up with a number of perches and play areas. At night, the finches return to their sleeping places, and they spend most of their time in the cage during the late afternoon and evening. I don't lock them up, generally, unless I'm leaving the house and won't be able to supervise.

I also farm my own mealworms, as they are a pain in the buns to get around here, and expensive to boot. Because I am scared to death of mold since I had to trash my first (Admittedly pathetic) colony, I have no lid on my mealworm colony. To avoid the birds from helping themselves, I keep them slid under a table in the dark and out of sight. The birds have never bothered them. Until this morning.

When I woke up to Scrambles singing merrily, I was really happy because he hasn't been very well lately. He has some kind of chronic illness that makes him lose his voice, but this morning he was singing fit to beat the band. I also noticed that the floor of my bedroom was covered with mealworms. I immediately thought, 'Oh no, the birds have knocked over the mealworms.. I had better clean them up before my wife loses her bananas.' But then I noticed that most of the mealworms were dead, killed, mutilated in a variety of ways. Only a few of them were moving, weakly, clearly having survived some terrible trauma.

My birds love mealworms, provided I chop them into manageable bits. Except for Scrambles, a 9 year old cockerel, he hates the taste of mealworms. He refuses to eat them, but boy, does he ever love to kill them. I have never seen such an exuberant and happy animal as Scrambles on the rampage, murdering one mealworm after another, bashing them against the perches, chewing them up like corn on the cob or standing on either end and pulling off the middle only to throw it against the wall for me to clean off later.
Apparently, Scrambles had decided that I needed cheering up, and as his mealworm antics had always made me laugh before and were the most fun thing his tiny bird brain could think of, I guess he thought he'd throw me a little party and have a lot of fun.

Only he'd forgot to invite me. And there was a mutilated meal worm in my hair.

[ann]

MisterGribs

I'm sorry, but that's pretty hilarious! Your Scrambles is very naughty. I hope you got it all cleaned up before the wife noticed.

[lovezebs]

MisterGribs

At least he saved one for you, lol.

How on earth did he get under the table and into the container to get at them???
AND... WHAT ON EARTH IS HIS PROBLEM???

[MisterGribs]

lovezebs I don't know! He has never done it before! There is a gap, well WAS a gap, between the table and farm and he must have got in. Most of the containers the mealworms are kept in are clear, so they are visible, but so far only Vilu ventures to the floor.

Beats me, he's so sweet and affectionate otherwise. It's the quiet ones you have to watch out for.

[MisterGribs]

ann I didn't... But she's thankfully very understanding.

[lovezebs]

MisterGribs

So strange.
Most of my guys, don't outright consume the whole mealworm.
They eat their heads, then squeeze out their innards like a yogurt tube, leaving only the flattened outer casing behind.

I am also attempting to grow my own mealworms,(again) and after a couple of somewhat miserable failures, have finally suceeded (having now a sizable container if tiny baby worms hardly visible to the naked eye).

You should read my thread about some of my first attempts. You might enjoy it.

http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php ... what+is+it

[MisterGribs]

I am still finding blasted mealworms EVERYWHERE.

[lovezebs]

MisterGribs

Just set Scrambles after them and blow a tiny little hunting horn, lol.

Wait till they turn to beatles and start running around...

P.S.
Empty the vacume out really well, and suck them up with the hose. Then you can pick them out of the container.

[MisterGribs]

lovezebs If they turn into Beatles, they'll be going on tour lol

[MisterGribs]

It's that classic band from the 60s, the Mealworm Beatles

Back with the best hits, such as:

All you need is loaves
Here comes the bun
All things must frass
Chewing a hole
Rolled oats for Beethoven

And let's not forget one of my personal favorites,
8 days of wheat

[lovezebs]

MisterGribs



Beetles you silly lad, BEETLES

You knew what I meant!!!!

Love your Beatles though ,lol.
And the song choices as well .

How about:
Nowhere Worm
A Day In The Life Of A Worm
Don't Let Me Down (They'll eat me....)
Wormsie In The Sky With Finches
We All Live In A Yellow Tupperware

[MisterGribs]

lovezebs Classics, all classics

[Zebrafincher]

Sorry to hear about your young Zeeb! My two (normal and CFW) drive me crazy as they're always bickering with eachother! The meal worms look pretty gross but I guess the birds love them. I knew a lady who had chickens, and they loved them!

Zebrafincher

[MisterGribs]

Zebrafincher mealworms are really great, I also feed them to my quail chicks, and eat the dry roasted ones myself

[lovezebs]

MisterGribs

Did you say " QUAIL CHICKS ???"

Last I heard there was only one...

What did I miss??? What did I miss???