Mealworms farming

Lucky you, Granny!! Here in Hilo, the humidity is almost always 100%. ugh. And welcome Rachelsflock! I welcome any advice! And of course, as always, lovemealworms is our go-to information source, and had singlehandedly saved my mealworm farm! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! And Aloha Bridebeliever! to me, it isn't THAT easy, as you can see from all the questions, but I think once we really get it down, it won't be hard. They are super expensive here, too, and we only have one, and sometimes two, places that sells them. So once they're sold out, that's it. That's why I wanted to raise them. Now I want to see some, too, if I can get my farm rolling and reproducing!

nuklee0 said:

So I'm thinking about just keeping them all in one bin because I would like to try to have the lowest maintenance possible. Have you had any experiences with just keeping everyone in one bin? Also, is that really the lowest maintenance method?

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Yes one bin is easiest maintenance. You will lose a lot to cannibalizing. The upkeep is veggies once daily and sifting out their poop, sheddings and dried bits of veggies once a month or so.

Bridebeliever said:

Does anyone on here sell them for less than the store sells them for? They are so expensive!

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I plan to start selling on here around the end of december. Need to improve my numbers, all of mine are currently fed to my dragons and the local pet stores.

lovemealworms said:

Yes one bin is easiest maintenance. You will lose a lot to cannibalizing. The upkeep is veggies once daily and sifting out their poop, sheddings and dried bits of veggies once a month or so. 

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So I started my one bin 2 days ago with approximately 1000 +/- worms... I checked on them today and there are quite a few pupae! But I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to handle seeing beetles... Ugh... So now I'm second guessing whether I really want to raise them... Lol. Do the beetles fly? Oh dear, I hope not!

nuklee0 said:

So I started my one bin 2 days ago with approximately 1000 +/- worms... I checked on them today and there are quite a few pupae! But I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to handle seeing beetles... Ugh... So now I'm second guessing whether I really want to raise them...

Lol. Do the beetles fly? Oh dear, I hope not!

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youre all good they will only fly in survival emergencies. Like no moisture for a week or so. If it happens it will only be one or two that can figure it out. If really worried you can make a screen top for it and then nothing to ever worry about. Any other questions please ask em.

Hi lovemealworms, I now have another question, will the beetles eat the new little worms that hatch out? I have a whole lot of black beetles now,when I open the drawer I hear noise from them scurrying around....they've eaten a few holes in the toilet paper roll that I put in for them...lol

Granny368W said:

Hi lovemealworms, I now have another question, will the beetles eat the new little worms that hatch out? I have a whole lot of black beetles now,when I open the drawer I hear noise from them scurrying around....they've eaten a few holes in the toilet paper roll that I put in for them...lol

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yes they will eat some of them. The losses will be less if you keep up with veggies.

lovemealworms said:

yes they will eat some of them. The losses will be less if you keep up with veggies.

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well they are really eating the carrots, there's big Chunks taken out of those baby Carrots...So I guess they like them.... I put 3-4 in each day... I can't wait to see baby worms.... How long do you think that might be?? Rae

P.S. I'm finally getting eggs and I'm almost ready to have my first worms....How long before I can start feeding them to the chickens?

Granny368W said:

well they are really eating the carrots, there's big Chunks taken out of those baby Carrots...So I guess they like them.... I put 3-4 in each day... I can't wait to see baby worms.... How long do you think that might be?? Rae

P.S. I'm finally getting eggs and I'm almost ready to have my first worms....How long before I can start feeding them to the chickens?

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eggs hatch in 6-14 days. 2-3 weeks later the larvae should be visible if you run your hand through the grain and look at the edges of the valley you make. You will see them knocking the grain down. About five weeks after hatching they should be at a half inch and you will see spots of your grain near where the veggies are that are moving. I figure thats a good size to start feeding some off. So the chickens can see them moving round. Hope this covered everything. Any more questions please let me know

lovemealworms said:

eggs hatch in 6-14 days. 2-3 weeks later the larvae should be visible if you run your hand through the grain and look at the edges of the valley you make. You will see them knocking the grain down. About five weeks after hatching they should be at a half inch and you will see spots of your grain near where the veggies are that are moving. I figure thats a good size to start feeding some off. So the chickens can see them moving round. Hope this covered everything. Any more questions please let me know

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well, that's great.... I still have pupae in the bowl so I'll still get beetles...when I see worms in the drawer, I put them up with the worms.. well I need to go to bed,I'm so tired...