There are several companies who advertise a wide range of products which are only a phone call away for those people who simply want to give the birds the best but they can but cant spend the time looking for "wild insects" in the field due to today’s hectic life styles.

Below is a list of the most readily available.

MEALWORM: Most birds will eat mealworms, they are high in protein and fat, but low in calcium, it is advisable to dust them with a calcium powder if they are to be used for rearing chicks. The mealworm is the larvae of the Meal Beatle.

FRUIT FLIES: Again these can be bought, they resemble a small midge, and although don’t look much, the smaller birds are greedy for them, they are good for feeding to newly hatched chicks, if room will permit. a bucket of "rotten fruit" with wire over the top can be placed in the enclosure where the birds are and a culture of fruit flies be added, they will breed on the fruit and the birds will get a regular supply, the only drawback with it is it gives off a rather strong unpleasant smell, as the fruit must be rotten for them to breed. Some people buy crickets also, they are sold in various sizes.

CRICKETS: Some people buy crickets also, they are sold in various sizes. I believe Softbill breeders use the larger ones, personally I have tried my seedeaters with the small ones, they were eaten but not enthusiastically, however they are said to be very nutritious.

WAXWORMS: In my opinion the best commercial live food is the wax worm; this is the larvae, of the wax moth. These are available in two sizes the lesser and the bigger American, they are soft skinned, very nutritious, and have a high fat content so making them ideal for rearing chicks. As with mealworms these can be cultivated at home so saving costs if the breeder is interested. In addition to the ones mentioned there are others which are available to buy if necessary.

APHIDS: Also other types of live food is available should the breeder have the time to collect them from the "field". Commonly known as greenfly and black fly, these creatures are found on several plants, usually in gardens on flowers such as roses etc, but are also found on several wild plants such as nettles, sow thistles and shepherds purse, as well as under sycamore leaves, etc, again valuable for newly hatched chicks, as are small spiders.

SPIDERS: Theirs several types of spiders that the birds will eat, the ones that i feed my birds are ones that are found around windowsills, or on fences etc, the largest being about the size of a little finger nail. Spiders are said to process a medicinal compound within them so passing it on to the birds, i have also heard to many at once is no good for them.

CATTERPILLAR: Several species of caterpillar are found in the wild in the U.K, the ones i collect are the smooth green ones, I am unaware of the food value of these, but the birds regularly take them and feed to their chicks. To collect these, you must look into stinging nettle clumps, in these nettles there are leaves rolled up and usually within the leaf, once opened the caterpillar can be collected.

WASP LARVAE: These are supposed to be one of the most nutritious food sources available, however collecting them is a problem, and it will be a brave person to attempt to collect those from a wasp nest.

JOHN'S TOP TIP:
A way of collecting various kinds of live foods for the birds is by taking an old umbrella & place under a bush and open it, push the spike into the ground, give the bush a good shake, lots of different live food will fall into the brolly.
Close it up, take it to your flight and empty the contents, the birds will then get a free meal.