Can chickens eat mealworms?

Yes, but only a little: chickens can eat mealworms. RSPCA Australia notes that some keepers give mealworms as a treat. In the UK, though, it’s illegal to feed dried mealworms to chickens (British Hen Welfare Trust), and DEFRA says dried insects can’t be used in hen treats. According to the BHWT, the ban doesn’t apply to live insects.

How to serve it: just a few, as a treat

Good to know: In the EU, processed insect protein has been allowed in poultry feed since 2021 (Regulation (EU) 2021/1372); the UK hasn’t followed yet (DEFRA, 2026). The EU regulations don’t say explicitly whether dried mealworms sold as treats are covered.

Kitchen scraps: The rules depend on where you live. US extension services allow small amounts of table scraps, no more than 10 percent of the daily diet (Oklahoma State). In the UK, it’s illegal to feed kitchen scraps to chickens, even pet hens (RSPCA, APHA). In the EU, Germany’s agriculture ministry (BMLEH) says kitchen and food waste must not be fed to laying hens.