Livefoods for Garden Birds

Birds need high quality sources of protein in their diet. Feeding live food is a very effective way of providing this.

  • Add a new dimension to bird feeding
  • Witness new behaviour from regular visitors
  • Encourage a far wider range of species into the garden
  • Get Robins to feed from your hand!

Mealworms and Waxworms will attract:

  • Blue Tits
  • Great Tits
  • Coal Tits
  • Marsh Tits
  • Willow Tits
  • Wrens
  • Blackbirds
  • Blackcaps
  • Song Thrushes
  • Pied Wagtails
  • Nuthatches
  • Tree Creepers
  • Warblers
  • Robins
  • House Sparrows and Tree Sparrows have a greater need for livefoods during breeding and moulting.
  • Greater or Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers may also be tempted as well as Green Woodpeckers.
  • Try Mini Mealworms to attract the real "tinies" such as Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrests and small Warblers like Chiffchaffs.
Feeding: It’s EASY!
  • Mealworms and Waxworms can be provided by simply placing our special pre pack tubs onto the bird table and removing the lid. Alternatively you can use our special Mealworm Feeder and buy your worms in bulk.
  • To feed most species a smooth sided bowl is an ideal feeding device. Place on the bird table, on the ground or under a bush to attract a wide range of species.
  • For Wrens you may need to place a brick or log on top of the bowl to restrict the entrance.
  • Greater or Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers can be tempted if Mealworms or Waxworms are placed in holes drilled into a dead tree trunk or branch.
  • Green Woodpeckers can be enticed by creating an artificial ant hill, boring holes in the top of the mound then filling the holes with Mealworms.
  • Virtually all insect eating species will eat both Mealworms and Waxworms.
  • Ground Feeding – scattering a few Mealworms on the ground or on sunflower husks under a feeder encourages birds to forage in a natural way.
  • Shallow dishes such as plantpot saucers – "baited" with a few Mealworms and placed near a garden pool will soon attract Wagtails if there are any in the area.
It is now recognised that feeding wild birds in the garden makes a valuable contribution to the conservation of a growing number of species.
  • When to feed Livefood:
  • You can feed Livefoods all year round, although they are particularly valuable during the breeding season or during very cold, wet or dry weather.
  • Feed Livefoods at the same time each day
  • In the breeding season offer the food early in the morning and late in the afternoon.
  • Tiny Mini Mealworms are perfect in springtime as food for young birds leaning to feed themselves.
  • Carefully monitor the amount of food you provide. If all the food is taken quickly, increase the amount offered. If food is left over, reduce the amount offered.

Many birds quickly recognise food containers and visit gardens regularly, particularly in winter when natural foods are scarce. Some species become tame enough to feed them from the hand.

Some native birds benefit from the use of livefood when they are breeding particularly in early spring cold spells when natural foods are hard to find and many nestlings die of starvation. The best Livefoods for this purpose are Mini Mealworms, Waxworms and Crickets.

Stock up for Spring ! Remember that considerable quantities are needed if natural Livefoods are not available for example Great Tits have been recorded taking insects to their nest 800 - 900 times a day and it has been estimated that up to 8,000 caterpillars in addition to many insects and larvae, are needed during the rearing period. Dust Livefoods with Calci Phos to boost nutritional value.