Birds require a varied diet to stay healthy. While commercial bird food mixes contain seeds, grains, dried fruit, and nuts, birds also need animal protein from insects or other invertebrates. Providing live insects is a great way to give birds the nutrition they need. There are many insects suitable for birds that can be easily raised at home.
Crickets
Crickets are one of the most popular live insects to feed birds. They are packed with protein, vitamins, and minerals like calcium. Crickets contain more protein per ounce than beef. Almost all bird species will readily eat crickets. Crickets are easy to raise at home in plastic bins or cages. They can be fed commercial cricket food and vegetables like potatoes, carrots, romaine lettuce, and sweet potatoes. Adult crickets range from 1/2 to 1 inch long. Look for small crickets without fully developed wings to prevent them from jumping out of dishes. Crickets should be gut loaded before feeding by providing them high calcium and nutritious foods for 24-48 hours.
Mealworms
Mealworms are another excellent source of live insects for birds. They are the larval form of the mealworm beetle. Mealworms are soft-bodied, high in calcium, and full of protein and fat. They are relished by insect-eating birds like bluebirds, wrens, and chickadees. Mealworms are easy to raise at home in plastic bins with wheat bran or oatmeal for food. Keep them in the refrigerator to slow down their life cycle. Rinse mealworms before feeding to remove any residue. Chop large mealworms into pieces to prevent choking hazards.
Black Soldier Fly Larvae
Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) are a great choice for feeding birds. They are soft-bodied grubs packed with calcium and protein. BSFL self-harvest when they are mature, making them easy to collect to feed to birds. They can be raised at home in plastic bins by feeding them vegetable scraps. BSFL are a good choice for chickens and other backyard poultry too. Small larvae can be fed whole, while larger larvae should be chopped to prevent choking.
Waxworms
Waxworms are the caterpillar larval stage of the wax moth. They are high in fat and protein. Many insect-eating birds relish waxworms, especially during breeding season when they need extra calories. Chickadees, nuthatches, and titmice will greedily devour them. Waxworms are quite soft, so even small larvae can be chopped in half. They are typically sold for pet stores for reptile food. Waxworms can be kept in the refrigerator in wheat bran or cornmeal for a few weeks.
Earthworms
Earthworms make a great natural food for birds. They are packed with protein and provide a softer food option for fledglings. Many species of birds like robins, thrushes, and sparrows feed on earthworms. Digging up earthworms from the garden after watering or rainy weather is the easiest way to find them. Chop large earthworms into smaller pieces before feeding them. Earthworms can also be raised at home in worm bins by feeding them vegetable scraps.
Fruit Flies
Tiny fruit flies are enjoyed by the smallest birds like chickadees, kinglets, and warblers. They provide a soft food source perfect for delicate hatchlings. Fruit flies breed quickly, so only collect what can be fed in a short period to prevent multiplying. Add pieces of overripe fruit to a jar, cover with plastic wrap secured by a rubber band and poke a few small holes. Harvest the flies by shaking the jar to stun them before feeding.
Maggots
Maggots, the larval form of various fly species, are packed with protein and moisture. They provide baby birds with needed nutrition for growth and development. However, only feed maggots from reputable suppliers, as those found in meat or rotting food can harbor bacteria. Keep maggots refrigerated in wheat bran or cornmeal and rinse before feeding. Chop large maggots into bite-sized pieces.
Ant Pupae
The pupae of ants are soft-bodied, full of protein, and appealing to many birds. Chickadees, warblers, and wrens eagerly snap them up. Add a spoonful of sand to create an ant farm habitat in a glass jar. Cover with plastic wrap secured with a rubber band and poke small air holes. Harvest ant pupae when they turn from white to dark and rinse. These will need to be fed immediately before the ants emerge from the pupae.
Silkworms
Silkworms are moth larvae that are commercially grown for silk production. They can be purchased live as bird food. Silkworms are an excellent source of protein, fat, and minerals. They have soft bodies that are easy for small hatchlings to digest. Chop silkworms before feeding to prevent choking. Fresh silkworms can be kept refrigerated for up to a week before feeding.
