Mealworm farming

[mychookschick]

I have been using potatoes, but I usually end up throwing them away before they are gone. But then again, I only have 100 mealies so far.... LOL

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Hi everyone!
I just popped in and read a bit and hope you all are doing well. The warm weather we are having here is making my mealies grow like crazy. It has been a few weeks since I had any of them in the incubators. With 80 degrees or better most days the house is very warm and we have even had to turn on the AC a few times but try not to. The mealies are loving it and though it took 4 months for the eggs to make mature worms, I don't think it will take that long during the summer.

Oh, my beetles and worms do not care for potatoes either. Apples is their favorite with carrots a second but they will eat lettuce and celery fairly well. Tomatoes are iffy.

 

[mychookschick]

Apples! Good to know! I chop apples for the turtles that I am babysitting, so that works out well....

 

[Kassaundra]

I went ahead and ordered some of that "Cricket Quencher" stuff today. I wanted to try it. It says you shouldn't re-use it (such as rehydrate it and use it over and over) because of bacteria build up. I think what I will do is put it on a plastic lid and then put some sort of "cage" over it so as to create a little place they can crawl into and get a drink. I think that will help keep it from drying out as fast and hopefully it will last longer. I just worry about not getting enough moisture in there for them. I've been pretty good about it so far, but I'm going to be having some major surgery on my knee (total knee replacement) and I don't know how diligent I will be about it then. I don't want someone else to have to worry about it while I'm in the hospital, either.

I don't have very many worms left in there. They have almost all turned into pupa and beatles.

That's funny not to reuse it, I've used the stuff for over a year and have never seen any of it after the insects finish w/ it ever.

 

[Stark]

At last I have wheat bran in my freezer! I found a local place that sells mealworms by the thousands (mostly for Bluebird feeding) so will be picking up my starter batch in about a week. Hoping for the best. I am sure following along on this thread will give me a good shot at this.

 

[michaelinnc84]

At last I have wheat bran in my freezer! I found a local place that sells mealworms by the thousands (mostly for Bluebird feeding) so will be picking up my starter batch in about a week. Hoping for the best. I am sure following along on this thread will give me a good shot at this.

Welcome to the raising of mealworms. I am sure you will be fine as these things are easy to take care of. Most important thing... dont put in too much moisture.. just a carrot or celery and they will take care of it from there.

 

[Stark]

Welcome to the raising of mealworms. I am sure you will be fine as these things are easy to take care of. Most important thing... dont put in too much moisture.. just a carrot or celery and they will take care of it from there.

Yes that will be the big change for me as I've been vermicomposting with red wrigglers and they prefer a very damp environment. Thank you for the well wishes.

Worked at essentially a large feedmill for many years and if we had a spill in the leg pit that wasn't cleaned up right away we would end up with darkling beetles before long. Who knew one day I'd be buying the darn things in larval form and raising them in my house...life's a funny thing.

 

[onafixedincome]

I just consolidated my boxes into large bins, the pretty standard 20? gallon rectangle Sterilite type. The bedding for the 2400 or so beetles is about oh, 8 inches deep, and there are beetles scattered happily burrowing and eating and breeding throughout. I use stale wheat bread to give them shelter/things to hide under, and carrots or celery (BTW, celery is a great way to provide the Cricket Quencher..big feeding trough..mine lined right up like hogs at a trough) for moisture.

And I ignore them except about once a week, when I go through and pull dead worms and beetles for the chickens (they can get smelly, so out they go and make chooks happy) and make sure there's enough moisture being provided.

The worms and old bedding from beetle boxes went into a new big box with a few carrots. They're growing, and I'm more or less leaving them alone. (Hey, I LIKE looking for the itty bitties, what can I say?)

Stark--boy, don't I know that one!!

 

[BeccaSmith]

At last I have wheat bran in my freezer! I found a local place that sells mealworms by the thousands (mostly for Bluebird feeding) so will be picking up my starter batch in about a week. Hoping for the best. I am sure following along on this thread will give me a good shot at this.

Never thought to check with the local birding stores, that is such a great idea! Thanks so much!

I think I bought about a total of 4000 meal worms over a period of time starting last November. I fed some the chickens, but saved most of them to start breeding. I am now to the point to where I have no more adult meal worms pupating but I have lots of little baby worms. I keep telling them to hurry up and grow faster because my chickens want some treats! LOL. I've been thinking of buying some more for some treats until the baby meal worms grow and to continue the cycle of breeding!

 

[Chicks Galore3]

What tempature do ya'll have the mealworms at and how fast are they going through their life cycle? THANKS