Mealworm farming

[WestKnollAmy]

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Awww, man! You are super lucky to meet Trish in person! I wish I could! I just know she is a great influence and gives terrific, thoughful advice on the mealies. Without her I could not have gotten mine started. Lucky, lucky you and your kids, too!

 

[Terri O]

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I've heard temps can be at 100 and they are okay, but I would think keeping them w/ enough moisture at the higher levels would be harder.

Thanks...they were no where that high...maybe only 80 degrees...I just dont know what happened...it might have been the mold from the zucchini that caused it. I think I am sticking to carrots from now on! Terri O

 

[Kassaundra]

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I've heard temps can be at 100 and they are okay, but I would think keeping them w/ enough moisture at the higher levels would be harder.

Thanks...they were no where that high...maybe only 80 degrees...I just dont know what happened...it might have been the mold from the zucchini that caused it. I think I am sticking to carrots from now on! Terri O

Those wetter veggies and fruit are tricky even w/ bigger numbers, w/ your small colony I would definately stick w/ the drier veggies.

 

[hannakat]

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I think a heat lamp could definitely cause a crash. I don't think one moldy veggie would cause a global crash unless it was a huge piece of veggie. Correct the heat and food and you might have a comeback!

 

[hannakat]

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My honor!!! It was so wonderful to meet you and your boys are a delight! I was surprised when you said they didn't like bugs because they both seemed to really enjoy 'playing' and looking and learning. My chickadees LOVED the wormie treats!

I can't wait to hear how your farm progresses and how your chickadees respond to them. How are you going to keep the kids from feeding them all the worms?!!!

So glad you joined our 'farm'!

 

[Smokin Silkies]

Here's all of my pupae! The kids have fun picking them out everyday. It's their "job" LOL If it were up to them, they'd be in that room 20 times a day! I tell the kids they can't feed our chickens the worms yet til we get alot of them. They seem to be ok about it and they really don't ask a whole lot

 

[galanie]

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AWESOME!! Even more awesome that you got to meet Hannacat in person. /jealous

 

[hannakat]

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Wow!!! Once you get through a whole cycle, the boys will be sooooo happy! Lots and lots of wormies.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I think this means I need to thin out this tub. Whatcha think?

DH and I have a bet on how many are in this one tub. I say at least 9 cups of mealies and he says only 5.

I made a few observations today I wanted to share with you all since y'all would appreciate them.
First, and I believe this has been mentioned, when I ran my hand down into the frass it was very warm.
But it was also packed down! I thought that was cool learning. Here is the frass and photo I will add to my web page....eventually.

I do have 2 tubs that need to be cleaned because when I took the lids off today I could detect an odor. One of those being the blue one pictured above. That means they stink because I can take a lot of nasty without it bothering me. Other than a cat litter box.

Speaking of that, I will be cleaning out the big ones and refilling them and moving them to a new area. DH wants me to put them in the biggest closet in our bathroom on the shelves because that room is always warm and most humid.
The cat litter box and food storage is in there so I am in there often. The closet door is always partially open so the cats can go in and out but there is plenty of air circulation because it is big and the air vent is on the floor in front of it. I usually run the central fan year round. In the winter I like my house about 65 degrees and I know that would slow the colonies down so we will try this.

Suggestions and comments welcome.

 

[oneofseven]

Have you tried the tower method with the screens on the bottoms of the bins? As the babies fall to the next level, so will the frass, hence less cleanup and less smell.