Oh this is so GROSS! :-@

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:11 am

on the off chance that a some do get away just let the finches have free time in the house. shouldnt take them long to find the esscapees

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 1:22 pm

Unbelievable! You guys are making my hair turn grayer by the minute! I'll blame everything on each of you.

Ray - how do you store and feed mealworms?

It's been over 3 hours now and the Strawberries and the Fire Finches have NOT touched the damn things!!! They watch the worms wiggle (they think they're at a drive-in movie), then they go about their eating other stuff and go back to their perches...

I had actually though of them picking up the worms and dropping them somewhere to crawl off - how nice. Once these ones are gone (probably all going to die in the dishes from deglect and loneliness!) - I have high doubts about ever getting more. I don't need them in MY attic and behind every wall!

emessis · Post by **emessis** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 2:31 pm

Okay, I know I just had to go and talk about supers, but I can ease your mind about one thing: the mealworms will not colonize your house if any escape. First, they would have to find food, then a safe place to pupate, and as beetles they would have to find each other to breed, select a place for eggs...you get the picture. If they get out of the cages somehow, chances are you might run across a dead mealworm a few weeks later. So no need to worry about them getting into your walls.

As for what you can feed them, they'll eat all kinds of veggie scraps quite happily (carrot, kale, lettuce, sweet potato, etc.) and someone already mentioned apple. Anything that has some good moisture in it and nothing toxic to your birds.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 2:50 pm

Ahh you made me feel so much better re my house being taken over by these creatures! Thank you!!

Now... how do I MAKE the finches EAT them?

I must have the dummest finches in the nation!

franny · Post by **franny** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 2:55 pm

Maybe sprinkle some of their eggfood on the mealworms? Then they'll smell like food.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 2:57 pm

Ooh - I'll go do that right now. Again - thanks Fran.

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 3:42 pm

I think mealworms are just like everything we feed the birds they don't always eat the first few times give it a chance

Rayray · Post by **Rayray** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 3:52 pm

when i used mealworms ( thats 10 years ago ) , i put them in a plastic container with cover and poked little holes in it , as food for them oatmeal and put the container in the basement ( nice and cold ) , they stay good fot at least 2 months .

as far as the ones that escaped , i didn't want to make you scared but i have seen the roofs and ceilings where they were , and i am not joking !!

Ray

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 4:57 pm

Maybe the bowls I bought were too deep for them to reach in to the bottom to snatch the worms... I've now put in wider plastic tupperware that they can hop into to get the eggfood and worms IF they want them.

If they don't eat them today - do I put the worms back in the fridge?

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 5:13 pm

Liz, I just toss them. Too much trouble for a few worms. Flush them down the toilet.

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 5:34 pm

Maybe they would rather eat GummiWorms...lol.

If they don't eat the mealworms you can go to this link and there are some good recipes using mealworms. I especially like the Mealworm Chocolate Chip cookie recipe...yum!

Mealworm Recipes

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 6:55 pm

If these silly birds (who don't know what's good for them) don't eat these worms - I'm going to mail one to each of you!

BillD · Post by **BillD** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 9:26 pm

B CAMP wrote:I think mealworms are just like everything we feed the birds they don't always eat the first few times give it a chance

Have to agree with B Camp.. I have tried a few different veggies and they still like the Romaine (still no Kale in the stores to try)..

I think if they had a craving for mealworms, they would have eaten them, no matter how deep the dish was. maybe that suggests you are giving them a great diet and they don't need them?

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 9:32 pm

Liz
Some don't eat them I know,I have A pair of GB that are setting on eggs they won't touch them

BillD · Post by **BillD** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 9:36 pm

B CAMP wrote:Liz
Some don't eat them I know,I have A pair of GB that are setting on eggs they won't touch them

Keeping my fingers crossed for you B Camp.