HELP FOR THE NEWBIES

[galanie]

Oh yes. The thread "Mealworm Farming" in the Feeding and Watering your Flock here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/492636/mealworm-farming section is THE thread for that. Plenty of great info in the first post then just skip to the last if you have questions lol. No one could be expected to read every page, it's too long.

Very simple to raise.

 

[Aussie Lady]

Hi Galanie

Thank you for posting the link for the meal worm thread. My poor silkie does not know how to walk up the ladder of her chicken coop. I've tried to lead her in that direction however she doesn't get it. She just likes sitting on her soft bed and stays there unless I pick her up and put her on the grass for a frolic. It looks like I may need to do some training with her like when you train a dog. I thought she would have worked it out by now. I don't want to get any more chickens until I know she is well settled in and knows how to get around.

In the next few days, I will be ordering some meal worms on line. This will be interesting and next week I'm back at college for my studies. I will be a very busy girl.....

Thanks again Galanie for your input.

Cheers
Chrissy

 

[gryeyes]

My Newbie Help information is mostly geared towards folks who start with chicks, not older hens at POL (point of lay). But maybe some chick owners will visit here and find this information useful:

Three "warnings" for new chickie moms (and dads):

When you look in the brooder and they are all dead, do not have a heart attack yet. Tap the side of the brooder first - the chicks will wake up. They just fall asleep like that. Sometimes on their backs, or with their heads across stuff in the brooder (like laying their heads on the chopping block). They DO look dead, but they're just asleep.

When you pick up a chick and feel a tumor on its neck, do not panic then, either. That's a full crop. The chicks are piggies and will stuff themselves. That crop will empty over night and be all normal again in the morning. Not tumors. Whew!

When you see one or another chick on its side, kicking and twitching, it is NOT having a seizure. It may even flap its wings and roll over onto its other side to do it some more. This is dust bathing behavior in the brooder bedding. Perfectly normal. And very silly looking once you know what it is, which is NOT a seizure. Trust me.

And a bonus, fourth warning: You will fall in love with them. This will not change even when they grow up into chickens and start to lay eggs. You will love them more. And I bet you will do a great big dance and run excitedly into the house, screaming with delight when the first one lays her first egg.

Welcome to the wonderful world of keeping chickens!

 

[Aussie Lady]

Thank you sooooo much for this valuable information gryeyes and welcome to this thread. Personally I will not be buying any chicks however one day when we are out of the suburbs, I do intend to get a rooster where there will be no neighbours near by to make a fuss.

When that day comes I will at least understand what is going on with new chicks, so thanks again and I am sure this information is also important to the others on this thread as well.

Cheers
Chrissy

 

[Aussie Lady]

Hello Everyone

It's beautiful and still will a light wind here in Woody Point - Brisbane. Sun is shining and it is very muggy again. I will be blowing up my portable swimming pool for 2 and Oli and I are going to have a dip.

Shatzy, my silkie is wondering around the back yard frolicking in the sun - I think she ducked for cover now. She is enjoying herself and getting used to the place. We are busy, getting some supplies to finish off the chicken coop for the coming Australorps and I start college tomorrow again - so back to studying. Boy are we going to be busy - my poor hubby got 8 days straight at work.

Anyway I hope everyone has a wonderful week.

 

[Aussie Lady]

Forgot to mention, just ordered my meal worms, will keep you posted on how I go with these.

 

[galanie]

Mealworms! My favorite farming project. Have you looked at the "Mealworm Farming" thread?

 

[tweetysvoice]

I haven't received my chicks just yet, but I did already start up a mealworm farm! I want it up and running by the time the gals are ready for them! It is very simple and will save so much money in the long run. Here's a pic of my farm - just kept in a 10 gallon aquarium - in a dark warm spot.

 

[Aussie Lady]

Thank you Galanie, yes I have seen this and I have devourered this info. I really like it because it is explained simply and it has photos. Thank you too Tweety, and thanks for sending a photo. When I have these, I will post one too. Do you keep yours inside the house? We don't have a harsh winter, it is quite mild however we do get a bit of frost at times. Gee, I am producing quite a bit of scraps and can't wait to use these on the worms. I think you are very wise in setting up your mealworm farm first. I have read it usually takes 2 months before the worms are ready to give to the chickens. I won't be as ready as I will be getting "Point of Lays". However hopefully with the muggy and warm weather they will multiply quickly.

I am contemplating now if I should get a glass aquarium or a long plastic container. I have read that it is better to have a shallow long container than one which is of great depth. I am also thinking if I should use the "draw system" i.e. use a 3 door vertical plastic container. The idea is to cut the bottom out of the first draw and replace this with a wire mesh or screening material, put holes on the top and sides and after the beetles lay the eggs and hatch, the small worms fall into the second draw. The bottom draw is for the larva part and when these pupate they are then placed into the first draw and so it goes on. In the first draw again they morph into beetles and start laying eggs etc...... I don't know if this will be more work or not however it sounds interesting and I suppose you see all stages first hand of the life span of a meal worm.

I just cut & pasted 2 images from the lady who does this so you know what I am talking about. I hope I'm allowed to do this - however as long as you know that these are not my photos and any credit of doing this goes to her. Please let me know what you think. (She also uses rolled oats)

 

[galanie]

I started out with that system but had to change to single containers due to moths getting in it. I'm still battling moths, I've no idea how they are still in here! I keep cockatiels in the house so I can't just spray around with poison but hopefully the various traps I have will finish them off. The moth larvae eat baby mealworms or the eggs, I don't know which but they'll destroy your colony. I keep mine in a plastic box now that's meant to go under the bed so it's long and low.

I prefer the three drawer system you have pictured and started that way though. Loved it! Mine are inside, here in my "computer room." Our weather sounds very similar to yours.