Feeding worms in an Aviary

[Little Feathers]

I have an Aviary that has Gouldian's, Gold Breast's and Cordon Bleu's in it. I am wondering if someone could give some suggestions on how you can feed the Cordon's and Gold Breast's worms without feeding the Gouldian's worms. The expense of the worms is why I don't want to feed all the birds in the Aviary. My pair of Cordon's are on eggs now and they need worms to succesfully raise and I am trying to figure out how I can do that.

[wellingtoncdm]

Are you sure the gouldians would bother with the worms?

[Martie]

The expense of the worms is why I don't want to feed all the birds in the Aviary.

Have you thought about raising your own mealworms? It's so easy - and you could have an unlimited supply for the price of a potato or carrot once in a while.

[Little Feathers]

We just started raising our own, but JUST STARTED today. If they are as easy to raise as we have read it will be no problem. I should have started raising them much sooner, then I wouldn't be in this situation. But, here I am trying to find solution to my delima, at least a temorary one. Thanks for the suggestion. Have you raised mealworm before?

[Martie]

Yes, I do raise them. It takes a few months to get them started, but once they do, you will have plenty. They really are amazing.

Are you buying in bulk? We have Grubco up here - maybe others would have companies to suggest that are closer to you.

[Sally]

I use Grubco, I get the worms in two days in Texas. Very satisfied with them. I also have a mealworm farm, but from time to time I need more, so turn to Grubco. My waxbills are very picky about having 'mini' mealworms (spoiled brats!).

[debbie276]

I would put some worms in the aviary and see if the goulds even try them, chances are they will not

[dan78]

When I feed my mealworms out I also have gouldians in that flight and to this day I haven't seen a gouldian take a worm yet it may have but they never seem to go for the dish. I have heard of people say theirs eat worms so give a sample and see. If by some chance the gouldians seem interested in the worms green seeding heads or even green leafy veg can help them stay away from the worms as these are two of the foods gouldians love.

Breeding mealies is easy but does take some time to get started, a good heat source will help kick it off quicker. Remember the more worms you have the more food is going to be neede. I can go through a large carrot a week with mine.

[Little Feathers]

Thanks for all the responses. That gives me alot of options. I have been told about grubco but after I ordered my last worms, they seem to have the best prices and a very good reputation. I have never tried feeding my Gouldians worms I have always been told they love them. We make a mix of sprouted seed chopped kale/spinach/bock choy/swiss chard/carrots/couscous and homemade eggfood cornbread mix etc. The Gouldians, Gold Breast, and Courdons love it. Maybe since they have that option the Goulds won't bother the worms. I will try that.

[Ursula]

I have a mixed aviary also and my gouldians don't touch the worms. My owls eat them though, but the CBs are always the first at the dish.

I have given up on raising my own mealworms after a while. It's messy and a lot of work, and my beetles never produced enough worms anyway. I am back to buying mini mealworms in bulk (10000) online and storing them in the fridge in a container in wheatbran. They are ok for several months, especially if you take the container out every few weeks over night and feed them sliced apples.

One tip: The CBs are messy with the mealworms and tend to fling them around. After I had a mealworm colony in my walk-in aviary (with paper squiggles as bedding) I started freezing the next day's portion over night. When I fed several times a day when they were raising babies, I always put them at least a few hours in the freezer. Before feeding to the birds I let them thaw. It works best to have the frozen mealies in a small dish and place that small dish into a larger dish with hot water. That way they thaw within minutes and are also nice a warm. I found the birds liked them better that way than thawing them for a longer time just at room temperature.

[flyinverted]

I have CB's mixed in the aviary with Gouldians. Only the CB's and Owls eat the mealworms. Every once in a great while a young Goldie will pick up a worm but I've never seen one eat it.

When I go outside in the morning, the CB's will fly to ground and look up at me then the ground, up at me, then the ground telling me to deliver some worms. It's comical.

My mealworm farm took a few months to get going, but now I have as many worms as I need and never run out. They get left over carrots and apples. I spend 10-20 minutes per week sorting out the worms, dead beetles, etc.

[wellingtoncdm]

There are great youtube videos on mealworm farming.