Mealworm farming

[Arielle]

As I understand it, I believe the size of the granule has something to do with it. Smaller = easier to eat. Perhaps, tho, as I am new to this meal worm farming thing, I spoke too soon when I encouraged oatmeal and not oats, the grain......

You may be right . . I was just curisous why one but not the other. . .

Quote: You might have the answer aart. When my kids have oatmeal for breakfast , the rolled oats cook in about 3 1/5 minutes-- the steel cut oats take about 10 minutes and never acheive the asoft and gelatinous texure of the rolled oats. I had forgotten the oats were steamed, and then rolled.

 

[Arielle]

They sell 50 pound bags of rolled oats for horses at TSC.

I think there are two types of rolled oats. 1. Race horse oats, crimped oats, rolled oats are all basically the same type of oat with the hull on. 2. THe rolled oat for humans is usually oatmeal type of oats, the flattened inner grain without the hull and bran.

If I have forgotten and this is off, please feel free to correct this.

THe race horse oats or rolled oats for horses is pretty cheap-- and that is why I am interested in possibly using this as food. I can buy both whole oats, and oat bran or maybe it is wheat bran at the feed store.

 

[kubotafoot]

Yes, they are a great size and the darker they are, the older they are..... Congrats on a great "morph."

 

[Latestarter]

Those look big. I didn't think they were that big

Those are zoomed in on

and are on the bottom of an upside down egg carton. They really aren't that big

 

[chickenALD]

Oh

 

[MrsLorisChicks]

I'm very new to the world of chickens as well and since finding this thread i think I've decided to become a worm farmer as well!! Thanks everyone!

 

[chickenALD]

Is there a reason to use the clear draws or totes? Can I use color. Also will other bugs be attracted to the oats and the colony

 

[Arielle]

I'm very new to the world of chickens as well and since finding this thread I think I've decided to become a worm farmer as well!! Thanks everyone!

Welcome to BYC!!

ANd you TOO Chicken ALD !!!

 

[azygous]

Is there a reason to use the clear draws or totes? Can I use color. Also will other bugs be attracted to the oats and the colony

Actually, worms at all stages prefer darkness. Some people duct tape over the clear plastic totes so the worms and beetles will be more comfortable. Or you can drape a dark cloth over your tote bin.

The clear plastic totes come that way so people can see what they have stored inside. They don't exactly produce the things for meal worms.

 

[crazy huhn]

@azygous:
Actually there are worm trays on the market for commercial breeders.

I do have some similar to these:
http://www.wormfarmfacts.com/Worm-Trays.html