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gerbilgirl gerbilgirl is offline
Posted 14th March 2010, 04:46 AM
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 44

Feeding Insects


Yet another question from me


This past wee while I have been throwing a mealworm/waxworm or two into DuckDuck's foodbowl every evening when I'm feeding our old hamster (who has no teeth and can't eat solids, yet loves waxworms/crickets/locusts, etc). He definitely eats them as they wouldn't be able to escape from the bowl, but I'm just realising that I never checked with anyone that they wouldn't do him harm .

So anyone know? I figured that in the wild he would have been eating anything he came across, but any advice welcome!


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Feefo Feefo is offline
Posted 14th March 2010, 06:04 AM
Join Date: Feb 2002
Country: United Kingdom
Location: UK
Posts: 11,087
Meal worms and waxworms that have been prepared for sale as bird food should be OK in very small quantities if he chooses to eat them but never feed it things from the garden like woodlice, earwigs or snails. These can be vectors for harmful parasites and earth worms for some reason have been found to be toxic to captive birds.

Wood pigeons beaks are adapted to tearing tearing vegetation which is their main food source. In the wild the wood pigeon's diet is mainly vegetation: clover, berries, flower and leaf buds from hawthorn beech and ash, buds and flowers etc. But they also eat seeds and grain and when breeding will eat a very small amount of animal matter, presumably to meet a demand for protein.

Try chopping up some wild rocket for him, my woodies love that! They also love chopped lettuce and watercress .

Cynthia
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...while all the time your dear full-throated pigeons will be heard, and the turtledove high in the elm will never bring her cooing to an end. (Virgil)

Last edited by Feefo; 14th March 2010 at 01:14 PM.
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YaSin11 YaSin11 is offline
Posted 14th March 2010, 10:59 AM
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Dhaka,Bangladesh.
Posts: 475
Gerbilgirl,
Hey I've read about mealworms being feed to pigeons without harmful effects. Moderation is the key, as with everything. 'Duck' got renamed 'duckduck'? Hope all is well, peace, YaSin [formerly 'Warren11' ]
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Feefo Feefo is offline
Posted 14th March 2010, 01:13 PM
Join Date: Feb 2002
Country: United Kingdom
Location: UK
Posts: 11,087
Quote:
YaSin [formerly 'Warren11' ]
Ah! I had missed that connection along the way!

Cynthia
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...while all the time your dear full-throated pigeons will be heard, and the turtledove high in the elm will never bring her cooing to an end. (Virgil)
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gerbilgirl gerbilgirl is offline
Posted 14th March 2010, 01:49 PM
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 44
The worms are for feeding reptiles so I'm assuming they're fine.

The wee brat refuses to eat vegetables... He stares at me like I'm evil for expecting him to. :P

Yes YaSin, Duck was renamed DuckDuck, its more of a pet name lol. He's doing great
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