How to feed Dried Mealworms to wild birds

Focus of offering dried mealworms to what are primarily insect-eating birds must be out in the open, while restrictions would apply if nuisance birds are eating them all.

How do you feed mealworms to birds of the dry kind is in an open dish to safely hang off a pole or branch. Dried mealworms can be put in a feeder to apply restrictions or feed insect-eating birds on the lawn. Mealworms can be placed on various elevated areas in the yard to attract wild birds to safely eat.

What is so great about serving up dried mealworms as oppose to live mealworms to birds is its possible to do so in a variety of ways.

Insect-eating birds won't expect dried mealworms to be found in bird feeders thus to utilize a dish you can put them in will allow you to bring dried mealworms into their space, providing its quiet at the time.

Bluebirds to American Robins will feed on dried mealworms in a dish whereby Sparrows will be happy to eat dried mealworms in a hanging wire bird feeder.

Bluebirds will eat mealworms fed to them in an open dish thus an enclosed bird feeder must be avoided for less able bird feeder birds.

Additionally, birds will appreciate your handing out heaps of dried mealworms in various locations around the backyard to be sure insect-eating birds find them.

Orioles are different in that dried mealworms fed to them can be placed in a dish on their own nectar-filled feeder.

I would rely on putting dried mealworms in a dish when the weather permits it, or else mealworms can simply be thrown on a small patch of grass.

Most mealworm-eating birds are ground feeding birds after all thus will probably spend some time foraging under bird feeders that are hung above on a pole or branch.

Better still, mealworms can be placed on various locations around the yard including a natural habitat like trees or foliage, with garden furniture, fences or a wall to fall back on.

Utilize open dish to hang

One way or what can be the only way to feed insect-eating wild birds in our yards at this time, without inviting common bird feeder pests like squirrels or raccoon's, would be to feed dried mealworms to birds in an hanging open dish.

Hanging dish because the distance off the ground will deter pets or pests - or at least you can put in place squirrel or raccoon deterrents - while this spot will provide a safe place for wild birds to perch as they feed.

While Gray Catbirds come to feeders for dried mealworms - as seen to pick up one, two, three or even four dried mealworms at a time - before flying off to safety is the only possible way to provide a safe-heaven for your birds.

Utilize an open dish that can provide up to three open sides whereby one side of the dish will be designated for the hang bar.

Do try to avoid bird feeder trays made to hang off chains or a rope - as they could be restricting for birds you want to attract - while at the same time it could create an unnecessary obstacle for larger birds like Grosbeaks or Blue Jays.

Where to hang a bird feeder tray filled with dried mealworms would be on the bird feeder pole - with the open yard under the sunshine being more inviting - than a discreet yet often inaccessible tree branch.

Mealworm feeder to apply restrictions

While Grackles, Starlings and Grosbeaks can be inviting for some, others will prefer to put some defenses in place to stop large birds raiding bird feeders intended for birds with a kind heart - and who are quieter and less aggressive.

With these birds and more who will raid your dried mealworms in what will be an open for all bird feeder dish or platform, you can think about inserting dried mealworms in an actual confined bird feeder with a small perch.

You know the kind, its like a clear tube feeder made to filter seeds via the ports, only the bird feeder made for dried mealworms functions a little differently. Still, the adjacent small perch should be enough to deter most large nuisance wild birds.

Saying that, isn't a great way to feed Robins, Bluebirds or Orioles in your yard, as they all need their own specific way to feed on mealworms.

Whereas what birds you can feed dried mealworms to with a suspended seed-like bird feeder can include Sparrows, Titmouse, Nuthatches, Warblers, Chickadees and for many of us unfortunately, Starlings... and lots of them.

Put your dried mealworms in a mealworms feeder as oppose to a similar tube feeder made for mix bird seeds only.

You'll soon realize both aren't interchangeable thus you'll find out the dried mealworms are not filtering through the seed feeder; whereas all types of wild bird seeds will simply spill out as the ports are less restricting.

Mealworm-eaters fed on ground

How else you can feed dried mealworms to wild birds is not in any kind of bird feeder as it happens, as you'll find throwing mealworms on the ground is the only way to feed most insect-eating birds in our yards.

Big or small wild birds, fully capable or not able to use a bird feeder at all; throw some dried mealworms on your lawn to begin diverting wild birds attention to mealworms offered out in the open.

DISCLAIMER: Never begin throwing dried mealworms in the yard away and out of sight of where birds are used to foraging in your yard, as the dried mealworms will simply be missed and therefore be wasted.

