Grow Your Own Mealworms – Bug Factory for Endless Live Feed at Home

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Regular price £70
Regular price Sale price £70
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IN STOCK 🌱

Grow your own live mealworms at home with this complete Bug Factory system, packed on our Herefordshire farm. Includes starter colony (120g live mealworms) and wheat bran to get you going — building into a continuous, renewable supply over time. Perfect for birds, hens and wildlife, with fresh, DEFRA-approved feed you control from start to finish.

Produces over 1kg of mealworms per cycle once established

What’s Included
• Bug Factory Unit (Hexagon – 35cm across, 15cm high)
• 100g Wheat Bran Bedding
• 120g Live Mealworms (starter colony)


What This Actually Gives You
This isn’t just a box of mealworms.
👉 It’s the start of your own mealworm supply system
• Weeks 1–3 → worms settle in
• Weeks 3–6 → beetles lay eggs
• Weeks 6–10 → first proper harvest
• After that → continuous supply
Each cycle can produce up to a kilo of fresh live mealworms.

  • Fully secure checkout
  • Supporting British Farming
  • Rated Platinum on Judge.me
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These live mealworms are DEFRA-approved for feeding hens (unlike dried alternatives).

They provide:

• High protein nutrition

• Natural feeding behaviour

• Fresh, traceable feed

And because you grow them yourself, you know exactly what they’ve eaten.

Watch the fascinating life cycle unfold — from larvae to beetles and back again — while producing your own supply of live feed.

It’s simple to run, surprisingly low-maintenance, and ideal for:
• Bird lovers
• Poultry keepers
• Wildlife enthusiasts

Buying live mealworms regularly adds up quickly.

• A typical 500g tub costs around £19

• Feed birds or hens a few times a week and you can easily spend £400+ a year

With the Bug Factory, once your colony is established:

👉 you’re producing your own mealworms continuously

👉 using simple feed like veg scraps and bran

👉 at a fraction of the ongoing cost

Most customers find the system pays for itself within a season — and after that, it’s ongoing value.

Setup & Care

  • Place your Bug Factory somewhere warm (20–25°C).
  • Add wheat bran bedding and fresh vegetable scraps every few days.
  • Remove uneaten pieces to keep trays clean.
  • Separate pupae into the next tray to hatch into beetles.
  • Each tray can house a different stage of the life cycle for easy rotation.
  • Harvest after 8–12 weeks, depending on temperature.

Wiggly Tip:
Pop your Bug Factory near a light source — warmth and gentle light speed up the breeding cycle.

Goes Well With

  • Subscribe & Save Live Mealworms – for instant feed while you’re waiting for your first harvest.
  • Dried Mealworms – handy backup for winter or when you’re short.
  • Live Waxworms – richer, high-fat live treat for birds and hens.
  • Basic DIY Mealworm Breeding Kit – a simpler starter if you’re just getting going.

Quick FAQs
How long until I can harvest?
Around 8–12 weeks depending on temperature.
Does it smell?
No – if kept clean and dry, it’s virtually odourless.
Do I need to buy more worms later?
No – your beetles will lay eggs and restart the cycle.
Where should I keep it?
Indoors, in a warm, dry spot (20–25°C ideal).
Is it safe for birds and hens?
Yes – live mealworms are DEFRA-approved for hens and ideal for garden birds.

Subscribe and Save LIVE! Mealworms

The Real Value of Mealworms

Mealworms aren’t just a treat — they’re one of the most effective foods you can offer.
They are:
• High in protein — essential for growth, feather health and recovery
• Rich in natural fats — providing energy, especially in colder months
• Ideal for feeding young birds during nesting season
• Brilliant for hens — supporting egg production and natural behaviour

For garden birds like robins, blackbirds, wrens and tits, mealworms are often the difference between visiting occasionally and coming back every day.

What That Means for You

• More birds, more often
• Stronger, healthier hens
• Less reliance on bought feed
• A feeding routine that actually works

You’re not buying mealworms — you’re creating your own supply

The Wiggly Story: Bringing Your Garden to Life.

