Mealworms for Birds

Insect-based food for garden birds

Live, Dried or Added to a Mix?

Mealworms provide an insect-based supplementary food for many familiar garden birds. Choose live mealworms, convenient dried mealworms, dried calciworms or a bird food containing mealworms.

The best choice depends on the birds visiting your garden, how you prefer to feed and how much food is likely to be eaten. Offer manageable quantities, remove uneaten food and keep feeding dishes and surrounding areas clean.

Shop mealworms for birds Read the feeding guide ↓
Mealworms offered as food for garden birds
Feed appropriate amounts and remove uneaten food

Choose with confidence

Live, Dried or Calciworms?

Live mealworms, dried mealworms and dried calciworms provide different ways to offer insect-based food. Your choice may depend on convenience, storage, the feeding location and what the birds visiting your garden are prepared to eat.

These foods are best offered thoughtfully as part of a varied feeding routine, rather than as the only food available.

Live mealworms supplied as food for garden birds Live food
01

Live Mealworms

Live mealworms contain natural moisture and movement. They require more careful handling and storage than dried food, so always follow the instructions supplied with them.

  • Require suitable storage and handling
  • Offer only manageable quantities
  • Sent directly from our UK supplier
  • Not available through Click & Collect
Shop live mealworms →
Dried mealworms for wild garden birds Convenient to store
02

Dried Mealworms

Dried mealworms offer a convenient alternative to live food. They can be stored and measured easily and offered in a suitable feeder, dish or bird table.

  • Convenient for regular feeding
  • Easy to measure and store
  • Can be offered dry
  • May be rehydrated when appropriate
Shop dried mealworms →
Dried calciworms for garden birds An alternative dried insect
03

Dried Calciworms

Calciworms are a different dried insect food and should not be confused with mealworms. They provide another option for adding insect-based food to your garden-feeding routine.

  • An alternative to dried mealworms
  • Easy to portion and store
  • Suitable for appropriate feeding areas
  • Follow the product feeding directions
Shop dried calciworms →

How you feed matters

Offer Mealworms Responsibly

Mealworms can attract birds quickly, but uneaten food and dirty feeding areas can create avoidable problems. Begin with a modest quantity, observe what is being eaten and adjust the amount you offer.

Read how to feed birds properly
  1. 01
    Feed little and often

    Offer an amount that is likely to be eaten rather than leaving food to accumulate.

  2. 02
    Remove uneaten food

    Clear away old, damp or contaminated food and dispose of it appropriately.

  3. 03
    Keep feeding equipment clean

    Wash suitable dishes and feeders regularly and allow them to dry before refilling.

  4. 04
    Observe the birds

    Notice which species visit, what they eat and whether food is being left behind.

  5. 05
    Provide fresh water

    Keep drinking and bathing water fresh and clean alongside the feeding area.

Serving and storage

Make Mealworm Feeding Manageable

Offering the food

Use a suitable dish, bird table or specialist mealworm feeder. Choose a position that allows you to inspect the food and clean the feeding surface easily.

Rehydrating dried mealworms

If you choose to rehydrate dried mealworms, use clean water and prepare only an amount that will be offered promptly. Remove anything left uneaten and clean the container afterwards.

Keeping dried food

Store dried mealworms and calciworms securely in a cool, dry place, protected from moisture, pests and contamination. Follow the instructions shown on the packaging.

Caring for live food

Live mealworms should be handled with care and kept in accordance with the supplier’s current instructions. Order a quantity that you can manage appropriately.

Specialist metal feeder suitable for offering mealworms
A specialist feeder can help contain the food

Keep food contained

Choose a Mealworm Feeder

A suitable mealworm feeder can help contain the food, make it easier to monitor what is being eaten and simplify regular cleaning.

Choose a feeder suited to the food, the birds you hope to attract and the position in which it will be used.

View all mealworm and softfood feeders →
View all
Which garden birds eat mealworms?

Mealworms may be taken by a variety of garden birds that include insects and other invertebrates in their natural diets. The species visiting your feeding area will depend on your location, habitat, season and how the food is presented.

Begin with a modest quantity and observe which birds visit and how quickly the food is eaten.

Are live or dried mealworms better?

Neither option is automatically best for every garden or feeding routine. Live mealworms contain moisture and movement but require appropriate care and storage. Dried mealworms are convenient to measure and keep but contain much less moisture.

Consider the birds visiting, the amount likely to be eaten and whether you can store and handle the chosen food properly.

Can dried mealworms be soaked in water?

Dried mealworms may be rehydrated when this is consistent with the product directions. Use clean water and prepare only the quantity you intend to offer promptly.

Remove anything left uneaten and wash the soaking and feeding containers before they are used again.

View dried mealworms →
How many mealworms should I put out?

There is no fixed amount for every garden. Start with a small portion, observe how quickly it is eaten and adjust future quantities accordingly.

Feeding little and often makes it easier to keep the food fresh and avoid unnecessary accumulation beneath feeders or on bird tables.

Can mealworms be fed throughout the year?

Mealworms can be offered as a supplementary garden bird food at different times of year. The quantities taken and the species visiting may change with the season and the availability of natural food.

Continue to offer appropriate variety, feed manageable amounts and remove old or uneaten food.

What is the difference between mealworms and calciworms?

Mealworms and calciworms come from different insect species. Although both are sold as insect-based bird foods, they are separate products with different nutritional compositions.

Check the individual product descriptions and feeding directions rather than treating them as identical.

View dried calciworms →
How should dried mealworms and calciworms be stored?

Keep dried insect food securely closed in a cool, dry place. Protect it from moisture, pests and contamination, and follow any storage instructions printed on the packaging.

Do not offer food that appears damp, mouldy, stale or otherwise unsuitable.

How should live mealworms be stored?

Follow the current care and storage information supplied with the live mealworms. They are living invertebrates and should be handled thoughtfully and kept in appropriate conditions.

Order a quantity you can manage and use responsibly.

Read the live mealworm information →
Can I collect live mealworms from Haith’s?

No. Live mealworms are sent directly from our UK supplier and are therefore excluded from Haith’s Click & Collect service. Check the product page for current ordering and despatch information.