Mealworm farming

[WestKnollAmy]

I think they are about all taken because hannakat will spy more and more wee wormies with her magnifying glass! Makes me think of Romper Room that I used to watch as a kid.

I can't wait to see more photos of the wee wormies. There has to be a Willamina in there somewhere!

 

[OwensMom]

Hannahkat. you slay me!! now you have me doing it. My DH referes to the worm bins(notice I use the plural) as the science project!! I now have worms(no names), pupae, beetles and next to come eggs and babies. Meanwhile, the wormies are growing fat and happy. So are the chickens.

The girls used to come running when I went to the treat plate. Now when they see me come to the barnyard they mob the gate. I can barely get in!! And they only get worms once a week! Imagine when I have enough worms for frequent feedings!!

I have you and Nadine to thank for inspiring me to pay attention to my bons. Lynn

 

[hannakat]

Dang....forgot Willamina!!!! Gonna have to go look for her right NOW!

 

[hannakat]

Quote:
We are at your service

!!!!

Love the plural Lynn! It is a science project....isn't it? We are in the world of discovery..... on the planet M.W. by way of Bin.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

This thread always makes me laugh and smile. We do have fun with our wee wormies!

I put the paper towel tube in the meal worm/pupae/beetle bin and when I looked later they were mountain climbing. But I must have scared them because within a second they all fell off! I laughed so hard! It was funny, like kittens climbing trees and then not knowing whether to go higher or go back down.

I am down to maybe 100 meal worms now. Everything is changing over. I miss the wormies and I am sure it will be weeks before they are big enough in the other bins that I can start moving them over to their new digs.
DH wants me to order more! And feed more to the chicks this time. I can see the den turning into a laboratory of beetles and bins. Science project indeed!

I hope you found wee Willamina, hannakat! Can't be leaving her out!

I have only fed meal worms a few times to my brooder babies but they still nudge into fingers to see what I have. Since there are now Guinea keets hatching out, DH wants me to try and keep them tame so I suppose I will check my bank account next week and try and find some "cheep" ones!

 

[sassifrassi]

Just cleaned my worm bins and noticed the carrots had some serious fungus on them. Is my farm doomed???

 

[hannakat]

Quote:
I'm not sure. Try taking everything that was close to the mold out as well. I don't know how big your colony/bin is but maybe consider moving them to a clean bin???

It is important to check regularly. I consider them an investment and am trying to be diligent. Life does sometimes get in the way of these minor things though....do your best!!!

Let us know how you make out....and how your colony does. This is all a learning experience and we can benefit from your findings.

Edited to add that I reached my 500th post....499 about meal worms...LOL!

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Quote:
I think your colony will be O.K. The kinds of fungus that develop on vegetables are not really all that dangerous to the mealworms (although it might indicate excessive moisture, which can lead to the kinds of fungi and other microbes that are dangerous). I'd remove it and add something fresh. Good luck!


Quote:

Love the magnifying glass smiley!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I laid a carrot on a piece of bread one day while working the "farm" and forgot about it. The next day it had gotten mold on the bread so I took them both out and haven't noticed any ill effects. It did not seem to get on my substrate and the beetles look to be doing well.

I have 17 Guinea keets hatched out this morning and have promised them snackies if they are good babies later on. I think they are excited!

I only get to keep half of what hatched out but that should be plenty for me. I can't feed mealies to a whole herd of them!

You must have organic carrots because the ones in the grocery stores in the plastic bags are usually treated with a bit of bleach, or so I have read. I try to always buy the organic ones or grow my own. I am not a good carrot farmer though.

Hope your mealies do fine after finding the mold. They are probably more hardy than we realize.

hannakat...500 mark!

 

[sadies chicks]

HOLY COW HOLY COW HOLY COW!!! I HAVE A BEETLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought they were never going to take the last step and go in to adulthood, but one did!!! (after I moved them in to a warmer room

) I am sooooo excited!!!!!!

There are tons of pupae, so more beetles should be coming!