Back on topic, throw very few dried mealworms under the bird feeder for the time being to get interest up, then proceed to increase the offerings to birds you know who will eat them all up.

Most insect-eating birds who come to our feeders do actually prefer to forage on the ground as part of their normal feeding behavior.

Only now you've opened up your yard to possibly feeding a wider range of bird species, who may of been restricted previously if fed dried mealworms within an enclosed bird feeder, hung up on a pole or branch.

Now watch as Cardinals can eat dried mealworms off the ground where they were seen recently too struggle to feed on a small suspended compact feeder.

I promise you throwing dried mealworms in a small area of the lawn for birds to find themselves is a great way to feed dried mealworms to an abundance of bird species in our backyards.

Site Mealworms on visible yard surface

When you think about it our common backyard birds all have their own needs and requirements, thus to only put dried mealworms in a feeder or dish can in fact prevent some species from ever feeding on available mealworms.

Why, well their natural feeding behavior will lead some species to completely ignore bird feeders suspended above - with a focus on foraging for earthworms on the ground.

In no way will all birds come to bird feeders just because that is all you believe it takes to feed them; different bird species only have foraging on the ground ingrained in their brains, thus never think to look out for feeders.

Some of these bird species don't have to be fed dried mealworms directly on the ground mind you - thankfully as wet weather can be an issue - so we feed dried mealworms to all birds on on elevated areas visible around the yard.

Surfaces can vary but its vital we pick and choose accessible places which can be beneficial to insect-eating birds.

First place to try is to drop dried mealworms on the branches of trees - only where birds are seen to occupy - along with mealworms placed in natural foliage where wild birds are frequently seen to spend time.

Additional areas to drop dried mealworms can be on tree stumps, accessible roofs, tops of fence posts, brick walls and even garden furniture.

Pop in dish to stay mobile

Still out of any type of bird feeder yet offering dried mealworms in a more safe environment then the lawn; why not think about offering dried mealworms in various visible elevated surfaces found around the backyard.

I would personally still rely on some kind of bird feeder dish to put mealworms in - like a dish or mounted bird feeder tray - as some birds still only forage on elevated areas, thus refuse to forage on the ground.

Well then this dish full of dried mealworms can gradually be re-positioned around the yard in hope, one day you find the perfect spot for birds to feed undisturbed.

Birds are bound to plunder your dish or tray full of dried mealworms in no time at all anywhere, thus its vital you at least stick to one area you find to be a safe one.

I do believe this technique to be the best way to feed mealworms to birds as its possible to keep mealworms together, while birds can perch around the rim of the dish to take what they like.

Fed in a dish its now possible to measure how much or little dried mealworms are taken.

No dish or any type of bird feeder tray is necessary mind you when thinking about providing birds dried mealworms in the most natural way, among shrubs, on the lawn or up on tree branches.

Summary

If I was you I would go through the trouble of having some fun when feeding dried mealworms to wild birds; they are a popular kind of wild bird feed thus are likely not to be wasted when fed to birds in your yard.

First part of how to feed specifically dried mealworms - and not the live mealworm kind to wild birds - is to use a reliable open bird feeder dish that can hang off the bird feeding station pole or tree branch.

Admittedly, a tree branch can be inviting to many insect-eating species, yet the bird feeder pole can simply be positioned in what is a highly visible lit up area.

No shortage of insect-eating birds who visit our yards, and therefore our bird feeders, thus I would try to at least cater to various needs of birds. Not all can use or would ever attempt to use a bird feeder - not even a dish - thus a feeder can't always be relied upon.

How I would feed all common backyard birds my dried mealworms is in a heavy set dish that can be positioned where birds frequent the most.

To store dried mealworms in a heavy dish - an heavy ceramic dish to stop it tipping over while in use - will allow me to keep an eye on how much or little dried mealworms are eaten before they have to be thrown out.

If not enough dried mealworms are eaten then I won't replenish just yet or I just might top up with a few - whereas I will know when to add more mealworms if they're popular.

Nevertheless, you will still want to throw dried mealworms into a little area of the lawn, preferably under the feeders, to cater to what could be exclusive ground feeding birds.

Only utilize a specialty mealworm bird feeder if you can to at least keep unwanted birds or ground pests away from the mealworms.

No pests, no problem, because success may rely on placing dried mealworms at various areas around the yard, in elevated spots that are open but in lit up locations.

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