RCCB babies & mealworms... for how long?

[L in Ontario]

So my fostered RCCB babies (and Star babies) are due to fledge possibly next week. I'm wondering how long I need to keep providing mealworms in the cage?

BTW - I checked the nest of the RCCB parents and in addition to the 3 Star eggs - they had laid EIGHT more of their own. I removed the Star eggs (infertile) and one of their own - dented. I gave them back 7 but they are not sitting tight anyway so this is probably a complete loss / waste of time.

[Sally]

Liz, when I had the 5 BCCB babies under Societies, I gave the fosters mealworms daily, but once the babies fledged, I cut back on the mealworms and increased the eggfood. May be silly of me, but I was hoping that if the little fledglings didn't get exposed to eating mealworms on their own, they might not need them once they get old enough to raise their own family--I wish, anyway! The fledglings are now chowing down on eggfood.

[L in Ontario]

That sounds logical, Sally. Thanks - I'll be doing the same. My fosters get plenty of mealies now but once they fledge next week I'll cut back on the mealies and up the anty on the eggfood.

All the babies look so good now - their feathers have opened up... and the all look the same in the nest! yikes!