We have been putting in mealworms for a couple of weeks at least now, but as far as we can tell they are not touching them. We started with the normal size, have now moved to the mini ones but no noticeable difference. it has been suggested to us that we shoudl cut them but we are not prepared to do that. We are happy to keep providing them if at some point they will take them, but just wondering if anyone has any other suggestions.
We are also going to try and to a fruitfly trap but so far we got a very mouldy pineapple and no fruitfly. Not sure if there is something we need to do first to encourage the fruitfly?
Getting finches to take mealworms
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jusdeb
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Dunno I set up 2 mealworm ranches and offered every size even squished beatle , nope wont touch them so now they always have insectivore in the cages which they will nibble at .
Boiled egg and corn crumbs or egg and biscuit mixed together is offered as extra protein , Quarrions pig out on that no one else likes it .
My finches sadly only eat seed with breeding aid / cod liver oil ( either not both ) and the greens in season and maybe the odd nibble of insectivore , gave up on mealworms frankly dont have the money to be wasting on them and the finicky diet , if they dont eat something then bugger them .
Theyre not neglected just not into wasting time and money ....harsh hey
Boiled egg and corn crumbs or egg and biscuit mixed together is offered as extra protein , Quarrions pig out on that no one else likes it .
My finches sadly only eat seed with breeding aid / cod liver oil ( either not both ) and the greens in season and maybe the odd nibble of insectivore , gave up on mealworms frankly dont have the money to be wasting on them and the finicky diet , if they dont eat something then bugger them .
Theyre not neglected just not into wasting time and money ....harsh hey
Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue.
David Brent
David Brent
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flap
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No, not harsh, just sensible! It's not like you haven't tried!!! what is insectivore??? they do get egg and biscuit mix, haven't tried boiled eggs yet but that is next. There is now way I am bringing termites anywhere near the house, and figured no point trying maggots (plus neighbours might not be happy about smells, and our dog on the other hand would!!!!! ). Like you, running out of ideas.
). Like you, running out of ideas.flaP
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VR1Ton
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Put them with their favorite foods. I use them for the softbills and put them with termites, egg & bicky, hard boiled egg, & insectivore. The finches soon learn to eat them, but do prefer the termites. You also need to be careful not to over feed mealworms to finches, as the citon in the shell is not very digestable, & can, on occasion, cause gut impaction. They are also quite low in calcium.
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jusdeb
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Insectivore is a powder for insect eating birds , its quite expensive but given in small amounts lasts a long time . Boiled egss are easy just boil them , mash them with a fork or put through a seive put them back in the fridge for a couple of hours uncovered to dry out and then mix with egg/biscuit or breadcrumbs ( my googling tells me to go for corn or rice crumbs so as to avoid yeast issues ).
Google again tells me that drying out the egg makes it less last longer because it has less moisture to spoil it.
My attitude buy it once try it a couple of times over a period of time as they do eat differently during the year ie. breeding season , if not eaten then dont buy it again but try something else.
Google again tells me that drying out the egg makes it less last longer because it has less moisture to spoil it.
My attitude buy it once try it a couple of times over a period of time as they do eat differently during the year ie. breeding season , if not eaten then dont buy it again but try something else.
Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue.
David Brent
David Brent
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E Orix
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Why won't my birds eat Mealworms
Few Finches will eat Mealworms when not actually feeding chicks.
Even those classed as very insectivorous will only eat a few and to us that quantity is very low indeed.
This time of the year if I put in 50 Mealworms they would last all day. When the breeding season is in full swing those birds in that same aviary will easily consume close to half a KG(5000+ worms) a day as well as a huge amout of Bush Fly Maggots.
Personally I don't think you need to feed many Mealworms until about two weeks before the birds start to nest in ernest.
You will see a number of Finches with a Mealworm in their beak but once eaten few go back for more.
The ones going back often could be Cordons,Goldfinches or Stars and they may just be pulling the heads off and flicking the bodies away.(makes me real happy when that happens)
I do not limit my birds at all from eating Mealworms but there is a another step to concider.When they are being fed and eaten in numbers, before you feed out the worms put them in an open tray.Using an atomiser spray them very lightly with a very weak HONEY & Water Mix.Once this is done you can sprinkle them with fine calcium dust and or some Mike Fidler softbill or seed eater mix. The worms then will carry a fine layer of additives.This is a very very good way to get Calcium into the bird and it will be absorbed. For Calcium to be effectivly absorbed it needs Manganese to be accompanied with and Mealworms have adequate maganese in their bodies.
Birds such as Gouldians,the Munias, Zebras,Canaries etc are not big livefood eaters. I am not saying you won't see them occasionally finishing off a Mealworm but they won't be rushing the food tray.
Few Finches will eat Mealworms when not actually feeding chicks.
Even those classed as very insectivorous will only eat a few and to us that quantity is very low indeed.
This time of the year if I put in 50 Mealworms they would last all day. When the breeding season is in full swing those birds in that same aviary will easily consume close to half a KG(5000+ worms) a day as well as a huge amout of Bush Fly Maggots.
Personally I don't think you need to feed many Mealworms until about two weeks before the birds start to nest in ernest.
You will see a number of Finches with a Mealworm in their beak but once eaten few go back for more.
The ones going back often could be Cordons,Goldfinches or Stars and they may just be pulling the heads off and flicking the bodies away.(makes me real happy when that happens)
I do not limit my birds at all from eating Mealworms but there is a another step to concider.When they are being fed and eaten in numbers, before you feed out the worms put them in an open tray.Using an atomiser spray them very lightly with a very weak HONEY & Water Mix.Once this is done you can sprinkle them with fine calcium dust and or some Mike Fidler softbill or seed eater mix. The worms then will carry a fine layer of additives.This is a very very good way to get Calcium into the bird and it will be absorbed. For Calcium to be effectivly absorbed it needs Manganese to be accompanied with and Mealworms have adequate maganese in their bodies.
Birds such as Gouldians,the Munias, Zebras,Canaries etc are not big livefood eaters. I am not saying you won't see them occasionally finishing off a Mealworm but they won't be rushing the food tray.
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flap
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Thanks for that information Orix, we do have one pair of stars nesting, not sure if they are touching the worms though and no one else seems to be either. Will keep in mind the tips re getting calcium into them too. I assumed from reading etc that they would all go for live food as soon as available.
Have bought some of the insectivore powder anyway so we have that option too. Remains to be seen if the nesting will amout to eggs and chicks anyway.
Have bought some of the insectivore powder anyway so we have that option too. Remains to be seen if the nesting will amout to eggs and chicks anyway.
flaP
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Pete Sara
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try banana peel or orange or manderine peel for your acid fly trap . well mr orix beat me to it in saying most birds wont touch mealies till they are due to feed young...there has been many a baby ob bred without mealies, you may have less in a clutch but they still breed....pete p.s stars are worse than ozzie osborne with bats for biting the heads off mealies......
