Jumbo Coturnix Quail - Learn Me A Few Things

[MissPrissy]

It takes 2 months to get going?

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Mine didn't. Mine took maybe two weeks before I thought I had enough to feed the chickens. As long as the mealworms stay warm enough, they breed like CRAZY!

Are you looking at mealworms as a sole source of quail food?

-Kim

 

[Mrs MIA]

Quote:
...and I've seen it spelled so many ways, I just skim over it now because I know what it is...

I don't even pay attention to the misspellings anymore! LOL!

I have learned SO much from this thread. DH raises compost worms... I wonder if I could twist his arm into raising mealworms for me, too.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

I started with small worms and eggs. My shed stays very warm, which helps them grow and multiply.

I think they wrote "2 months" to get started if you started from eggs or very small worms and it was cold. I believe I read they do best above 80 degrees. I could be very wrong though.

It didn't take me anywhere near 2 months and I started out with very small worms and eggs. And on top of that, I kept them in the house.

-Kim

 

[MissPrissy]

I do plan to use them as a prime source of quail food.

Should I buy a cup of meal worms or what to get started?

 

[injunjoe]

I started mine from a batch of 100 worms from a pet shop. They are the most easy pet I have to care for. haha!

Joe

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Well, if you are going to use them as the main source of quail food. You'll need to run several large totes. I would mail order them off the internet if that is the case.

You'll get more for cheaper by ordering offline.

I couldn't tell you how to do mealworms large scale. I just run one tote and pick out worms when I want to throw them to the chooks, quail, or turkey.

-Kim

 

[Ace_king_brahma]

If you're going for sole mealworms for food provide grit and wait until they molt to avoid impacted crops.

 

[MissPrissy]

I know all of that Ace.

I am wondering how to get started with more than a cup of 25 worms. LOL

 

[Oblio13]

Quote:
What does molting have to do with it?