How many mealworms?

[Queen_Bee]

So I picked up some creepy crawlies for my RCCBs tonight. I have a container of 50 small mealworms sitting in my fridge (Heaven help me if my mother-in-law comes over! ) Anyway, I have a pair of RCCBs. How many mealworms should they eat in a day? I put out 6 for them, but don't know if this is good or not. They also have a constant supply of seed as well as daily helpings of veggies (they don't touch them), eggfood (which they sometimes eat) and freeze dried bloodworms (which they pretty consistently eat). They are not nesting or raising any chicks as of yet.

thanks for any info,

Jacqui

[mickp]

most breeders would say 2 worms per bird per day. but to increase this amount when they are breeding. it isnt often that rccb's will raise a clutch to fledging without live food
easy to achieve if the birds are kept by themselves but if in a mixed aviary you have no idea who is eating what.

[L in Ontario]

Getting used to having mealies in the fridge and handling them does get much easier with a little time. I freaked out when I first had them. Now I don't even give a second thought. Good luck with yours!

[Ursula]

50 mealworms wouldn't last long in my aviary. I buy them 10000 at a time...

Why limit them to 2 a day?

If you want them to breed they won't be happy with 2 or 5 a day. You'll have to put in more than that, and if fact never let the cup get empty.

P.S.: The higher quantity you buy, the cheaper they are and they will last for months in the fridge. Also, make sure you buy the "mini mealworms" not the small ones. Mine gobble up the minis but turn down the small size. Too big for them!

[wellingtoncdm]

I put out 50-100 most days. My RCCB pair only bite their heads off and ignore the rest. Two mealworms would only last five seconds. The parrot finches and spice finches as well as an occasional owl finch strip them, eat the middle and discard the skins. I have never seen a cordon do this but they also eat hard boiled egg really well!

[annague]

Ditto to what CDMWellington said. MY CB's want to see loads of mealworms both to get into condition and feel confident in raising their broods, and I keep them stocked when they are feeding so they won't be tempted to toss. Some people have been lucky enough to get birds that will raise without mealies-- and I have one pair of BCCB's that I think would do this but not my RCCB's.