Mealworm farming

[galanie]

Quote:

Here, let me help you with him

I only have 10 chickens and they could happily get rid of a 55 gallon barrel full if given the chance!

 

[DickGJ]

Quote:

Here, let me help you with him

I only have 10 chickens and they could happily get rid of a 55 gallon barrel full if given the chance!

You sure got that right! I put close to 100 in a bowl for my 6 four-week old BRs and was shocked at how fast those little girls dispatched those mealies! I swear it was in the blink of an eye...it's funny how they can pick a worm up 90-degrees "cross-ways" in their beak, straighten it out and suck it in like a piece of spaghetti!

 

[hannakat]

Quote:

Here, let me help you with him

I only have 10 chickens and they could happily get rid of a 55 gallon barrel full if given the chance!

You sure got that right! I put close to 100 in a bowl for my 6 four-week old BRs and was shocked at how fast those little girls dispatched those mealies! I swear it was in the blink of an eye...it's funny how they can pick a worm up 90-degrees "cross-ways" in their beak, straighten it out and suck it in like a piece of spaghetti!

Oh...we are all such wonderful chicken-tenders! They DO eat them like spaghetti!

I've been gone for 2 days and everything is still good. I switched out some of the veggies/fruit, but they did fine....don't think they missed me

 

[sassifrassi]

I can't believe I'm doing this. Mealworms used to gross me out!
Bought 2000 mealworms. Found some plastic drawer bins on sale. Now I have 3 X 3 drawer system. A tower of worms!
I've decided not to worry about the pupa - when they turn into beetles they will be easier to find and then I will put them in their appropriate drawers.

 

[hannakat]

Quote:
Awesome!

And welcome to the world of wormies!!

They aren't so bad...are they? Have you given your chickadees a sample yet?

 

[luvmesomechicks]

I can honestly say this thread along with the worms have my chickens closer to me then ever before. I gave my girls a sample out of the cup they originally came in. When I went out back with the same cup a few days later they kept following me. It took a few minutes to realize why and I felt bad and went and gave then some more. Now they love me forever.

Side note. One pupae has turned really dark. (Not sure if dead). But it still has some white on it as well....any explanations for this?

 

[sassifrassi]

Quote:
Awesome!

And welcome to the world of wormies!!

They aren't so bad...are they? Have you given your chickadees a sample yet?

Oh Yah!
Thats why I started this. Soooo much fun to watch them and they down them so fast!

 

[rancher hicks]

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You could offer them for sale?

Wish you success

Rancher

 

[Vickir73]

Just ordered 5000, having several friends who are interested in buying some of these and if they decide not too, I think I'll be in good with my girls

Just so you know, ya'll are all a bad influence !!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I haven't had mine even a week yet and this is what DD and I did after I picked her up from school. This isn't just great to bond with your chickens, it is great to bond with your 16 yr old daughter. We spent an hour chatting and picking out pupae.

And this one was wiggling out of the brown dead skin as we worked. We saw several do this and DD was totally fascinated! She sure got over the ick factor quickly and seemed to enjoy helping me with this. My old eyes do not see these things well in the oats. Wheat bran is on the list next time I go up to NC.

Help me! What do I do now?

I put a small bit of oats in a deep container and poured in the pupae.
Do I wait to see beetles before adding carrots or other foods? Will that be a week or so?