Excellent bulk mealworm source...

[Wildsky]

Quote:
I'll stick a carrot in now!

I will need to get more wheat bran - there isn't much in the container, I bought the container so I wouldn't have to buy wheat bran

(store is SO far away)
Anyhoo - are these similar to SUPERWORMS - that turn into beatles and then breed?

I will probably have to buy more - I don't think I can resist going out to the girls with some of these!

 

[jkcove08]

Also for those of you who do a good cleaning of the barn once a year, as you are sweeping the old hay and straw away check for meal worms. We do a good cleaning of our barn every year and clean out the loose hay and straw that has fallen when feeding the horse and sheep. For some reason in different areas, expecially areas that had gotten some moisture, I have found meal worms. I tell you what, it is very hard to pick up mealies when your chickens find out they are there. I laugh at my children trying to get them and chasing off the chickens at the same time. The kids usually give up after about 10 minutes. Jenn

 

[bayouchica]

Wildsky, you can also use unmedicated chic starter or layer pellets.I use chic starter for my mealworms.
I brought 1000 mealworms yr ago & they are super easy to grow. Gosh knows how many I have now.
For moisture, I've use brocci (sp?) stems,asparagus (sp?) stems,potatoes.
Superworms are different, here's a link on how to grow them http://www.wormman.com/breeding_superworms.cfm

 

[Wildsky]

Thanks Bayou - I used to have superworms and they turned into beatles all on their own - I'm hoping the meal worms are the same..... that'll be very cool - I'd have my own treat supply!

 

[claud]

Quote:
Yes, they turn into beatles on their own. I put a piece of newspaper on top of the bran and the beatles will crawl up on that. They can't climb the sides of the container(thankfully).
If you let the culture get cold(not frozen) they will go dormant for months.

 

[Wildsky]

Quote:
Yes, they turn into beatles on their own. I put a piece of newspaper on top of the bran and the beatles will crawl up on that. They can't climb the sides of the container(thankfully).
If you let the culture get cold(not frozen) they will go dormant for months.

OK how cold is too cold? These worms LOOK DEAD - but every now and then one will MOVE.... its CHILLY in my house - under 70 degrees all the time - do I need to put the worms in a BROODER

?
I think we're set at 60 for nights 65 for days.....

 

[McGoo]

Wow, what a great surprise. I ordered them as you suggested ... not sure if my picky girls would go for them. And they went bonkers

yep, they were wild for them. Like xmas morning with a big stash from Santa.

So now that I've got them I'm told that they will reproduce relatively easily. I just need to keep a little fruit or veggie in there for water source and cornmeal or bran and they'll keep on producing? Is that what you found?

Thanks so very much

We're all eggcited here.

 

[Princessferf]

I have regularly ordered from Rainbow Mealworms out of California. www.rainbowmealworms.net I've ordered crickets from them in sets of 500 and they are always well packaged and "perky" when they arrive.

This company has quality bugs and excellent service.

The XL mealworms are $7 for 1,000 and $8.65 for shipping. The XL mealworms are about an inch long.

 

[briteday]

I really want to try this for my chickens. Where do you keep the mealworm bins in the house? I was thinking either under the kitchen sink in the cabinet and out in the garage during the summer (garage stays cooler than the triple degree temps outside). I tried raising earthworms (to compost my vegetable garbage) afew months back and didn't have any luck. Hoping the mealworms will be easier...

Help? Tips?

In the meanwhile, I'll check at the pet store for a supply to get started. I figured an optimal time will be in March when we get chicks and have them on unmedicated starter mash since some of the mealworm bedding recipes suggest using that, along with other grains.

 

[Barn Maid Ann]

Thanks for the links everyone!
I think I am going to order some of these. Last year we had a very mild winter and my chickens were out free ranging all winter. This year, we have been burried with snow for over a month now. The birds have hardly left the barn.

Anyway, I wonder how they know they are sending the quantities claimed. Do they hire worm counters?

Has Mike Rowe ever visited any of these worm farms?