Part of a Balanced Diet

[Roger64]

part of a balanced diet
feeding hedgehogs alcium worms, sometimes referred to as Calci worms are the larvae of the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) and are a natural nutrient-rich feeder insect.
High in protein, energy-giving fat, and amino acids, and uniquely high in essential calcium. They have a positive calcium-to-phosphorus ratio meaning they aid the development of strong bones and eggs in all insectivore vertebrates including garden birds and hedgehogs.
Calcium worms roughly contain twenty to forty times more calcium than other dried insects such as the commonly fed mealworm. Read More in Vale Wildlife Hospital`s Hedgehog Feeding Guide PDF
They can be fed as a treat on their own or mixed with other foods. Suitable for feeding on the ground on bird tables or in seed feeders.
Research shows that feeding a balanced Ca:P ratio increases animal health and contributes to stronger bones and eggs. Black soldier fly larvae have a naturally high calcium content and as such are an excellent addition to the diet of breeding birds and growing vertebrates such as birds and hedgehogs.
Best used as part of a balanced diet and not fed to excess. Calcium is especially important for egg-laying birds and all growing vertebrates including squirrels and hedgehogs. Calcium deficiency can result in poor soft shells in laying birds and a potentially fatal bone disorder known as metabolic bone disease. Feeding calcium worms as part of a balanced diet is one way to increase consumption of this vital nutrient.
Calcium worms are a great treat for hedgehogs due to their high calcium content, as well as wild birds, reptiles, and fish.

Black soldier larvae cal worms are not commonly sold in some pet shops but you can buy them online. don’t cost any more than mealworms.
1kg bag of mealworms❌❌❌ approximately £10.99

1kg bag of black soldier larvae cal worms✅✅✅
approximately£10.99
hoping hedgehog lovers find this interesting.

[Nic]

Hi Roger 64

I was interested to read your post about calci-worms – although much of what you say seems to relate to birds rather than to hedgehogs. There are also some other matters arising.

You say that calci-worms have 20 – 40 times more calcium than other insects, although there is research that showed the calcium content varied quite a lot depending on what the calci-worms were fed. It seemed the cheaper foods resulted in lower calcium content of the calci-worms. Commercially, the temptation may be towards cheaper foods for lower production costs.

It also needs to be borne in mind that, as with humans, too much calcium could potentially be bad for hedgehogs.

You say [calci-worms are] ‘…… Best used as part of a balanced diet and not fed to excess. ….’ But you also say ‘……. Calcium worms are a great treat for hedgehogs….’ which is a bit contradictory. The natural diet of hedgehogs is wide and varied so, it seems to me, it would be a mistake to feed them one particular foodstuff in any quantity. Also it is a misconception that hedgehogs need treats, as such. Treats are a peculiarly human thing. Any food we offer the hedgehogs should be supplementary to what they can find in the wild and that is treat enough for them. It is our responsibility to make sure that what we offer them is as good and balanced as it can be and that does not include, it seems to me, feeding calci-worms as a ‘treat’, separately. If they are used as a part of a scientifically prepared, balanced, food for hedgehogs that would be different. But that would not involve needing to buy calci-worms separately – for hedgehogs.

You mention research and if you are aware of research relating particularly to hedgehogs in relation to feeding calci-worms it would be interesting for us all to know where it accessible so that we can read it for ourselves. Birds and hedgehogs are very different species and what is ok for one is not necessarily good for the other.

You also mention a feeding guide from Vale Wildlife Hospital. I have read two separate feeding guides from Vale Wildlife Hospital, and whilst they mention the calcium/phosphorous imbalance in relation to meal worms, I did not see any mention of calci-worms in them. Perhaps you could let us know exactly where they mention calci-worms and what they say about them. It would be interesting to know if they mention any research. I’m sure many of us would be interested to hear about any research.

Personally I have reservations about feeding any particular single item feedstuff to hedgehogs.

Information from Hedghog Street says: “ …. Hedgehogs will relish any combination of meat-based wet dog or cat foods, or dry cat/kitten food …..” and “….. Specially made hedgehog food is also widely available. Those resembling pet food with a high meat content are most suitable.”
https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/help-hedgehogs/feed-hedgehogs/

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