Live Calci Worms
for happier,
healthier hens.
British-farmed live BSFL for chickens — 37× more calcium than mealworms, DEFRA compliant, dispatched alive each week from our own grow rooms in Staffordshire.
Fresh live Calci Worms delivered to your door, every time.
Monthly
One tube, once a month. Great for 1–3 hens or first-time subscribers.
- 500g easy-pour tube
- Dispatched fresh each month
- Pause or cancel anytime
- Free delivery on 2+ tubes
Fortnightly
One tube every two weeks. Ideal for 4–6 hens wanting a regular treat.
- 500g easy-pour tube
- Dispatched fresh fortnightly
- Pause or cancel anytime
- Free delivery included
Weekly
One tube every week. Perfect for 7–10 hens or keepers who love regular enrichment.
- 500g easy-pour tube
- Dispatched fresh weekly
- Pause or cancel anytime
- Free delivery included
Not ready to subscribe? Try a one-off tube first.
500g live Calci Worms, dispatched fresh. No commitment required.
Live Calci Worms for chickens — why BSFL beat mealworms on every count
Live Calci Worms are the common name for live black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) — the most nutritious live treat you can give your backyard chickens in the UK. They are not just a treat. They are a genuinely superior source of calcium, protein and essential fats that hens in the wild would naturally seek out.
The nutrition difference over mealworms is significant. Live BSFL retain their full moisture content and natural calcium reserves, delivering approximately 37 times more calcium than dried mealworms. For laying hens, that calcium directly translates to stronger eggshells, fewer soft-shell or broken eggs, and healthier bone density across your entire flock.
Are dried mealworms illegal for chickens?
Yes. In the UK, dried insects are illegal to feed to poultry under animal feed regulations. This includes dried mealworms and dried Calci Worms. The regulation exists to protect animal health and reduce disease transmission risk. Live insects are fully DEFRA compliant — and live Calci Worms are specifically recognised as safe and appropriate for laying hens.
This is one of the most important things a UK chicken keeper can know. If you have been feeding dried mealworms to your hens, switching to live Calci Worms is not just a nutritional upgrade — it is the legally correct choice.
Why Syntects — British-farmed, not imported
Most live BSFL sold in the UK are imported, often shipped long distances in transit that reduces vitality and freshness. Every Calci Worm from Syntects hatches, grows and is dispatched from our own grow rooms in Yoxall, Staffordshire. We raise our larvae on UK surplus food and spent grain, keeping the operation genuinely circular. No imports. No long transit. Just fresh, active larvae sent directly to your door.
Live Calci Worm nutrition
How many do I need?
Simple to feed. Impossible to mess up.
The easy-pour tube design means no scooping, no mess, and no larvae escaping across your kitchen. Just point and pour. Your hens will do the rest.
Introduce live Calci Worms gradually if your flock hasn’t had them before — a small handful the first time is plenty. Once they’ve worked out what the tube means, they’ll run to you when they hear it.
Scatter feeding
Sprinkle on the ground to encourage natural foraging behaviour. Keeps the flock active and engaged.
Mix with regular feed
Combine with layers’ pellets, mash or growers’ ration for a nutritional top-up at feed time.
Hand feeding
The best way to tame a nervous hen or integrate a new bird into your flock. Works every time.
Rainy day enrichment
When hens are stuck inside, a tube of Calci Worms provides the enrichment they’d normally get from foraging.
Storage & freshness
Keep tubes cool and ventilated — a garage, shed, or cool kitchen spot works perfectly. Never airtight. Your larvae are most active in the first few days and stay lively for up to 7–10 days when stored correctly at 10–15°C.
What UK chicken keepers say about Syntects Calci Worms.
My hens go absolutely wild for these. The tube is brilliant — just point and pour, no mess. Eggshells have visibly improved in just a few weeks. The subscription is so easy to manage.
Really pleased to find a UK-farmed supplier. They arrive alive and very active. My girls charge at me when they see the tube coming — they absolutely love them. Brilliant service too.
I used to feed dried mealworms until I found out they weren’t legal. Switched to these and the girls haven’t looked back. Softer shell problem I had has completely gone. Recommended.
Start your Calci Worm subscription
Weekly, fortnightly or monthly — you choose.
- 500g live larvae, easy-pour tube
- British-farmed — Yoxall, Staffordshire
- DEFRA compliant · 100% legal
- 37× more calcium than mealworms
- Dispatched alive, same week
- Pause, skip or cancel anytime
- Free delivery on every order
Prefer to try first?
Buy one tube · £14 →Your questions about live Calci Worms, answered.
Are Calci Worms legal to feed to chickens in the UK?
Yes — live Calci Worms (live BSFL) are fully DEFRA compliant and legal to feed to poultry. In fact, they are one of the few insect-based feeds that are. Dried mealworms and dried insects generally are not legal to feed to chickens under UK animal feed regulations. Live Calci Worms are specifically recognised as safe and appropriate for backyard poultry.
How much calcium do live Calci Worms contain?
Live black soldier fly larvae contain approximately 37 times more calcium than dried mealworms. This high calcium load is retained in the live larvae — it is significantly reduced in dried BSFL products. For laying hens, this calcium directly supports eggshell strength, bone health and overall flock condition.
How often should I feed Calci Worms to my chickens?
Most keepers feed a small handful per hen, 3–5 times per week as a treat alongside their regular layers’ feed. Calci Worms should be a supplement, not a replacement for a balanced diet. One 500g tube typically lasts a week for a flock of 6 hens feeding every other day.
How long do they stay alive after delivery?
Your Calci Worms are most active in the first few days after arrival. Stored correctly — cool, ventilated, and never airtight — they typically stay lively for 7–10 days. Keep them at 10–15°C: a garage, shed or cool room is ideal. Avoid the fridge (too cold) and never seal the container airtight.
Can I pause or cancel my subscription?
Yes — completely. You can pause, skip a delivery, change your frequency or cancel at any time through your account, with no notice period and no cancellation fee. We designed the subscription to fit around your life, not the other way round.
Are Syntects Calci Worms actually farmed in the UK?
Yes. Every larva is hatched, raised and dispatched from our own grow rooms in Yoxall, Staffordshire. We do not import larvae from abroad. Our BSFL are raised on UK surplus food and spent grain, keeping the whole operation genuinely circular and British.
Are live Calci Worms safe to handle?
Completely. Live BSFL do not bite, sting, or carry disease. They are safe to handle with bare hands. The easy-pour tube design means you rarely need to handle them directly — but if you do, they are entirely harmless to humans and other animals.