Mealworm farming

[In2Ice]

What other substrate could be used besides wheat bran? I am having a hard time finding WB in bulk. Can I use oats or cereals or just chicken feed. I'm sure WB can.t be the only substrate that will yield good results?

 

[OkChickens]

You can use rolled oats or chicken feed. Make sure to freeze it or Microwave it before you use it!

Nate

 

[yankeefan]

Quote from Scooter&Suzie:
I have a 9" by 10" container. Is that too small for 1,000 worms?


I think a container of that size would be ok to start with but you may want to look for something a bit larger once you've got beetles breeding. 1000 worms will pretty much cover the container you plan to use. I think giving them a little more room would help keep them a bit healthier and you may have better results when beetles begin laying eggs.

 

[LJack]

Awesome idea! I used to buy a small container of live mealy worms from the local wild bird feed store for about $8 for 50-100, but lately been buying dried ones from Lowes lately. I feed my chickens lots of raisens and veg scrapes, and got the worms for the blue birds winterizing here, but the chickens been eating them up. Would like to keep some live ones on hand if it's a cold spring and our purple martins arrive with not enough bugs for food.

 

[Emily1220]

I have had my pupa bin on a heating pad set on low for 2 days now. And I have gotten about 50 beetles!!!! I can see where about another 50 are going to be popping into this world tomorrow!! It is so fun to watch them change into beetles. And all of them that I thought were deformed on their wings are all nice and black and shiny now!!! Amazing to watch nature this close!!

 

[MrsMoonCat]

I used one of those underbed plastic storage drawers/tote for my first batch of worms. My husband insisted they be "contained". We are now using one of the plastic three-drawer units from Walmart. It works great and only cost about $15. Hubby isn't worried about them escaping anymore

 

[Ivywoods]

My worms were delivered today!

I'm sure my chickies will be delighted, but I am still questioning myself... just a little. Actually so far it is not bad at all. They really are clean little beasties and there is absolutely no odor. I put mine in the second warmest place in the house, the little guest bathroom. Now we can sit on the throne in there and watch all the little wigglers.

I don't think I am going to have any problems with them. It is kind of creepy how when I put them in the oatmeal they started burrowing and wiggling and it looked like the oatmeal was alive!

I got my worms from New York Worms, and I can give them a good recommendation. The price and shipping were very reasonable and I didn't see a single dead one in the bunch. I give them a big

My DH hollered to me just a little while ago that I need to put more apple slices in there. There were so many worms on the two slices I put in there they were sliding off. Wheeeee... apple worm slide... sure to be my chickens favorite dessert!

 

[Smiles-N-Sunshine]

I'm got my Dubia cockroaches a few days ago. Mealworms and darkling beetles have nothing on these guys in the creep-out department!

 

[dmclalin]

I draw the line at cockroaches. I lived in Fla for about 5 years and I sure wish I had chickens then - those palmetto bugs were just too darn fast and clever. I had Orkin and a good thing they said if I see even one they will come back for free. I probably had them out 3 times a week - and this was a brand new house!!! I'll just stick to meal worms thank you. LOL

 

[Scooter&Suzie]

My worms were delivered today!

I'm sure my chickies will be delighted, but I am still questioning myself... just a little. Actually so far it is not bad at all. They really are clean little beasties and there is absolutely no odor. I put mine in the second warmest place in the house, the little guest bathroom. Now we can sit on the throne in there and watch all the little wigglers.

I don't think I am going to have any problems with them. It is kind of creepy how when I put them in the oatmeal they started burrowing and wiggling and it looked like the oatmeal was alive!

I got my worms from New York Worms, and I can give them a good recommendation. The price and shipping were very reasonable and I didn't see a single dead one in the bunch. I give them a big

My DH hollered to me just a little while ago that I need to put more apple slices in there. There were so many worms on the two slices I put in there they were sliding off. Wheeeee... apple worm slide... sure to be my chickens favorite dessert!

Congrats! Mine arrived today too!