Feeding
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zekeandbelle
- Posts: 36
- Joined: Sun May 15, 2016 9:47 am
- Location: michigan
Raining and cold here again in Michigan… Going to try to flip crickets again but have a question about mealworms… Do they have to be live? They always come in that sawdust that I don't know what to do with...i've tried several times over different days when it's been so rainy and cold to flip crickets but no takers yet... I thought I would try meal worms but not sure what to buy… I know they come dried in a bag too.. any advice is welcome and appreciated, thanks
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Larry A Kronemeyer
- Posts: 500
- Joined: Mon May 22, 2006 5:27 pm
- Location: Illinois/Millstadt
zekeandbelle
You can definitely buy live mealworms, they are expensive at pet stores so if there is a bait shop nearby they might have a better price. Sometimes when your martins are in dire need it just doesn't matter if you pay a little more. The big super worms are great if you can get them. Whatever you get, just put container in freezer for a while, then sift out frozen mealworms, thaw in hot water(takes only a minute) and they are ready to use.
Freeze-dried can be used also. I suggest soaking for at least 15 minutes or even overnight, but can be used straight from the bag. Wind will blow unsoaked ones. These can be found in farm supply stores or wherever bird feeding supplies are sold.
Martins love the mealworms and will readily come to my feeding tray for them...but then so does every other bird.
I order crickets and the giant mealworms before the season starts and keep them frozen until needed. I also keep a supply of dried mealworms on hand.
Don't forget that scrambled egg is a great emergency supplement for your martins. Prepare (microwave ) with a little water but NO oil or fat and chop into cricket sized pieces. There are other posts with more detailed cooking instructions.
Hope this helps. There are a lot of landlords feeding their martins right now. This weather is really tough for them.
Good luck and keep us posted on how you're doing.
Judy
You can definitely buy live mealworms, they are expensive at pet stores so if there is a bait shop nearby they might have a better price. Sometimes when your martins are in dire need it just doesn't matter if you pay a little more. The big super worms are great if you can get them. Whatever you get, just put container in freezer for a while, then sift out frozen mealworms, thaw in hot water(takes only a minute) and they are ready to use.
Freeze-dried can be used also. I suggest soaking for at least 15 minutes or even overnight, but can be used straight from the bag. Wind will blow unsoaked ones. These can be found in farm supply stores or wherever bird feeding supplies are sold.
Martins love the mealworms and will readily come to my feeding tray for them...but then so does every other bird.
I order crickets and the giant mealworms before the season starts and keep them frozen until needed. I also keep a supply of dried mealworms on hand.
Don't forget that scrambled egg is a great emergency supplement for your martins. Prepare (microwave ) with a little water but NO oil or fat and chop into cricket sized pieces. There are other posts with more detailed cooking instructions.
Hope this helps. There are a lot of landlords feeding their martins right now. This weather is really tough for them.
Good luck and keep us posted on how you're doing.
Judy
Larry and Judy Kronemeyer
est. 1999
1-12 compartment Trendsetter and 8 gourds(crescents)
12 gourd rack (crescents)
Member PMCA
est. 1999
1-12 compartment Trendsetter and 8 gourds(crescents)
12 gourd rack (crescents)
Member PMCA
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Doug Martin - PA
- Posts: 1988
- Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
- Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
- Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.
The freeze dried mealworms are easy to feed but your birds must be trained to take them from a feeding tray first.
If your birds are not trained the first step is to get them to accept flipped crickets first.
Doug
If your birds are not trained the first step is to get them to accept flipped crickets first.
Doug
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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John Barrow
- Posts: 982
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 4:12 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi / Sandia , Texas
One thought that I would throw out for those wanting to feed in a desperate situation is to thaw out frozen crickets, or other insects or pieces of egg, and scatter them on a nearby roof. In cold temperatures, martins, during a break in wet or windy weather will often gather on a rooftop seeking heat that the roof has absorbed, or that has penetrated from within the structure to the rooftop. This allows placement of food in a much larger and safer area than a feeding tray might offer, and allows a larger group to be fed. In my own personal experience this is a handy technique to use to get martins to adapt to a feeding platform on subsequent feedings. At times the wind will move the food placed on the roof, giving the appearance of it being alive.