Nestled in the heart of rural Herefordshire, within The Duchy of Cornwall estate lies Lower Blakemere Farm – the cherished home of Wiggly Wigglers and founder, Heather Gorringe. From its humble beginnings on Heather’s kitchen table over 30 years ago, our small but dedicated team is working hard on a legacy of sustainability and regeneration. Our farm isn’t merely a plot of land; it’s a dynamic hub where we’re aiming to balance food production with biodiversity and since we started our regenerative journey there’s a real focus on improving soil health and sustainability. Beyond our own endeavours, we’re passionate about sharing best practices and developing products designed to Bring your Garden to life.

Wiggly Wigglers Delivery Information

Standard Delivery (£4.95)

  • 2-5 working days.
  • Mainland Britain.
  • Royal Mail or Parcelforce.

Next Day Delivery (£7.95) – Mainland Britain Only

If you need a guaranteed Next Day delivery then please choose the Next Day delivery option. Please note there are no deliveries on Saturdays, Sundays or Bank Holidays. You must order before 3pm for your order to be sent to arrive the following working day. If you order after 3pm then your order will be shipped on the next working day.

Delivery Charges for Remote Areas

If your order contains JUST live worms and is under 2 kilos - whether that’s composting worms, wax worms or mealworms you will have the option in the checkout to choose standard delivery at £4.95. This is because we can use Royal Mail for this service.

Otherwise you will see the extra cost options for a courier to deliver your package – please note there is no guaranteed next day service to these areas so please allow extra time and track your package for information.

For Falkirk, Aberdeen Perth Kirkwall Paisley and Inverness Areas (not islands), Isle of Man and Isle of Wight the charge is £10.95

(Postcodes AB37-38 AB41-56 FK 17-21 IV1- 40 IV52-54 IV63 KW1-14 PA21-40 PA80 PH15-50 IM1-9 IM86-87 IM99 PO30-41)

For Scottish Islands, Outer Hebrides, Kilmarnock area, Paisley area, Chanel Islands and Northern Ireland the charge is £15.95

(Postcodes HS1-9 IV41-56 KA27-28 KW15-17 PA20 PA41-78 PH42-44 ZE1-3 BT1-99 JE1-5 GY1-10)

All orders ship from Herefordshire, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).

For questions, email wiggly@wigglywigglers.co.uk.

Team Wiggly 🪱

At Wiggly Wigglers, it’s not just about sales (though we appreciate your orders and support for the farm!).

We’re here to offer a range of sustainable solutions that add fun to composting, boost biodiversity, and make bring your home and garden to life, whilst making the world just a little bit greener.

  • Trusted: We’ve been here for over 30 years, with over 100,000 orders shipped.
  • Try our products: We have a risk free 60 Day No Quibble Returns policy.
  • Great Value: Buy Direct - we grow, mix, pack and ship direct from our farm in Herefordshire.

We’re here to help. Check through our frequently asked questions, and feel free to email wiggly@wigglywigglers.co.uk or send a chat message if there’s anything we haven’t covered.

Available on loads of wiggly favourites! You will save up to 10%, and in the true spirit of Wigglyness there is no sign-up fee, no obligations, and you can cancel your subscription at any time with absolutely no hassle.

Subscribe & Save

What our customers say

Brilliant live worms and great service! I ordered a batch of live composting worms for my new wormery, and they arrived in perfect condition — lively, healthy, and ready to get to work straight away. The packaging was eco-friendly, and the team even included a little guide on how to settle them in. My kitchen scraps are disappearing fast, and I’ve already started harvesting my first bit of worm compost. Couldn’t be happier!
Sarah M.
Fantastic bokashi composting advice As a complete beginner to bokashi composting, I really appreciated how helpful the team were. They answered all my questions quickly and gave me simple, clear instructions to get started. The bokashi bran is top quality and smells fresh and pleasant. After just a few weeks, I’ve turned my kitchen waste into brilliant compost-ready material with no odour or mess. Highly recommended!
James T.
Top-notch British birdseed mix The British birdseed from Wigglys is superb. It attracts a lovely variety of garden birds — robins, finches, and even a pair of goldfinches have started visiting regularly. You can tell it’s a quality mix with no fillers or dust. Delivery was quick, and everything was packaged sustainably. It’s become my go-to source for bird feed!
Emma K.
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