6 Best Mealworm Treats for Chickens
Boost feather regrowth during the molt. We review the 6 best mealworm treats, packed with the essential protein your flock needs for a speedy recovery.
You walk out to the coop one late summer morning and it looks like a pillow fight broke out. Feathers are everywhere, and your normally sleek hens look scraggly, half-naked, and frankly, a little embarrassed. This is the annual molt, a completely natural process that is nevertheless stressful and draining for your flock. Supporting them through it with the right nutrition is one of the most important things you can do to ensure they head into winter healthy, happy, and fully feathered.
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Why Molting Chickens Need High-Protein Treats
The molt isn’t just about losing old feathers; it’s about the intense biological process of growing thousands of new ones. Feathers are made of more than 85% keratin, a fibrous protein. To produce this, a chicken’s body goes into overdrive, diverting almost all its nutritional resources to the task.
This is why egg production grinds to a halt. The protein and calcium that would go into making eggs are rerouted to feather production. It’s also why your birds seem lethargic and grumpy—they are under significant metabolic stress.
Providing high-protein treats during this time isn’t about spoiling them; it’s a targeted nutritional supplement. A standard layer feed sits around 16-18% protein, which is perfect for maintenance and egg-laying. But during a molt, a boost to 20% or higher in their overall diet can dramatically speed up feather regrowth and reduce the stress on their systems. Mealworms, which are often over 50% protein, are one of the most efficient ways to deliver this boost.
Grub Terra Dried Mealworms for High Protein
When your goal is maximum protein density, Grub Terra is a brand that delivers. They consistently market a product with a guaranteed high protein analysis, often exceeding 50%. This makes them an excellent choice for getting the most nutritional bang for your buck during the molt.
What sets them apart for many is their commitment to sustainable farming practices. Their mealworms are often raised on pre-consumer recycled foods, turning potential food waste into a high-quality protein source for your flock. This appeals to the hobby farmer who thinks about the whole system, not just the end product.
The tradeoff is that they can be a premium-priced product and are typically found online rather than at a local feed store. However, for a small flock going through a tough molt, a single bag can provide that critical support needed to get them feathered up and resilient before the cold weather sets in.
Kaytee Mealworms: A Widely Available Choice
Sometimes, the best option is the one you can get your hands on right now. Kaytee is one of the most recognizable brands in the bird and small animal space, and their dried mealworms are available in nearly every farm supply store, pet store, and even some big-box retailers.
This convenience is its biggest selling point. You don’t have to plan ahead or wait for a delivery if you suddenly notice your flock is looking rough. You can grab a bag while you’re picking up your regular feed.
While perfectly suitable and a treat your chickens will love, they may not always have the highest protein percentage compared to some specialty brands. For the hobby farmer who values convenience and a trusted, widely available name, Kaytee is a reliable and straightforward choice. It gets the job done without the extra effort of sourcing from a niche supplier.
FLYGRUBS: Fortified for Strong Feather Growth
FLYGRUBS takes a slightly different approach by focusing on more than just protein. This brand often fortifies its products with extra calcium, which is a smart move for supporting molting hens. While protein is the primary building block for feathers, calcium is essential for the metabolic processes that enable healthy growth.
This makes them a particularly good choice if your flock is still laying sporadically or if you want to ensure their calcium reserves are topped up for a quick return to laying post-molt. Think of it as a two-for-one supplement: you’re directly supporting feather regrowth with protein while also supporting the skeletal and reproductive health needed for the coming season.
This brand is also known for its focus on Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) as well as mealworms. While both are excellent protein sources, BSFL are naturally higher in calcium. If you see their BSFL product, know that it serves a similar purpose with a slightly different nutritional profile.
Amazing Worms: USA-Grown for Quality Control
For many flock keepers, knowing where their flock’s food comes from is non-negotiable. Amazing Worms is a brand that stakes its reputation on being grown and processed in the USA. This provides a level of quality control and traceability that imported products can’t always guarantee.
Opting for a domestically-grown product means you’re supporting local agriculture and can often have more confidence in the feedstocks used to raise the insects. This peace of mind is the primary reason to choose a brand like this. Your chickens get a high-quality protein source, and you get the assurance that it meets domestic production standards.
The primary tradeoff, as with many locally-sourced or specialty products, is cost. USA-grown mealworms are typically more expensive per pound than those sourced from overseas. This becomes a key decision point: balancing budget against the value of supply chain transparency.
TradeKing Bulk Mealworms for Larger Flocks
Once your flock grows beyond a small backyard handful, buying treats in small, resealable pouches becomes incredibly expensive. This is where bulk suppliers like TradeKing shine. They offer dried mealworms in large quantities—often 5, 10, or even 20-pound bags—which dramatically lowers the cost per ounce.
This is the most economical approach for anyone with a dozen or more birds. During the molt, when you might be offering a handful or two every day, buying in bulk means you won’t run out and you’re not paying a premium for fancy packaging.
The main consideration here is storage. A massive bag of mealworms needs to be kept in a cool, dry, and pest-proof container. A galvanized steel trash can or a large, sealed plastic tote works perfectly. If you have the space and the need, buying bulk is the most practical and budget-friendly way to keep your flock supplied through the entire molting season.
Tasty Grubs: A Non-GMO Project Verified Option
If you’re meticulous about feeding your flock organic or non-GMO feed, it only makes sense to apply that same standard to their treats. Tasty Grubs is a brand that caters specifically to this mindset by offering a Non-GMO Project Verified product. This certification ensures that the insects were raised on a diet free from genetically modified organisms.
This choice is less about a specific nutritional percentage and more about aligning with a holistic feeding philosophy. For the hobby farmer committed to a non-GMO or all-natural operation, this verification provides crucial peace of mind.
Like other specialty options, this often comes at a higher price and may require ordering online. But for those who prioritize these production standards, the extra cost is a worthwhile investment in maintaining the integrity of their flock’s diet. It’s a choice driven by principle as much as by protein content.
Feeding Mealworms Without Spoiling Your Flock
Handing out mealworms can quickly become the highlight of your chickens’ day, but it’s easy to overdo it. The key is to remember that mealworms are a supplement, not a replacement for their balanced layer feed. Treats of any kind should make up no more than 10% of your flock’s total diet.
Instead of just dumping them in a feeder, use them as a tool. Tossing a handful into their run encourages natural foraging behavior, keeping them active and engaged. This method, often called "scatter feeding," prevents the pushiest hens from hogging all the treats and ensures everyone gets a chance.
The biggest mistake is offering so many treats that your chickens lose interest in their main feed. Their formulated feed contains the essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids they need for overall health—things mealworms alone can’t provide. Use mealworms strategically as a high-value protein boost during the molt, not as a daily meal that creates picky, nutritionally deficient birds.
Ultimately, the "best" mealworm treat depends entirely on your priorities as a flock manager—be it budget, convenience, sourcing, or specific nutritional goals. By using them as a strategic supplement, you can significantly ease your flock’s journey through the annual molt. They’ll emerge from the feather storm faster, healthier, and better prepared for whatever the next season brings.
