Mealworm farming

[galanie]

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Love it. I wish I had some screen laying around the right size. Most of what I tried around the house either was too big or so small I had to sift forever to get the wheat and frass seperated from my worms.

When you use it you might want to put a little wood up the side. so that when you shake you don't lose abunch of what you are sifting over the side.

I love it too. What I have is a bunch of 12" x 8" bottomless "boxes" with screens of different sizes on the bottom. I have screening, 1/4" hardware cloth, and 1/2" hardware cloth. Comes in handy for sifting/screening everything from worms to potting soil.

 

[binders]

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Where did you get the bottomless boxes? They sound really handy to have around for all different types of applications.

 

[galanie]

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Where did you get the bottomless boxes? They sound really handy to have around for all different types of applications.

I made them. Just get some 1x4 and slap them together. When you staple on the wire, it adds to the stability of the joints so you don't have to worry greatly over making good solid corner joints. So long as they're square and your nails or screws are in there solidly, should work great.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Well, since I last posted above we sifted out 3 meal worm bins. You know, those big plastic ones I have.

I just really wanted to do the one that I have been working on for over a month to try and get the frass out of but once we put the screen door outside and poured the contents of the bin over it the job was so easy that we moved on to the next bin that really would need cleaning soon.
That went quickly, too so we went on to the next bin that had a lot more wheat bran left and not so much frass but I would need to sift through tonight to get mealies ready for their trip anyhow so we scooped it out and laid on the door. That took a bit longer but all the beetles are put back into 2 bins with mealies and pupae in a container.

So in less than 3 hours DH and I reconditioned the colonies.

 

[binders]

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Job well done!

 

[oneofseven]

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Thanks for being so dilligent.

 

[Orindagardener]

I'm headed to a friends house with 6 hens and bringing 200 mealworms for her hens as a gift. I think they'll like it!

 

[oneofseven]

That's a nice gift.

Welcome.

 

[chickens? not yet]

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This time of year the earthworms do not have the best "flavor" for chickens. Something about the change in the soil temps and their metabolism , bacteria etc.

My chickens don't like earth worms either, when they were babies I even cut some up in small peices but they won't eat them, since then I have read where chickens can get a parasites from them so I think the chicks are smarter than I am!!
I fixed my 3 drawer box today well I had it I put the beetles in the top today and several of the worms in the bottom now I have 2 sets, the big tub and the 3 drawer!
Thank you again for so many, I'm loving messing with them, my husband said well that's some hobby you are getting into chickens & worms!! lol He loves the chicks, he's always doing something for them, he fixed them a little sand box to roll in today, and they do roll over when they are dusting, so funny to watch them! Somebody stop me!!
Thanks again Amy!!

 

[bloom_ss]

Ladies and gentlemen...we have a pupa!!!!! Actually, it is quite possible that there is more than one of them, but this is the first one I have actually seen. It is sitting right on top of the bran next to the lid that I have placed some carrots on. I thought it might be dead, but when I touched it just a bit it wiggled it's back end. Yay!!! I'm gonna have beetles soon and then eggs and then more worms!! LOL Never thought I would get so excited over a few bugs.