If you want a treat that gets your flock coming running and does them good at the same time, mealworms are hard to beat. Chickens are natural foragers who relish a bit of protein, and mealworms are one of the most useful treats you can keep in the shed, both for their nutrition and for how much the hens adore them.
Can chickens eat mealworms?
Yes, mealworms are a brilliant treat for chickens, and one of the few that is genuinely good for them as well as wildly popular. You can offer them dried or live. Dried mealworms are the more convenient option and store easily in a tub, while live ones give the flock the extra fun of chasing them about, which taps straight into a chicken's natural foraging instinct. Either way, expect a very enthusiastic response.
Mealworms are a treat rather than a meal, so they sit alongside a complete layer feed rather than replacing it. Used well, they are also a superb bonding and training tool, as we will come to. Browse our backyard chicken guides for more on treats and feeding your flock.
Perfect protein for the moult
Mealworms really shine during the annual moult. When hens drop their old feathers and grow a fresh set, they need a good deal of extra protein, because feathers are made largely of protein. A few mealworms during this time can help support that regrowth and give a tired, patchy-looking hen a welcome boost just when she needs it most.
They are high in both protein and fat, which is precisely why they are so valued, and also why they should stay a treat rather than a staple. Too many, too often, tips the balance of the diet towards fat and away from the rounded nutrition of layer feed. A small handful scattered for the flock is plenty on a normal day, and you can be a touch more generous through the moult while still keeping it sensible.
Using mealworms for bonding and training
Because chickens will do almost anything for a mealworm, they make a wonderful way to build trust with a nervous flock or to train hens to come when you call. Scatter a few by your feet each day, or offer them from your open hand, and even shy birds soon learn to associate you with good things. Before long you will have a flock that comes running the moment you appear.
This makes mealworms genuinely useful beyond the treat itself. They help with taming new hens, coaxing the flock back into the run at dusk, and simply enjoying a bit of company with your birds.
Feeding mealworms well
Mealworms are an easy treat to get right. The main thing is to keep the quantity in check, given how rich they are, and to enjoy them as the useful extra they are.
- Offer mealworms dried or live as an occasional treat.
- Be a little more generous during the moult, when hens need extra protein.
- Use them to tame, train and bond with your flock.
- Keep portions modest overall, as they are rich in protein and fat, and always provide fresh water.