- 283g resealable bag — about 8,000 dried mealworms, the everyday small bag
- High in protein — a treat alongside a complete layer feed
- Nothing added — just dried mealworms, from the same supplier for over ten years
- For the chooks, and the bag people buy for wild birds, ducks and reptiles
- A few from your hand or a handful scattered: shake the bag and they come running
- Posted from Townsville to every Australian state and territory
- 283g resealable, about 8,000 mealworms
- High in protein, a treat alongside layer feed
- For chickens, wild birds, ducks and reptiles
- Posted from Townsville, Australia-wide
The small bag by the back door
★ 4.9 out of 5 across 260+ product reviews of our dried mealworms on Reviews.io
Dried mealworms are the treat chickens go crazy for, and they’re not the only ones. Our 283g resealable bag holds about 8,000 of them. It’s the everyday small bag: the one that lives by the back door for the chooks, and the one people buy when the mealworms are for wild birds, ducks or a reptile as much as for the hens.
They've come from the same supplier for over ten years. There’s nothing in the bag but dried mealworms.
What’s in the bag
Dried mealworms, and only dried mealworms. No preservatives, no additives, no coating. The mealworms are raised on a vegetarian, GMO-free diet and dried straight after harvest.
| Specification | 283g bag |
|---|---|
| Weight | 283g, resealable bag |
| Approximate count | About 8,000 mealworms (roughly 28 per gram) |
| Protein | High in protein and fat (a treat, not a complete feed) |
| Ingredients | 100% dried mealworms |
| Storage | Cool, dry place out of direct sunlight; reseal after use |
How our customers use them
There’s no dose to measure. Mealworms are a treat alongside a good layer feed; a few from your hand, or a handful scattered so everyone gets a share, is how most people do it. In their own words:
- The stampede. “My girls will run me down for this treat.” — Amanda, review of the 80g, 2025
- The red packet. “My chooks love these. Will follow you anywhere if they see the red packet” — review of the 850g, 2024
- Ten out of ten. “My girls rate the Mealworm’s 10 put of 10” — Margaret, review of the 283g, 2023
- The kids. “It’s also fun for the kids to hand-feed the chickens and watch them enjoy these treats.” — Andrew, review of the 80g, 2024
Young or fussy birds sometimes need a moment to work out what they are. Hand-feed a few, or soak a handful in warm water first. Once one tries it, the rest follow.
For wild birds, ducks and reptiles too
It’s a handy size if the mealworms are for the birds in the garden or a pet rather than a flock. Dried mealworms suit ducks and geese, turkeys, guinea fowl, peafowl, pheasants, quail, wild birds, lizards, turtles and pond fish, and because there’s nothing added it’s the same product whoever you’re feeding. Put out a little at a time in a shallow dish rather than a full bowl.
“MY PHEASANTS LOVE THEM. THEY EAT OUT OF MY HAND.” is a real review, capitals and all. Wild birds that have never seen a dried mealworm can take a few days to try one; a short soak in warm water helps, and so does patience.
Six sizes, same mealworms
The 80g is a taster. This 283g and the 850g are the everyday bags. The 1.7kg, 2.55kg and 3.4kg are two, three or four 850g bags sold together, still sealed. Same mealworms, same supplier; only the size changes.
What people usually add to the order
The three things most often in the same box as a bag of mealworms: shell grit for the laying hens, apple cider vinegar with garlic for the drinker, and the 25ml Mega Mineral. They travel in the same parcel.
Posted from Townsville, Australia-wide
Packed and posted from our warehouse in Townsville to every state and territory; most orders arrive within two to seven business days. Family-run since 2009, and a real person answers on 1800 103 326.
Product Specifications
- Size::
- 283g
- Protein::
- 53%
- Fat::
- 28%
- Fibre:
- 6%
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions people actually search for about dried mealworms for chickens and wild birds.
Are dried mealworms good for chickens and wild birds?
As a treat alongside a complete layer feed, yes. Chickens are insect hunters by nature and go for them straight away. They’re high in protein and fat, so they’re a treat rather than a replacement for feed: a few from your hand, or a handful scattered for the flock, once a day is how most of our customers do it. Wild birds, ducks and reptiles take them too, in small amounts.
Why are birds not eating my dried mealworms?
Usually because they haven’t worked out it’s food yet. A dried mealworm doesn’t move, so a bird that has only ever eaten live insects can walk straight past it. Three things help: soak a handful in warm water for 10 to 30 minutes so they plump up and look more like the real thing, scatter a small amount where the birds already feed, and give it a few days. Once one bird tries them, the others follow. With chooks, hand-feeding a few to the boldest hen is the quickest way.
Can I feed dried mealworms to wild birds every day?
Yes, in small amounts, as a treat. Wild birds do well on the variety they find for themselves, so put out a small amount rather than a dish that is always full, and don’t worry if they aren’t taken every day. A little at a time, from a shallow dish, and bring in whatever is left at the end of the day.
Can ducks eat dried mealworms?
Yes, and most ducks are keen. Some prefer them soaked, or floated on the water, where they can scoop them up the way they would a live insect. Geese, turkeys, guinea fowl, peafowl, pheasants and quail all eat them too.
Do birds prefer live or dried mealworms?
Birds that already know mealworms take dried ones happily; birds that have only seen live insects sometimes need a soak in warm water and a few days to work out that a dried one is food. The practical difference is the keeping: dried mealworms sit in a cupboard in a resealed bag, don’t need feeding and don’t escape. If you want them closer to live, soak them. Our guide covers it: how to rehydrate dried mealworms.
What do you put dried mealworms in to feed the birds?
For wild birds, a shallow dish or a bird table, with a small amount at a time so they stay dry and nothing is left sitting overnight. For chooks, most people just scatter a handful on the ground so every bird gets a share, or hand-feed a few. If you soak them first, use a dish rather than the ground.
Can reptiles eat dried mealworms?
Yes. Bearded dragons and other lizards eat them, and so do turtles and pond fish, and the 283g is a handy size for it. Some reptile keepers soak them first. There’s nothing added to the bag, so it’s the same product whatever you’re feeding. Check the feeding guide for your particular animal for how much and how often.
How many mealworms are in the 283g bag?
About 8,000 mealworms, roughly 28 per gram. The count varies a little because they’re a natural product. High in protein and fat, which is why they’re a treat alongside a complete layer feed rather than a replacement for it.
How should I store dried mealworms once the bag is open?
Store in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. Reseal the bag after each use. If you feed wild birds outdoors, keep the bag inside and take out only what you need.
How long does a bag of dried mealworms take to arrive?
Most orders arrive within two to seven business days, depending on how far you are from Townsville. We post from our warehouse in North Queensland to every Australian state and territory. Delivery estimates are on the Shipping tab. All six sizes are on the dried mealworms page.
Something we haven’t covered? Ask us — a real person in Townsville answers.