- The best mealworms for chickens for most small flocks come in a resealable tub or bag you finish while fresh, such as Happy Hen Mealworm Frenzy 30 oz or Manna Pro Farmhouse Favorites 2 lb (listed at 50% protein).
- Black soldier fly larvae (grubs) are the other main option: Flygrubs lists 36–42% protein, and Adaman says its BSF larvae carry more calcium than mealworms.
- Buying for a big flock? Adaman 15 lb bags of mealworms or grubs.
- Want US-grown? Eaton Pet & Pasture grubs are listed as USA grown; Scratch and Peck grubs are raised in North America.
- Treats stay treats: layer feed is the complete diet. Wash your hands after hand-feeding hens (CDC).
The best mealworms for chickens are a handful of dried insects that make hens follow you around the yard, come back into the run at dusk or settle down to be checked over. They are a training and enrichment treat, not a feed. Dried mealworms keep on a shelf without refrigeration, and dried black soldier fly larvae (often sold as grubs) are the main alternative.
We compared ten dried and canned insect treats from eight brands by listed type, protein and package size. Where a listing gives no protein figure, we say so. Browse more treats in feed and supplements, and for the nutrition differences between the two insects see mealworms vs black soldier fly larvae.
Our picks
Happy Hen Treats Mealworm Frenzy, 30 oz
- Type
- Dried mealworms
- Size
- 30 oz tub
Happy Hen Treats Mealworm Frenzy comes in a 30 oz resealable tub of dried mealworms made as a chicken treat. A tub is easy to carry to the run and reseal, and the size suits a small flock that gets treats a few times a week.
Best for: Training and taming a small flock
Skip if: You want a listed protein figure on the label
- Resealable tub
- Made as a chicken treat
- No live worms to keep
- Protein not listed in our data
- Smaller than bulk bags
Manna Pro Farmhouse Favorites Dried Mealworms, 2 lb
- Type
- Dried mealworms
- Size
- 2 lb
- Protein %
- 50%
Manna Pro's Farmhouse Favorites are 100% dried mealworms in a 2 lb bag, listed at 50% protein, sold as a foraging treat for chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese and guinea fowl.
Best for: Regular treat feeding, mixed poultry
Skip if: You want insects grown in the US
- 50% protein listed
- 100% mealworms
- Listed for several poultry species
- Origin not listed in our data
- Bag, not tub
Adaman Dried Mealworms, 15 lb
- Type
- Dried mealworms
- Size
- 15 lb
Adaman's 15 lb bag of dried mealworms is the largest mealworm package here, sold as a treat for chickens, wild birds and reptiles, with no preservatives or additives listed.
Best for: Big flocks or keepers who split bulk bags
Skip if: You have a few hens: 15 lb is a lot of treats
- 15 lb bulk bag
- No additives listed
- Multi-species
- Protein not listed
- Store it sealed and dry
TradeKing Dried Mealworms, 2 lb
- Type
- Dried mealworms
- Size
- 2 lb
TradeKing's 2 lb dried mealworms come in a resealable stand-up bag sold for wild birds, chickens, fish and reptiles, with no refrigeration needed.
Best for: A simple mid-size bag
Skip if: You want a chicken-specific product
- Resealable stand-up bag
- No refrigeration
- 2 lb size
- Not made only for poultry
- Protein not listed
Fluker's Culinary Coop Canned Mealworms, 3-Pack
- Type
- Canned mealworms
- Size
- 2.75 oz, pack of 3
Fluker's Culinary Coop canned mealworms come as three 2.75 oz cans of moist mealworms with no preservatives, per the listing. Moist worms are a change from dried for picky hens.
Best for: Occasional treats for a couple of hens
Skip if: You want a shelf treat you can scatter daily
- Moist texture
- No preservatives listed
- Small portion cans
- 8.25 oz total
- Opened cans need using up
FLYGRUBS Dried BSF Larvae Chicken Treat
- Type
- Dried BSF larvae
- Size
- Multiple sizes (5 lb, 1 lb, 10 lb)
- Protein %
- 36-42%
FLYGRUBS dried BSF larvae are non-GMO and listed at 36–42% protein and 25–30% fat, in a resealable bag inside a box, in several sizes. The maker suggests scattering them to encourage foraging.
