Dried mealworms for garden birds

Dried mealworms can be offered to garden birds in small portions throughout the year, including when current UK guidance advises pausing seed and peanuts. Start with a modest pack, use a suitable non-flat feeder and remove leftovers by dusk. If you soften them with water, prepare only what birds will eat that day.

The three products here are primarily separated by packaging and quantity. None should be treated as a complete diet or a shortcut around clean water, feeder hygiene and sensible portions.

Best small tub: Supa dried mealworms 1L

Supa's one-litre bucket is easy to close, carry and keep with outdoor feeding supplies. It is a practical starting size and the container can be reused after it has been emptied and cleaned.

The listing gives volume rather than net weight. Dried mealworms are light and settle differently, so a litre cannot be compared directly with a 500g pouch by looking at the numbers alone.

Choose this product for a small rigid container. Keep it indoors; the bucket is not a reason to leave food in a damp shed or beside the feeder.

Best clearly weighed pack: RSPB dried mealworms 500g

The RSPB pouch contains a stated 500g and is resealable. A measured weight makes unit comparisons easier and helps readers estimate how much food they are actually storing.

The pouch is recyclable according to the listing, but it provides less physical protection than a rigid box. Keep it upright in a sealed secondary container if there is any chance of puncture, humidity or pest access.

RSPB's title mentions tables and ground feeders. We do not recommend those flat surfaces under current disease-risk guidance. Use a suitable non-flat mealworm feeder only if you can verify that its lower base does not catch food in a broad tray.

Best bulk bag: Maltby's dried mealworms 5L

Maltby's listing describes five litres with an approximate weight of 800g. It is the largest option here and may suit someone whose feeders already use mealworms promptly.

“Approximately” matters. Natural dried material varies and the weight is not presented as exact. Compare it cautiously with the RSPB pouch rather than treating five litres as five kilograms.

The opened bag needs a rigid, sealed secondary container. If demand is uncertain, the Supa or RSPB pack is the more sensible purchase.

Dried and live mealworms are not the same

Drying makes mealworms easier to store and removes much of their water. Live mealworms behave differently in a feeder and require their own storage and containment.

Do not assume that a product described as high protein is nutritionally complete. Supplementary food should remain a small part of what wild birds find naturally.

The RSPB's current feeding advice recommends soaking mealworms in spring and summer to increase their water content and make them easier for chicks to eat. Offer a fresh small portion, never return it to the storage pack, and clear any remainder by dusk. Added moisture shortens the safe time outside.

Choose a non-flat feeder

A port-based hanging feeder can keep light pieces from scattering, but check photographs of the actual feeding opening and lower base. A roof alone does not make a broad food-catching dish suitable. The feeder needs a secure lid and full access for cleaning.

Avoid a broad tray, including a trough on the bottom of a hanging feeder. Current BTO advice recommends avoiding flat feeding surfaces because food and droppings can accumulate together. A cage can reduce access by larger birds but does not make a flat inner dish a sound choice.

Our mealworm feeder guide explains how to judge the opening and why some familiar products have been left off the shortlist under current guidance.

How much to put out

Begin with a small pinch or shallow portion that disappears promptly. Dried mealworms are light and can blow away, so filling a dish deeply creates waste without guaranteeing more birds will eat.

Observe at the same time each day. If pieces remain, reduce the next amount. If a busy group clears them immediately, refill later rather than leaving a large exposed supply.

Clear spill beneath the feeder before evening. Mealworms left on the ground can attract rodents and other animals.

If spill persists, our guide to preventing mice around bird food covers the feeding-point changes that matter more than buying a larger container.

Water, weather and storage

Keep clean fresh water available in a separate, regularly cleaned bird bath. Dried food contains little moisture, and a nearby water source is useful without wetting the stored supply.

Rain can turn a light dry portion into a soggy mass. Check after showers, discard wet leftovers and dry the feeder before refilling. A roof helps with direct rain but cannot prevent condensation or wind-driven moisture.

Store the main pack indoors, away from heat and humidity. Close it immediately after portioning and do not mix a new bag into old residue.

Cleaning and disease precautions

Clean the feeder at least weekly and more often if wet food or droppings appear. Empty it, dismantle removable parts, wash, disinfect as directed, rinse and dry completely.

Small dishes and corners can retain fragments that are difficult to see. Use a dedicated brush and inspect drainage openings before the feeder goes back outside.

For a manageable routine, see how often to clean bird feeders; wet mealworms or visible droppings call for cleaning sooner than the weekly minimum.

If birds appear lethargic, fluffed up or otherwise unwell, stop feeding and follow current RSPB/BTO disease advice. Remove spilled food and clean the surrounding area before considering a restart.

Frequently asked questions

If you are deciding between food formats rather than pack sizes, our live-versus-dried mealworm comparison covers moisture, storage and handling. For birds that mainly forage below feeders, read food for ground-feeding birds before adding any tray or dish.

Can birds eat dried mealworms?

Yes, they can be offered as a supplementary invertebrate food in small fresh portions. Use a suitable non-flat feeder, protect the food from rain and remove leftovers promptly.

Should dried mealworms be soaked?

They can be softened following current authoritative guidance, but prepare only a small amount and remove wet leftovers quickly. Never return soaked food to the storage pack.

Can dried mealworms go in a seed feeder?

Use a feeder designed to retain them. Ordinary seed ports may leak or trap the light pieces.

Can I feed dried mealworms all year?

Current advice treats suitable invertebrate foods differently from seeds and peanuts, but portions, freshness, weather and hygiene still govern whether feeding is appropriate.