Arizona Chickens

[cluckin_crazy]

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I just moved my bin out to the back patio (south) to get them to grow the colony faster. I'm not sure I have the desire to break them in to 2 separate colonies. What's the benefit to that? Just easier to separate the edibles out?

The one vine I have is a Thompson. I'd like to add some Flame next year, but need to think of where. Last year I had DH build a vine wire off the front patio for me, but I rarely use the front door so I kept forgetting to water them and they died

I'm thinking I will have him take the drip line over there and then I won't have to worry about it so much.

 

[constance]

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Yes!

Great! Let's place a combined order. I'll send you a PM or email with my email so we can coordinate the order. Yay!

 

[constance]

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I just moved my bin out to the back patio (south) to get them to grow the colony faster. I'm not sure I have the desire to break them in to 2 separate colonies. What's the benefit to that? Just easier to separate the edibles out?

The one vine I have is a Thompson. I'd like to add some Flame next year, but need to think of where. Last year I had DH build a vine wire off the front patio for me, but I rarely use the front door so I kept forgetting to water them and they died

I'm thinking I will have him take the drip line over there and then I won't have to worry about it so much.

Well, I had two cheapo bins that didn't work out for something else. I planned on having one red worm bin, so I used the 2nd one to catch the liquids under the 1st one. Then when my colony got big enough, and I wasn't collecting any liquids because it dries too quickly, I started a 2nd colony. I was going to build a single big worm bin, but then two friends had freak deaths of their worms, so I figured that if one has a problem, I have another one going. Actually, it works out pretty well. I feed one bin until it can't take anymore, then switch to feeding the other bin for a while. When that one is full, I harvest castings out of the other one and start over. Probably more work than is necessary.

 

[mclevinson]

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Chicken Envy Here! How old are they? Sooooo cute!

 

[arizonadreamer]

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I would be... I went to my feed store and asked for some and they looked at me like I'm a nut. BTW I use to raise earth worms and have a special bin for them with holes in the bottom of the trays for aeration? Do you worm keepers think it will work okay for meal-worms? The bator has been preheating for a day now, gonna load it in the morning, wish me luck. Let me know about the worms I almost ordered them yesterday but thought about waiting to see if my local lame store had any.

 

[nurseshelly]

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Chicken Envy Here! How old are they? Sooooo cute!

The bigger ones are 14 weeks old and the smaller ones are 7 or 8 weeks old

Michele

 

[constance]

azdreamer The pet stores and reptile specialist stores often sell live mealworms, and you can also find them online. The pet stores seemed kind of expensive to me when I checked last year. The online suppliers like Gallo's Flukes Farm are cheaper, but the shipping can be high since they have to be shipped 2nd day. I guess it depends on how many you want.

It sounds like the rubbermade-type bins will work, but you might have to screen off the holes if they are too wide. I'd see what Cluckin' Crazy and Gallo have to say. I have also only had earthworms in the past. This will be a new adventure for me.

 

[Desertrat011]

I started mine from a 500 cup from PETCO a few months ago.I think the cup was a few dallars and was cheaper than ordering if I remember correctly.
I did read your page on how to set them up so thanks!!

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[cluckin_crazy]

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Oooohhhhh.... .you have earthworms? I was thinking mealies. Gotcha. I tried earthworms but didn't want to deal with them in containers & they just didn't stick around long enough in the corner where my elm is. I saw a few in the north planter over the weekend, but they just don't hang around enough. I don't keep the ground wet enough, maybe?

Funny story - I was just out giving the chickens some mealworms and I had them in a clear shot glass and the dummies kept pecking at the glass - all 8 of them huddled around a shot glass in my hand pecking like they were having the treat of their lives. Took then way longer to figure it out than it should have, I gave them a few, called Steve out to watch the freak show, and they fell for it all over again. I had to laugh.

 

[cluckin_crazy]

RE: keeping mealworms in a container with holes, depending on the size of the holes, it could be ugly if you picked up the bin forgetting about the holes. Chickens would love it if it was outside though!

You could just duct tape them for an easy fix. (the holes... not the chickens...)