Best for: Scatter treats that keep hens busy
Skip if: You only want mealworms
- 36–42% protein and fat listed
- Non-GMO
- Several bag sizes
- Size choice on the listing can confuse
- Higher fat is still a treat
Eaton Pet & Pasture USA-Grown BSF Grubs, 1 lb x2
- Type
- Dried BSF larvae
- Size
- 1 lb, pack of 2
Eaton Pet & Pasture sells USA-grown dried black soldier fly larvae in two 1 lb bags. Eaton describes them as a high-calcium treat and says they carry far more calcium than mealworms, a maker claim.
Best for: Keepers who want US-sourced insects
Skip if: You need a bulk bag
- USA grown, per the listing
- Two 1 lb bags
- Calcium-rich, per Eaton
- Protein not listed in our data
- Smaller total size
Scratch and Peck Grubs BSF Larvae, 20 oz
- Type
- Dried BSF larvae
- Size
- 20 oz
- Protein %
- 30% (title)
Scratch and Peck Grubs are dried black soldier fly larvae raised in North America on pre-consumer food waste, in a 20 oz resealable pouch. The title lists 30% protein while the text says up to 40%, so read the bag.
Best for: Sustainability-minded keepers
Skip if: You want one clear protein figure
- North American grown
- Upcycled food waste feedstock
- Resealable pouch
- Protein figure differs between title and text
- 20 oz size
Happy Hen Treats Grub Frenzy, 30 oz
- Type
- Dried BSF larvae
- Size
- 30 oz
Happy Hen Treats Grub Frenzy is a 30 oz container of dried North American black soldier fly larvae that needs no refrigeration, the grub version of the Mealworm Frenzy tub.
Best for: Switching a mealworm flock to grubs
Skip if: You want a bulk bag
- Dried BSF larvae
- No refrigeration
- Same easy tub format
- Protein not listed in our data
- 30 oz
Adaman Dried Black Soldier Fly Larvae, 15 lb
- Type
- Dried BSF larvae
- Size
- 15 lb
- Protein %
- Up to 45% crude
Adaman's 15 lb bag of dried black soldier fly larvae is listed at up to 45% crude protein, with higher calcium than mealworms per the maker. It is sold as a treat for chickens, ducks and birds.
Best for: Large flocks or treat-sharing households
Skip if: You keep two or three hens
- Up to 45% crude protein listed
- Higher calcium than mealworms (maker)
- Bulk size
- Big bag to store
- Up to figure, not a guaranteed analysis in our data
Mealworms and grubs compared by listed protein and size
| Product | Type | Protein % | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Happy Hen Treats Mealworm Frenzy, 30 oz | Dried mealworms | — | 30 oz tub |
| Manna Pro Farmhouse Favorites Dried Mealworms, 2 lb | Dried mealworms | 50% | 2 lb |
| Adaman Dried Mealworms, 15 lb | Dried mealworms | — | 15 lb |
| TradeKing Dried Mealworms, 2 lb | Dried mealworms | — | 2 lb |
| Fluker's Culinary Coop Canned Mealworms, 3-Pack | Canned mealworms | — | 2.75 oz, pack of 3 |
| FLYGRUBS Dried BSF Larvae Chicken Treat | Dried BSF larvae | 36-42% | Multiple sizes (5 lb, 1 lb, 10 lb) |
| Eaton Pet & Pasture USA-Grown BSF Grubs, 1 lb x2 | Dried BSF larvae | — | 1 lb, pack of 2 |
| Scratch and Peck Grubs BSF Larvae, 20 oz | Dried BSF larvae | 30% (title) | 20 oz |
| Happy Hen Treats Grub Frenzy, 30 oz | Dried BSF larvae | — | 30 oz |
| Adaman Dried Black Soldier Fly Larvae, 15 lb | Dried BSF larvae | Up to 45% crude | 15 lb |
Specs as listed by the maker or seller; check the listing before you buy.