Grasshoppers and Crickets
Live grasshoppers and crickets can be caught in fields and yards to feed birds. These jumping insects are packed with nutrition like protein, calcium, and antioxidants. Insect-eating birds like bluebirds, nuthatches, and chickadees relish them. Pull off the jumping legs of large grasshoppers before feeding. Crickets and grasshoppers can be kept in a ventilated plastic bin for a few days, providing lettuce and potato for moisture.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches are not the most appetizing insect, but they are nutritious for birds. Their hard wing covers will need to be removed before feeding. Captured cockroaches can be fed to insectivorous birds like thrushes, starlings, and jays. Chop large roaches into small pieces. Do not collect cockroaches from infested areas, only ones caught outdoors. Keep them in a lidded plastic container on lettuce for moisture.
Spiders
Spiders provide birds with protein, fat, and minerals like calcium, copper, and selenium. However, only harvest plain, drab-colored spiders, avoiding brightly colored venomous species. Shake webs to collect spiders that fall to the ground. Pull off the large abdomen and use just the cephalothorax front body section. Small spiders can be fed whole. Chop large spiders into bite-sized pieces for feeding.
Wasps
Live wasps can provide birds with needed nutrients, but harvest them cautiously. Use traps to collect live wasps and place them in the freezer for 5 minutes to slightly immobilize them. Pull or bite off the stinger end before feeding. The larvae and pupae of wasps can also be fed after rinsing off any nesting materials. However, avoid harvesting wasps that could have been exposed to pesticides.
Invertebrates to Avoid Feeding Birds
While many insects and invertebrates are perfectly safe for bird consumption, there are some that should not be fed:
- Avoid any insects or worms exposed to pesticides, chemicals, or insecticides.
- Do not harvest insects from polluted areas.
- Avoid brightly colored insects and caterpillars which could be toxic or poisonous.
- Do not feed unknown insects that could bite or sting.
Supplementing Bird Diets With Live Insects
Here are some tips for safely collecting and feeding live insects to birds:
- Always rinse insects in fresh water before feeding to remove any pesticide residues.
- Gut load insects before feeding by providing them high calcium, nutritious foods like carrots, sweet potato, and kale.
- Use small shallow dishes for live insects to prevent drowning.
- Chop, split, or crush large insects to prevent choking hazards.
- Only harvest what can be fed in a short time as insects can perish quickly.
- Discard any dead insects not promptly eaten.
- Adjust the amount fed based on bird species, life stage, and needs.
Feed live insects in moderation as part of a balanced diet. Good times to offer them include breeding season, chick rearing, molting, and cold winter months when birds need more calories.
| Insect | Nutritional Value | Bird Species |
|---|---|---|
| Mealworms | Protein, fat, calcium | Chickadees, wrens, bluebirds |
| Earthworms | Protein, minerals | Thrushes, robins, sparrows |
| Crickets | Protein, vitamins, minerals | Most insect-eating birds |
Setting Up a Live Insect Farm
The easiest live insects to raise at home for birds are crickets, mealworms, and black soldier fly larvae. Here is what you need to get started:
- Plastic bin or container, at least 16 quart in size
- Egg cartons or cardboard for hiding spots
- Insect food like commercial cricket food, chicken feed, grain, vegetables
- Water crystals, gel, or produce like carrots or lettuce for moisture
- Screened lid for ventilation
Add several inches of insect food to the bottom of the bin along with the cardboard egg cartons. Place the lid securely. Add moisture foods as needed, being careful not to make it soggy. Feed vegetable scraps to replenish nutrients. Count out and purchase your starter insects from a pet store or online supplier. Start with just 100-500 insects in a small bin. Monitor moisture and add more food as they grow. Frass or waste material can be emptied as needed. Harvest insects as they reach maturity to feed to your birds!
Conclusion
Feeding birds live insects provides essential protein, fat, vitamins and minerals to round out their nutritional needs. Crickets, mealworms, earthworms, and waxworms are excellent choices. Buy starter insects or raise your own in a simple home insect farm. Always rinse off insects before feeding and avoid any possibly contaminated ones. Chop up large insects to prevent choking. Follow proper gut loading and harvesting techniques. With some basic supplies, you can easily provide your backyard birds with nutritious live insects.
