Mealworm farming

[Cakela]

So tested the worms on my two newest chooks and they LOVED them. Hopefully the big girls too!

Is it okay to put non-medicated calf milk replacer into the ground oatmeal?

It has tons of protein in it, so it would benefit the chickies.

 

[Czech's_chicks]

Started my 'farm' yesterday evening. Have my worms in some Coach's Oats wit some baby carrots and a moistened paper towel. They are out in the garage on top of the brooder and are very active. Guess I'll just wait patiently.

 

[CluckyJay]

I don't see how that would hurt them Cakela. Might really boost their nutritional value!

 

[Cakela]

I went ahead and put it in. Hasn't killed them yet LOL.

I have ground oatmeal with a little whole oatmeal, ground cat food and the milk replacer as my substrate for now.

The noise they make when crawling in the paper weirds me out.

 

[CluckyJay]

Yeah. Milling about like clicking zombie beetles. I fear they will eat me alive while I sleep.

 

[Cakela]

Thank goodness mine are in the living room.

I would never be able to shove them under the bed like I read some people do LOL.

Plus, if they were under the bed my ridiculous lab would knock them over or something, since even at almost a year old he still sleeps under there.

Just had to raise it up so he wouldn't break the dang thing, silly dog.

 

[Kassaundra]

I tried putting spinach mustard leaves in the bin since one poster said they eat leaves in the "wild" well I guess I have mealies that are just slow or something they don't recognize it as food, but the do love hiding under them, so alls good. I have just left them (the leaves) in they have completely dried but the mealies beetles are still liking hiding under them. Who knows maybe they are using the privacy to make me more mealies!!!

 

[hannakat]

You are exactly right!!

 

[hannakat]

Czech's_chicks :

Started my 'farm' yesterday evening. Have my worms in some Coach's Oats wit some baby carrots and a moistened paper towel. They are out in the garage on top of the brooder and are very active. Guess I'll just wait patiently.

Use caution with anything wet in your colony. Maybe put a plastic lid under it??​

 

[Chickangel79]

I put cucumber in my beetles last night and now have 12 dead beetles on top of it. They are now coming up for about two and a half weeks old, so I don't know if its just them expiring or the food that's killed them!!!