Mealworm farming

[GiddyMoon]

When a chick is only 3" high, and the worm is over an inch long...the math doesn't add up! LOL

 

[mkearsley]

What are you guys feeding the adult beetles? I've got them in a mix of oatmeal & 20% protein layer crumbles. I've dropped carrots, spinach & lettuce in the cage.

 

[hannakat]

Quote:
That sounds fine. I'm using potato, kale and apple at the moment. I had cucumber in there but it wasn't a hit; neither was celery. Just keep trying different things. Since I add new fruit/veg every few days, they'll get what I have on hand. Seems to be working.

 

[luvmesomechicks]

Weeeeee!
Top layer is full of dead ones so I dug around to see if they were all dead....and found these little guys. So few questions...
1. Is it okay if I place them in dirt in a seperate container?
2. Is it natural for the cocoon to be slightly moving?
3. Is it okay if I continue digging for more?

 

[DickGJ]

Quote:
Yes, it's okay to place them in the same feed you had for the larva (worms). In the pupa stage (not a cocoon...more like a naked pupa) they are no longer feeding. They won't feed again until they become a beetle.

It is completely natural for them to move slightly or wiggle violently...this is their most vulnerable stage. They are absolutely defenseless with the exception of their "wiggles/movement" in hope that they scare an intruder away.

Dig all you want (gently). I suppose some could be below the substrate (food), but I just pick the ones off the surface of the substrate. Some people will put them in a colander and "strain" them out of the substrate (if your substrate is ground to a very fine grit/consistency. I use Purina Flock Raiser as food for the mealie worms and that's not ground very small. I've already scooped over 150 pupae off the surface of the substrate, so if there ar more under the surface that I missed...I'll let them consider themselves lucky!!! Sounds like ur doing fine with your system...keep it up. Pretty soon you'll have breeding adult beetles! Hurray!!!

 

[luvmesomechicks]

Quote:
Yes, it's okay to place them in the same feed you had for the larva (worms). In the pupa stage (not a cocoon...more like a naked pupa) they are no longer feeding. They won't feed again until they become a beetle.

It is completely natural for them to move slightly or wiggle violently...this is their most vulnerable stage. They are absolutely defenseless with the exception of their "wiggles/movement" in hope that they scare an intruder away.

Dig all you want (gently). I suppose some could be below the substrate (food), but I just pick the ones off the surface of the substrate. Some people will put them in a colander and "strain" them out of the substrate (if your substrate is ground to a very fine grit/consistency. I use Purina Flock Raiser as food for the mealie worms and that's not ground very small. I've already scooped over 150 pupae off the surface of the substrate, so if there ar more under the surface that I missed...I'll let them consider themselves lucky!!! Sounds like ur doing fine with your system...keep it up. Pretty soon you'll have breeding adult beetles! Hurray!!!

THANKS DICK!!! lol been wanting to say that

Yes I only discovered them because I was wondering if all my worms were dead. I have found 4 but haven't really searched real well. I wonder how long they been in that stage. Im gonna search more after dinner. Thanks for the help everyone!!!!!!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I got my 5000 this morning!

I never have gotten an answer from Worm Man so I ordered from Speedy Worm. One man's loss is another man's gain!

Tell me this....how in the world am I supposed to get them all off the newspaper and the cloth bag? I tried shaking them off but there are still a lot there so I finally just laid the newspapers and cloth bag on top of the substrate hoping they will make their way down to the apples and potatoes.

Gosh, I hope I fed them enough, too.
I cut up a small potato and an apple, leaving even the apple core in for them.
Do I just take out the old food in the morning and replace it and judge how much they left to how much more to give them?

Funny thing is that before I opened the bag I laid it down on the floor beside my cat and she gave it a long look before deciding cloth bags make odd noises and move!

It was rather creepy but I don't mind. My chicks are going to absolutely love me.

I will be THE best person in the world to them.

 

[hannakat]

Quote:
Doing the happy dance!

You're gonna have so much fun, and yes, the chicks will adore you!!

Yes, they'll make their way into the substrate so don't worry. Did you place the potato and apple on something or in the oats? You might want to start with smaller amounts at first to see how fast they go through it cause you don't want the substrate getting moist. Apple does seem to mold faster than other food items so keep an eye on it.

If they are eating it fast enough, you don't have to take it out. I only removed stuff they don't seem interested in. If they like it, it should disappear rather quickly. I'm putting food in about every 3rd day. You'll be able to adjust the amount once you see how much 5000 will eat.

I can just see kitty checking out the bag! Mine sit by my farm and listen but haven't figured it out. New use for a meal worm farm: Cat toy!!!

 

[luvmesomechicks]

I have been checking the food daily to make sure they have been eating. I am pretty sure I got it down of how much they eat daily. My only concern is that the ones from the bottom come up to eat so I have been gently stirring the oats before I put in any food. I am having sooo much fun with my 4 year old who follows me into the garage every time I go in there. She is truly a daddys girl!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I just got home from egg deliveries and checked on the mealies. They are all over the apple slices and potatoes. Probably hungry and thirsty after the trip. I did set them straight onto the oats but will do paper or piece of paper plate next time. I thought none were eating a chunk of apple in there and picked it up only to find hundreds attached to the bottom. I think my substrate needs to be deeper so i bought a 50# bag of rolled oats and I plan to put in a bit of chicks starter, too.

When i get a chance and remember I plan to take a few dow to my brooders. I prefer not to use too many as I really need litterally thousands and thousands for all the birds I have so I prefer to have this pretty big. It will just take me a while to see how to organize it all.

I have the mealies in the house right now because I was worried about them being under the carport. For one, even if I place the tubs high, I have to worry about wild birds consuming them until I get wire on top. Another, I can't place them low because I know the free range girls will find them and also I worry that rodents will find then up higher and the cats will wind up turning over the tubs trying to get to the rodents.

The AC is going in here and it says 74 degrees but I put them in a corner of the house and maybe it will be less cool.
I would love to do this in the brooder room but I have a lot of older chicks that fly around in there as I am still trying to build brooders and pens for growing chicks. Once I get my other brooder room going I can move the mealies down to the "nursery" brooder room because it will be safe and very warm.

I am so glad I am not squeamish about the things. I am still trying to get them off the cloth bag and newspapers they came in. Though I am glad I got 5000, there are just lots and lots to deal with in getting them into their new home.