Bluebird Food Preferences
Hi! I’m new to this site, and fairly new to Mercersburg, PA. in Franklin County. I made contact with Joyce Stuff last Summer, at which time she gave me some bluebird boxes to put up. This Winter, I’ve been seeing lots of bluebirds, which prompted me to put up a bluebird feeder. I’ve been stocking it with two different types of food that I bought. One is Bluebird Nuggets “Plus.” They are a combination of suet, roasted peanuts, and raisins. The bluebirds don’t seem to like the nuggets very much. I have also been using dried mealworms. They really gobble up the worms, and leave the nuggets mostly alone. It’s hard for me to tell at a distance whether the birds that are getting into the feeder are bluebirds, but I’m pretty sure they are, because on occasion the birds getting into the feeder also will perch on the rail of my porch, where I can tell for sure that they are bluebirds. I’m wondering if there might be other birds small enough to get into the bluebird feeder, though. I was buying the mealworms in little bags containing approximately 2000 worms each. I found that was quite expensive, considering the rate at which the bluebirds were consuming the worms. Last week, I found a web site where I could get a plastic container with 10,000 worms. The cost per worm was a lot less that way.
nukeguy001 <Franklin County>
Harry Schmeider Said,
April 15, 2009 @ 12:38 am
hello nukeguy001 I also tried the bluebird nuggets and never had much luck either. Mealworms are their favorite choice of food that I have experience. Would you please share with me where you ordered the 10,000 container of worms and how much they cost?
Thanks, from harry schmeider the ambassador
Tammy Said,
April 16, 2009 @ 4:49 pm
Hi Nukeguy001 I also tried the nuggets without success. I have found that the live mealworms work the best. I have been getting mealworms on line but I can only get 1000 at a time max. Would you please let me know who you get your worms from and how much? Thanks for sharing.
Tammy/Bluebird Fanatic
Harry Schmeider Said,
April 16, 2009 @ 9:50 pm
Hi Tammy and Nukeguy, I purchase my meal worms at grubco.com Its based in Ohio, their phone number is 1-800-222 3563 web site http://www.grubco.com/index.cfm
The price is reasonable for the quantity you receive.
1,000 for $6.50
2,000 for $12.50
5,000 for $20.00
10,000 for $40.00
I have always been satisfied with my orders and received them in a couple of days in the mail.
Harry Schmeider
Phil Said,
May 31, 2009 @ 5:04 pm
Try the bluebird banquet recipe I posted here. The bluebirds really like it. The problem I had with buying from grubco is my wife doesn’t want me to put them in the refrigerator, and they don’t last long unrefrigerated.
Also, you need to get a pair of binoculars or a spotting scope to see what’s going on in your box. You’re also going to need a house sparrow trap soon. I use the Van Ert traps; they work well and only cost about $6.