Best wishes to all that are struggling to keep their martins alive and flying!!
(Please also see the articles on supplemental feeding posted as stickies at the top of the board index)
Best wishes to all that are struggling to keep their martins alive and flying!!
(Please also see the articles on supplemental feeding posted as stickies at the top of the board index)
~~TEAMED WITH A MARTIN GODDESS~~
Member/Mentor-PMCA. I do regular nestchecks and participate in PROJECT MARTINWATCH!! Coordinated 3 geolocator studies-2009, 2010 & 2013. State and Fed licensed bander (retired Jan., 2020)
Member/Mentor-PMCA. I do regular nestchecks and participate in PROJECT MARTINWATCH!! Coordinated 3 geolocator studies-2009, 2010 & 2013. State and Fed licensed bander (retired Jan., 2020)
A few years back I was teaching my martins to eat flipped crickets I tried several times and the martins would look, but not go for them , It took several or more tries until one finally got the idea of what I was doing ,then the rest fallowed.
I then started flipping eggs .then started putting some on a tray that is 10 feet in the air .
I have been seeing the dried meal worms in the farm stores so I have been soaking them in water then putting them on the tray they have started to eat them up also .
I would NOT GIVE UP on getting them to go for the flipped crickets as I believe I have saved a lot of martins from starvation.
I would like to add something about feeding them. That once they learn ,they remember getting food from me when they make there migration here every spring when it gets cold .
The martins also let me know when they are hungry, as when I pull up my drive and get out of my truck after work they fly over to me and circle me letting me know they are hungry.some have flown in just a few feet from me and hover . I say to them I will get you something to eat in a minute then they fly back to the gourd racks and wait. I think that is a pretty cool sight to see.
Some say you are just spoiling them But that is not true as the weather warms they would rather find there own food as they will not fly to me if it is good bug catching weather.
I then started flipping eggs .then started putting some on a tray that is 10 feet in the air .
I have been seeing the dried meal worms in the farm stores so I have been soaking them in water then putting them on the tray they have started to eat them up also .
I would NOT GIVE UP on getting them to go for the flipped crickets as I believe I have saved a lot of martins from starvation.
I would like to add something about feeding them. That once they learn ,they remember getting food from me when they make there migration here every spring when it gets cold .
The martins also let me know when they are hungry, as when I pull up my drive and get out of my truck after work they fly over to me and circle me letting me know they are hungry.some have flown in just a few feet from me and hover . I say to them I will get you something to eat in a minute then they fly back to the gourd racks and wait. I think that is a pretty cool sight to see.
Some say you are just spoiling them But that is not true as the weather warms they would rather find there own food as they will not fly to me if it is good bug catching weather.
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Rodger Drye
- Posts: 671
- Joined: Sun Mar 23, 2014 10:07 am
- Location: NC/Mt. Pleasant
- Martin Colony History: Have been hosting and providing a sanactuary for Purple Martins for 30 years.
Hey Jim 1990,
That's alright Jim you keep on feeding them Bird's. That is Awesome and Impressive that you have acquired your Bird's to take food from you in this manner. It's bound to save some lives and would think it would add to better fledging rates on your young Bird's.
I feed from a B&B. But want to start flipping Crickets to see if they'll take them.
Rodger
That's alright Jim you keep on feeding them Bird's. That is Awesome and Impressive that you have acquired your Bird's to take food from you in this manner. It's bound to save some lives and would think it would add to better fledging rates on your young Bird's.
I feed from a B&B. But want to start flipping Crickets to see if they'll take them.
Rodger
PMCA Member
Have been Hosting and Protecting Martin's for 30 years.
Have been Hosting and Protecting Martin's for 30 years.