- Dec 12, 2013
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Hello The Keeper and kwewu7 ( Some of you guys sure have interesting names - Didn't your folks have a baby name glossary? LOL)
Now about those mealworms… When I was a kid over half a century ago, way over!) I remember rearing them in a round oatmeal box with a slide on lid on a mixture of crushed Wheaties and, you guessed it, Quaker Oatmeal. I remember having a folded cloth taken from the ragbag in between of which one would find the mealworm larvae. They seemed to move out of the medium to form to gather in between those rag layers. Also remember sprinkling a mist of water on top of the rag at each opening to prevent desiccation. Soon found out if one accidentally sprayed in too much water a hideous mold would grow on the rag! That rag laid on top of the mixed medium making it easy to fetch a supply of larvae. Once one had learnt to be a bit judicious with the water it was easy to rear enough larvae to keep my small reptile collection fed. But that is small potatoes compared to rearing enough of them to feed a hundred or so chickens and the blue birds that infest my front yard. So:
In your expert opinions how does one go about rearing enough for all those chickens and the beautiful bluebirds? Details please… Yes, we may discuss the process each of you prefer: (209) 327-2068
Thank you,
Neal, the Zooman
Now about those mealworms… When I was a kid over half a century ago, way over!) I remember rearing them in a round oatmeal box with a slide on lid on a mixture of crushed Wheaties and, you guessed it, Quaker Oatmeal. I remember having a folded cloth taken from the ragbag in between of which one would find the mealworm larvae. They seemed to move out of the medium to form to gather in between those rag layers. Also remember sprinkling a mist of water on top of the rag at each opening to prevent desiccation. Soon found out if one accidentally sprayed in too much water a hideous mold would grow on the rag! That rag laid on top of the mixed medium making it easy to fetch a supply of larvae. Once one had learnt to be a bit judicious with the water it was easy to rear enough larvae to keep my small reptile collection fed. But that is small potatoes compared to rearing enough of them to feed a hundred or so chickens and the blue birds that infest my front yard. So:
In your expert opinions how does one go about rearing enough for all those chickens and the beautiful bluebirds? Details please… Yes, we may discuss the process each of you prefer: (209) 327-2068
Thank you,
Neal, the Zooman
There is one questionable but the other 6 are full of veins and wigglers. Very excited. I am totally looking to forward to this hatch. The whole "What's it going to be?" question heightens my excitement! 7 is a good number for her but I learned that she can comfortably cover 10. ...the 3 extras were under another broody. Anyway. so looking forward to 12/26...what a nice way to celebrate the day after Christmas.
...maybe you all can tell me what happened. It had a long attached and very moist umbilical cord and the shell was yolky. Saw that then went out later and the poor little thing was about 5 inches from the nest box and was dead I am guessing that they yolk didn't fully absorb but I don't know what the deal was with the cord?? Could the egg have bee smooshed before it was ready? The half shell that was yolky was smooshed.