Protein as listed (upper figure where a range is given)
Only products with a listed protein figure are shown
Package size in ounces
| Product | Listed size | ≈ oz |
|---|---|---|
| Adaman mealworms / BSF | 15 lb | 240 |
| Manna Pro Farmhouse Favorites | 2 lb | 32 |
| TradeKing mealworms | 2 lb | 32 |
| Eaton BSF grubs | 1 lb x 2 | 32 |
| Happy Hen Mealworm / Grub Frenzy | 30 oz | 30 |
| Scratch and Peck Grubs | 20 oz | 20 |
| Fluker's canned mealworms | 2.75 oz x 3 | 8.25 |
Source: Maker listings
Mealworms or black soldier fly larvae: which is better for chickens?
Both are insect protein your hens would forage for anyway. Mealworms are the classic; the Manna Pro listing gives 50% protein. Black soldier fly larvae are listed lower in protein here (36–45%) but several makers, Adaman and Eaton among them, say they carry more calcium than mealworms. Those are maker claims; neither replaces a layer feed's calcium.
In practice, pick the one your hens like and that you can buy in a size you finish before it goes stale. Many keepers alternate. Our mealworms vs black soldier fly larvae comparison goes deeper.
How we chose these chicken treats
We compared each listing's insect type, listed protein (and fat where given), package size, packaging and where the maker says the insects are raised. We did not feed these to a flock, and we make no health or laying claims for any treat. When a listing disagrees with itself, as Scratch and Peck's title and text do on protein, we say so. Ten picks come from eight brands.
How many mealworms should chickens get?
Treats should stay a small part of the diet. Extension nutrition guides, Alabama Extension's among them, stress that a complete layer feed is the hen's main ration, and that treats and scratch fed in quantity dilute it. A small handful for a few hens, a few times a week, is how most keepers use mealworms: for training, for calling hens in at dusk, or to keep them busy.
- Feed layer feed first
Make sure the complete feed is always available. See our layer feed picks.
- Use a small handful
Scatter a small handful for the flock rather than filling a dish.
- Use treats with purpose
Shake the tub at dusk so hens learn to come in, or hand-feed to tame shy birds.
- Scatter to encourage foraging
Scattered grubs keep hens scratching instead of picking at each other.
- Store sealed and dry
Reseal bags, keep them cool and dry, and throw out anything that smells off or shows mold.
- Wash hands after hand-feeding
CDC advises washing hands with soap and water after touching birds or their food.
Mealworm treat mistakes to avoid
- Treats in place of feed. Hens that fill up on mealworms eat less of their balanced ration.
- Buying a 15 lb bag for three hens. It can go stale or attract pests before you finish it.
- Scattering treats where wild birds feed. Treat inside the run, as USDA APHIS advises keeping wild birds away from flock food.
- Assuming more protein solves molting or a laying slump. Many factors drive both; see molting and broody hens. If a bird seems ill, contact a veterinarian or your state poultry lab.
- Letting young children hand-feed unsupervised. Follow CDC's Salmonella guidance; see Salmonella and backyard chickens.
Who should choose which mealworms or grubs?
- First flock, a few hens: Happy Hen Mealworm Frenzy 30 oz. More starter gear is in your first flock.
- Want a listed protein figure: Manna Pro Farmhouse Favorites (50%).
- Big flock, bulk buyer: Adaman 15 lb mealworms or grubs.
- Prefer grubs: FLYGRUBS for scatter feeding, Happy Hen Grub Frenzy for a tub.
- US or North American sourcing: Eaton Pet & Pasture or Scratch and Peck.
- An occasional special treat: Fluker's canned mealworms.
For most small flocks, Happy Hen Mealworm Frenzy in a 30 oz tub is the easiest treat to keep on hand, and Manna Pro Farmhouse Favorites gives the highest listed protein. If you prefer grubs, FLYGRUBS lists its protein and fat clearly. Keep any of them a small handful, with layer feed as the main diet.
We compare manufacturer specs and listing data (egg capacity by egg size, forced or still air, humidity control, turner type and auto-stop, alarms; coop floor area against the claimed number of hens, wood or plastic, nest boxes, latches; door lift capacity, power and sensor; feeder and waterer capacity and heater wattage; feed protein and form) and what the maker says each product is for, alongside extension, CDC, USDA and FDA guidance. Coop capacity is recounted from the listed floor area with published space norms. We did not hatch eggs in, house birds in, install or lab-test these products, and we never show invented scores, ratings or prices.