Recent content by Dipstick

I was good without a mask for weeks, actually for a few months, working in a cloud of frass as we have had tens of thousands or substantially more for over a year now, probably as many as 400k worms and 30k beetles at the high point of production. I noticed tightening of the chest when breathing...

And doing them in the house is fine as long as you have a constantly circulating air filtration system on in their room. As for temps, if YOU are not comfortable in the temps, they are not comfortable in the temps... never forget that.

Yes, your mask is a good design... If I were doing things over again, I would go with that style for the reasons you gave.

OK, ALWAYS wear a mask. I have discovered that if I even walk into the building where they are I begin sneezing uncontrollably, and then my lungs seize... and the masks must be able to filter microscopic powders. They go right through the painter's masks... which is what got me into trouble...

I have been farming them for nearly two years now, and am getting out of it. I have developed SEVERE allergies, so I am calling it quits and selling out. I hate to let it go, but my health is far more important. To all of the new kids on the farm lately... PLEASE wear a REAL mask.

Well lookie there, I learned something today! Thanks for the correction!

OK, fast thoughts. According to my personal research... DE works through two processes... first simple wicking of moisture away from the body, and secondly by scratching, cutting, and puncturing the exoskelleton to allow seepage of fluids... I could see it having an effect upon the wormies. And...

Get a large wide flat container, and dump everything into it, and spread it out. Put it where a fan can blow the air around to speed the drying process. stir the bedding often until mostly dry. Remember that the worms will enjoy the moisture to an extent, so you do not have to dry it completely...

LOL.... love your thoughts on cleaning! I learned to use the full sized carrots which I cut in strips longways. Half, then each half in half again. I end up with 4 long strips with good surface area. Not much left tomorrow. Bran and lots of veggies. Same temps as you enjoy.

If you are asking me, I do not use that system, so I cannot help you. I use screen based bins for sifting the entire colony, but not for general life if that makes sense.

Hmmm.... maybe in addition to selling worms, I should be selling beetles too... lol. Hmmmm....... actually there is more money in the beetles.........hmmmmm.............

Yeah... what HE said! When I got started, I purchased a 50# bag of oats and a 50# bag of bran. I used one of each, and mixtures. I got bugs in the bins with oats, but NOT in the bins with the bran. I got dead worms in the oats, and any bin where oats were a predominant componant of the bedding...

What was the price for 1,000 beetles, and where did you get them?

LOL... yeah. At last estimate, before I slowed production due to reduced sales, we were actually going through roughly 60# of bran per 7 day period, and approx 4-6# of carrots/potatoes/whatever else we had per day. We usually purchase 100# of bran per purchase. As for the number of critters we...

I wish. I go though 50lbs a week.