Mealworms

[elusive]

Dried chicken is definitely worth a try, my hams have never been too keen on the little cubes of white chicken meat but there are other types sold for dogs & cats that they like, just make sure it’s not chicken liver.

Over populations do happen very quickly I discovered!
If you have any blackbirds or thrushes in your garden they will really benefit from some mealworms, you can just put them out in a dish that’s deep enough so they don’t crawl out.
Make sure there are none left out in the evenings though (not usually a problem as birds gobble them up really quickly) in case any hedgehogs are about as mealworms are really bad for them.

 

[Socks' Mum]

Dried chicken is definitely worth a try, my hams have never been too keen on the little cubes of white chicken meat but there are other types sold for dogs & cats that they like, just make sure it’s not chicken liver.

Over populations do happen very quickly I discovered!
If you have any blackbirds or thrushes in your garden they will really benefit from some mealworms, you can just put them out in a dish that’s deep enough so they don’t crawl out.
Make sure there are none left out in the evenings though (not usually a problem as birds gobble them up really quickly) in case any hedgehogs are about as mealworms are really bad for them.

Thanks, great advice! It seems some will need to go the way of the magpie so the birds will get their breakfast worms after all.
Thanks for the info about chicken for hamsters. He's eating quite well at the moment because of all the exercise he's getting, but I would like to make sure he gets enough protein.

 

[Dusty's Mom]

After reading this interesting thread about meal worms, is it ok to try dried meal or buffalo worms for hamsters?

 

[elusive]

Dried mealworms are fine in moderation & a lot of hamsters enjoy them, I’ve not seen buffalo worms but I think they’re very similar but just smaller so should be fine.

 

[Dusty's Mom]

I was reading the difference between Buffalo worms and Meal worms. They look the same but the Buffalo worms exoskeleton is thinner so it makes them easier to eat I guess. We have a gecko and feed him live meal worms. But I would feed Dusty dried worms. Live ones I don't want to deal with taking the heads off or them rotting in a food stash somewhere.

 

[Maz]

I don’t know much about buffalo worms. I’ve just used the dried mealworms for hamsters although my hamster mix contains them so I tend not to buy them separately. One treat they enjoy is pumpkin seeds in the white shells. Cracking open the shells to get at the pumpkin seed inside. If Zive ever had a pumpkin at Halloween, I save the seeds and dry them

 

[Dusty's Mom]

OH good idea!! I get raw pumpkin seeds at a store called Sprouts here. It is a farmers market type store with barrels of seeds, grains, nuts and candies to buy by the pound. My pumpkins seeds are green.

 

[Maz]

I always used to get green ones as well The white ones are the shell on the outside of the green ones and they like cracking open the shell. For a long time I didn't realise they came in a white shell originally!

 

[Dusty's Mom]

Well I didn't know that either until just now! Thanks! They don't have the white shelled ones where I shop. I would like to get some. I will keep looking. Or buy a small pumpkin in the fall just for the seeds. LOL!

 

[Maz]

Hamsters really love cracking the shells to get at the pumpkin seed inside Keeps them busy.

 

[Socks' Mum]

After reading this interesting thread about meal worms, is it ok to try dried meal or buffalo worms for hamsters?

Yes, a lot of stores sell them for birds and they are clean and safe and convenient. Socks took one from me once, nibbled on it and then chucked it inconspicuously to one side. But I have seen dwarfies eat them with relish, so it's definitely worth giving it a try!

 

[Socks' Mum]

I agree about the cutting off heads, ugh!

 

[Dusty's Mom]

Thanks, Socks, I may try them for Dusty.