Mealworm farming questions

[Kris5902]

Hi, so I’ve got 5000 mealworms arriving tomorrow and all the store near me has is “quick oats”. This is why I never send the husband in to do my shopping by himself... will this be ok to start them on? I’m hoping they come with a whole lot of substrate, because I won’t be going into town until Thursday or Friday! I plan on keeping some for breeding and feeding the rest to the chickens while my colony establishes. It was actually cheaper to get 5000 than 2000, so I figured I’ll have some very happy chickens for a bit.

Also Any idea how big a set up am I going to need for them? I was hoping to do a 3 drawer set up with a 13x11 sterilite drawers but they are only 2.5 inches deep? I have a larger 15x21 with 7 inch deep drawers I can empty out if needed... or I can pick up something else on Thursday or Friday. I’ve got about 40 chickens I’ll be treating them to as bribes.

Suggestions? Recommendations? I also have some chick starter feed leftovers on hand. Thanks!

 

[Chickassan]

Quick oats are fine, mine are eating and living in peanut butter cheerios right now so oats are fine.
Your shallow container will also be fine for a looong time.
Don't hold you breath for substrate, they normally send little to none.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Quick oats are fine, mine are eating and living in peanut butter cheerios right now so oats are fine.
Your shallow container will also be fine for a looong time.
Don't hold you breath for substrate, they normally send little to none.

X2

 

[Kris5902]

Quick oats are fine, mine are eating and living in peanut butter cheerios right now so oats are fine.
Your shallow container will also be fine for a looong time.
Don't hold you breath for substrate, they normally send little to none.

Thanks! The 5000 just seems a little daunting now, and I just realized I have no idea how much space these little guys are going to need. “Seemed like a good idea at the time” and getting in over my head seems to be my farming philosophy...

 

[dalasgalas]

Careful about store bought oats etc. If it isn't organic it likely contains pesticides.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Are you setting it up as self sorting (screen in bottom of one drawer, over the other drawer with beetles in top, dropping eggs into lower chamber) ?
I use all shallow bins ....but I move beetles every two weeks to a new bin....the bin they come out of then moved through grow out stages of worms then eventually back to a beetle bin once the worms have been fed out or combined to another bin or put in hibernation/storage). This is the bins I use now

Front rack is worms with about 2 bins per stage of growth and the top rack is pupa. Back rack is 3 bins of beetles and 3 racks of the last bins to have had eggs laid in them and early stage worms.
Bedding is about 1-1 1/2 inches of wheat bran....I like the bran over oats as it shifts better.
I do use oats in the self sorting bins i build for the beetle section as it doesnt fall through the screen as fast

 

[Kris5902]

Does it seem necessary to drill ventilation holes? There’s a 1/16-1/8 inch gap between the drawers... I’m really hoping it’s warm enough in here for them as well.

 

[Ribh]

Following....

 

[Kris5902]

I was thinking I would try the screened drawer idea... just looking at the drawers now and thinking about chopping the bottom out... I know I won’t have beetles too soon... I have no idea how big the worms I’m getting will be.

 

[Kris5902]

Are you setting it up as self sorting (screen in bottom of one drawer, over the other drawer with beetles in top, dropping eggs into lower chamber) ?
I use all shallow bins ....but I move beetles every two weeks to a new bin....the bin they come out of then moved through grow out stages of worms then eventually back to a beetle bin once the worms have been fed out or combined to another bin or put in hibernation/storage). This is the bins I use now
View attachment 1657406
Front rack is worms with about 2 bins per stage of growth and the top rack is pupa. Back rack is 3 bins of beetles and 3 racks of the last bins to have had eggs laid in them and early stage worms.
Bedding is about 1-1 1/2 inches of wheat bran....I like the bran over oats as it shifts better.
I do use oats in the self sorting bins i build for the beetle section as it doesnt fall through the screen as fast

Wow! That’s a nice set up!