Live Bait

Supplement the diets of your farm animals or pets with live bait from Tractor Supply. Whether you're a new reptile owner or a seasoned poultry keeper, it makes a tasty, nutritious treat your lizard or backyard flock is sure to appreciate. Check out our inventory to learn more.

Wholesome Additions to Complete Feeds

Live bait contains high protein and fat content, plus vitamins and other nutrients, making it a great means of helping fowl and herps live a healthier Life Out Here. While some options are insectile, meaning made up of bugs, most contain invertebrates or worms.

Ideal Treats for Several Species

Because live bait can also support natural feeding behaviors, making it ideal for avian species prone to pecking for forage, such as chickens, not to mention bearded dragons, geckos and other cold-blooded hunters.

Options with Mealworms and Superworms

Many treats with mealworms are comprised of yellow Tenebrio molitor larvae from a common beetle. Domestic birds, wild turkeys and pheasants and everyday songbirds love them, as do waterfowl such as ducks and geese. Superworm treats, in contrast, usually contain species such as Zophobas atratus or morio, which are larger than mealworms and often more filling. As a more active prey, they make appealing options for lizards, which prefer to either forage slowly or wait for their quarry to come to them before darting and attacking.

Frequently Asked Questions About Live Bait

What are the benefits of feeding live worms to my birds or reptiles?

Worms provide additional protein, fat, nutrients and moisture. This makes them especially helpful to your birds when energy demands are high, such as during mating season or winter. They’re also great for lizards living in arid environments, as live worms serve as an additional source of hydration.

How do I properly feed an animal mealworms or superworms?

Do so in moderation, as a treat or complement to a bird’s or reptile’s main food source. When feeding mealworms to chickens, give them directly, either by hand or in a designated feeding area, and make sure that they have access to grit to help them digest the worms’ exoskeletons. You may directly feed superworms to reptiles, but give them in a way that encourages their instincts to stalk and strike — such as putting them in a separate container or scattering them in the lizards’ enclosure. Don’t feed mealworms to young or weak reptiles, as the worms’ hard chitin shells are difficult to process for them.

What's the best way to store live worm treats?

You should keep worms in a container with a substrate and a food source and keep them hydrated. Mealworms can last several months stored in a cool, dark place, whereas superworms need to be kept warm and should most often be fed to animals within a few weeks of purchase.

Live Bait for Poultry, Waterfowl, Gamebirds and Reptiles at Tractor Supply

Whether your companions are feathered or scaly, we stock a nutrient-rich selection of live bait to support their well-being and help keep them happy. Shop online or at your local Tractor Supply store to get some delicious snacks for your animals.