Mealworm farming

how old do chicks have to be to feed them mealworms?

I have chicks that are 3 days old pecking at them but the week old chicks in with them grab them up and run around with them so they don't get much.
At 2 weeks old watch your hands and fingers because by then the chicks are so excited about them that just feeding starter and putting in fresh water causes a frenzy. They jump all over my hands and stick their beaks in between my fingers looking for worms every day.
I can't wait until I can feed some every day!

Hurry up beetles! Do your thing!

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Here's a fairly thorough study of the nutrition of a mealworm, including the amino acid profile as well as how they compare to other things: http://www.scipub.org/fulltext/AJAB/AJAB44319-331.pdf

I've been reading this thread with great interest. I read (scanned) the scientific study but didn't find the protein content of mealworms. Did I miss it? I will be interested in growing mealworms if they are a protein supplement for my chickens.

Sorry If this has been answered in later posts. This is as far as I have gotten in reading the thread.

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Congrats! You can conquer this nursecat9! We chicken folk are strong and courageous...(where's a muscle bound/ buff smilie when you need one?)



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x2

One of my 8-week-old hens is always looking for worms, peaking all around my hands from every angle. The others just aren't as bright as she is. If I hold a worm up in the air a bit, she'll jump for it! The others don't understand the concept of looking up yet.

Quote:
Here's a fairly thorough study of the nutrition of a mealworm, including the amino acid profile as well as how they compare to other things: http://www.scipub.org/fulltext/AJAB/AJAB44319-331.pdf

I've been reading this thread with great interest. I read (scanned) the scientific study but didn't find the protein content of mealworms. Did I miss it? I will be interested in growing mealworms if they are a protein supplement for my chickens.

Sorry If this has been answered in later posts. This is as far as I have gotten in reading the thread.

Found on pages 8-9. Hope it helps!

Table 7: Composition of larvae
Parameter Value (%)
Moisture content 58.1-61.5
Ash content (minerals) 1.8-2.2 (4.3-5.7)
Protein content 24.3-27.6 (63.31-68.87)
Fat content 12.0-12.5 (29.83-31.17)
Values in parenthesis are calculated on dry basis


The quality of the protein, and thus the nutritional
values, is determined by the amino acid composition[33].
The results of the amino acid profile are shown in
Table 8. The yellow mealworm contains all the
essential amino acids needed for human nutrition.

DISCUSSION
The high protein content of the mealworm larvae
and the fact that this insect is easy to rear and maintain
make the results of this study very interesting. The
mealworms are large in comparison to other insects
suggested for protein production and can, therefore, be
harvested at an earlier stage of their development. The
results indicate that the larvae must be harvested before
they begin to prepare for the pupal stage, as they begin
to lose weight at this time. The most efficient period of
development for the mealworm is the early larval stage
(at about 100-120 mg weight) after which the growth
was found to cease and the larvae started to lose weight..........

Thanks Hannakat. I think I'm soon to become a mealyworm farmer! Sounds like a great treat for the girls along with BOSS and what they get free ranging in my garden. Can they get too much protein?

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You're welcome! I really have no idea cpchicks (about the protein).... The thing is, I also free range my birds and they eat bugs all day long in addition to their feed. They are healthy, happy, and lay faithfully. The reason I started my worm farm was to supplement their winter feed. I felt so bad last winter and did take them a platter of greens/yogurt/fruit/BOSS daily but wanted a way to supply BUGS!!

I ended up buy tubs of dried meal worms that cost $10 a tub. For a bit more than that, I started the farm and expect to have a quarter of a million worms ready by winter.

Okay, so I do sneak them some once in a while, especially my young birds since worms make the bestest training tool going!

Thanks Hannakat,
We don't have snow in the winter, but there are definitely less bugs. I will consider keeping some for those short days of winter, but hope to have plenty to give them this time of the year to supplement their diet. It sounds like it will be entertaining as well!

Ya-all aren't gonna believe this...... but I took pictures of the wormie egg! Haven't downloaded it yet but I'll post it as soon as I do. Also, went into the second drawer and lifted a carrot and found at least a dozen wee wormies!!!


There's Wanda, Willie, Wynonna, William, Whoppi, Walter, Wendy, Wally, Wanika, Wes, Winnie, Wolfgang, Whitney, Wilburt, Washi, Wyatt, Wayne, Willow .........





I took pictures of those also. Now to watch them grow as the final step in the observation of meal worms.!!

Tried to buy mealworms yesterday. I'll try some other places tomorrow. I can't wait to start my worm family! I hope there will be some names left!?