Looking for mealworms for my ducks at a reasonable price.

[Pekin duck mom]

Random question but how many ducks do yall have? Just curious...

 

[Aunt Angus]

Random question but how many ducks do yall have? Just curious...

Zero until my order arrives either tomorrow or Wednesday! Then I'll have 4.

But no matter how many ducks you have, I would think growing them would be cheaper. Cheap plastic tubs, your initial beetles, and the tiny amount of food they'd require has to cost less than what we pay to buy them. Unless you have dozens and dozens of ducks. But if you have that many, I'd think you could get a bulk discount!

But I do have 9 chickens who I'm sure would love fresh wormies!

 

[Pekin duck mom]

Zero until my order arrives either tomorrow or Wednesday! Then I'll have 4.

But no matter how many ducks you have, I would think growing them would be cheaper. Cheap plastic tubs, your initial beetles, and the tiny amount of food they'd require has to cost less than what we pay to buy them. Unless you have dozens and dozens of ducks. But if you have that many, I'd think you could get a bulk discount!

But I do have 9 chickens who I'm sure would love fresh wormies!

I have 4 as well! All Pekins!! I love my babies! Are these your first ducks or are you just getting more?

 

[Weeg]

Random question but how many ducks do yall have? Just curious...

9! Two drakes and 7 females.

 

[Pekin duck mom]

I have 1 male named Flipper! The girls names are Violet, Daisy and Ducky! (Because we used to have a duck named Lucky, he passed away due to niacin deficiency back in January) but get it? "Ducky Lucky" from chicken little. Flipper is the one bobbing his head in the back.

9! Two drakes and 7 females.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I have 4 as well! All Pekins!! I love my babies! Are these your first ducks or are you just getting more?View attachment 2522705View attachment 2522707

My FIRST!!!!!

I AM SO EXCITED.

I have always wanted ducks. I was reluctant before because I've heard such horror stories about mess, but we moved out to a very rural area and have plenty of room for them to make a mess without wrecking DH's perfectly manicured lawn - haha!

 

[KaleIAm]

I was going to say the same thing. And they store for a long time.

I buy mine on Amazon. I used to buy 5lb bags, but I switched to 2lb bags because my last 5lb bag went rancid after 3 months! Eek! They smelled like expired oil or bad chips. I just don't have enough ducks to use them up like I used to.

@Pekin duck mom as far as I know all the freeze dried mealworms are grown in China and some people have some concerns about the unregulated growing conditions. I'd prefer to grow them myself as well, but can't take on another project. Plus I like to walk around with a bag of mealworms in my pocket. That's not so easy when they are alive.

Mealworms, or any treats, should be optimally kept to a minimum. People often use the 5-10% of the total daily diet rule. My avian vet has told me it is fine to give a few mealworms to each duck a few times a day.

I grew live tropical cockroaches once for my ducks. With the care required to breed and keep them alive I actually got attached to them and felt bad when feeding them to my ducks. Yeah.... I'm that much of a softie.

I have 3 ducks now. I started with 6 sweethearts 6 years ago.

 

[Critter721]

Here's a nice BYC article. I had plans to do this last summer, but never got to it. I did get a free fish tank on craigslist though, so maybe this year.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-to-raise-mealworms.48416/

 

[DukesDucks]

I tried raising my own meal worms but found it more work than it was worth. I buy from Amazon - Ma poule express - 5lbs - approximately 80,000 meal worms - $58.50 CDN. Canadian company in Trois Rivieres, Quebec. There is a phone number on the package so I'm going to try ordering directly next time.
One bag last me a long time even treating ducks, chickens and peacocks. Each flock gets about 2 cups spread around their runs every couple of weeks.
There is a funky smell when you first open the bag but I don't seal the bag shut so no more smell. I have never had them go bad ie moldy.
Also a little creepy when you first open the bag because it seems like static has built up, like a bag of Styrofoam packaging, and it looks like the worms are jumping around.

 

[WindingRoad]

Duck Mealworms are so high priced at TSC! Anyone know where I can get them cheaper?

Exotic Nutrition less than $5 a pound or chubby mealworms but they have been out of them for a while..