Mealworm farming

[Gallo del Cielo]

I've been using cornmeal for my bedding for 2 years. Do you think I would have better productivity with bran? I'm not having problems with cornmeal. Just wondering why everyone uses bran

I've never grown them on cornmeal, so I can't compare performance on the two. However, long ago I read a paper (that I have since been unable to relocate) that showed they do perform better on wheat bran. Maybe you could split your colony and put half on cornmeal to compare?

Hi all,

I'm thinking of trying this. My question is, I know some worms will arrive dead. Should I go through them all when they arrive and cull the dead ones? Or will they just be "absorbed" by the live ones?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Just a heads-up- I ordered worms awhile back from the Worm Man and never received them. I did some research and he has an F BBB rating for taking money and not mailing orders. This time I'm trying Rainbow Worms on Amazon.

You can remove them, or not. I don't think it would really matter much either way. Thanks for the warning about the Worm Man.

Quote: I don't think he's a sponsor for BYC. I think his ads might come up with the automated ads that BYC has little to no control over (I don't know for sure since I run Ad Bloc and don't have ads).

 

[Latestarter]

My 2 tubs that I started back in (I believe) March with 5000 from Rainbow on amazon are now almost done with the beetle stage from the first gen. I have tens of thousands of worms at all stages/sizes right now. Amazing... In fact, I looked closely today after work (old/tired eyes) and I think I'm going to have to sift and install new bedding/bran... There is a LOT of frass and shed casings... There are still oats visible, but I don't think I saw any bran at all... They are also going through apple slices and baby carrots at an ever increasing rate! They kill a 2 lb bag of carrots in under a week!

I took a cereal bowl out to the coop with a bunch of grain/worms/ beetles in the bottom. I tried feeding them from the palm of my hand, but felt like a pin cushion with the birds attacking to get their share

So I finally just set the bowl down and it was empty in less than 10 seconds! I felt bad as the more timid birds didn't even get a shot at any. Does anyone have a process that they use to allow all the birds to get a share? Maybe I should just throw it in the coop like scratch and watch them go nuts?

It will be a little better after I separate them again as right now there are about 16 birds in each coop section. After the next break up, it will be like 8 to a section. A little more manageable I hope.

 

[evemfoster]

My 2 tubs that I started back in (I believe) March with 5000 from Rainbow on amazon are now almost done with the beetle stage from the first gen. I have tens of thousands of worms at all stages/sizes right now. Amazing... In fact, I looked closely today after work (old/tired eyes) and I think I'm going to have to sift and install new bedding/bran... There is a LOT of frass and shed casings... There are still oats visible, but I don't think I saw any bran at all... They are also going through apple slices and baby carrots at an ever increasing rate! They kill a 2 lb bag of carrots in under a week!

I took a cereal bowl out to the coop with a bunch of grain/worms/ beetles in the bottom. I tried feeding them from the palm of my hand, but felt like a pin cushion with the birds attacking to get their share

So I finally just set the bowl down and it was empty in less than 10 seconds! I felt bad as the more timid birds didn't even get a shot at any. Does anyone have a process that they use to allow all the birds to get a share? Maybe I should just throw it in the coop like scratch and watch them go nuts?

It will be a little better after I separate them again as right now there are about 16 birds in each coop section. After the next break up, it will be like 8 to a section. A little more manageable I hope.

I feed them like scratch stepping backwards as I shake the worms out onto the ground. I try to shake them in a 3 to 4 foot wide area for my 8 chickens. That way the biggest birds can't stand over the worms and hog them all. By the time I have shook out all the worms (couple seconds) the hens have polished them all off. I have even had hens snap them out of the air as they fall.

 

[greasemonkey88]

My 2 tubs that I started back in (I believe) March with 5000 from Rainbow on amazon are now almost done with the beetle stage from the first gen. I have tens of thousands of worms at all stages/sizes right now.  Amazing... In fact, I looked closely today after work (old/tired eyes) and I think I'm going to have to sift and install new bedding/bran... There is a LOT of frass and shed casings... There are still oats visible, but I don't think I saw any bran at all... They are also going through apple slices and baby carrots at an ever increasing rate! They kill a 2 lb bag of carrots in under a week!

I took a cereal bowl out to the coop with a bunch of grain/worms/ beetles in the bottom. I tried feeding them from the palm of my hand, but felt like a pin cushion with the birds attacking to get their share So I finally just set the bowl down and it was empty in less than 10 seconds! I felt bad as the more timid birds didn't even get a shot at any. Does anyone have a process that they use to allow all the birds to get a share? Maybe I should just throw it in the coop like scratch and watch them go nuts?

It will be a little better after I separate them again as right now there are about 16 birds in each coop section. After the next break up, it will be like 8 to a section. A little more manageable I hope.

I have this thing that slowly lets them fall through holes it's called a mealworm feeder by zoo-med. it comes with a suction cup attachment so you have to rig something up but the worms slowly filter through. Another fun and cool option is one of those toys they have to peck at and move around for them to move around.

 

[Latestarter]

I feed them like scratch stepping backwards as I shake the worms out onto the ground. I try to shake them in a 3 to 4 foot wide area for my 8 chickens. That way the biggest birds can't stand over the worms and hog them all. By the time I have shook out all the worms (couple seconds) the hens have polished them all off. I have even had hens snap them out of the air as they fall.

I have this thing that slowly lets them fall through holes it's called a mealworm feeder by zoo-med. it comes with a suction cup attachment so you have to rig something up but the worms slowly filter through. Another fun and cool option is one of those toys they have to peck at and move around for them to move around.

Thanks! I'll do some toy investigation and for the time being, just throw out a spread so they all get to hunt and peck for them.

 

[dannyisforreal]

do earth worms do as good as meal worms???

 

[Dipstick]

I've been using cornmeal for my bedding for 2 years. Do you think I would have better productivity with bran? I'm not having problems with cornmeal. Just wondering why everyone uses bran

For the same reason I buy my wife daisies instead of roses... because it's their favorite! She might make due with the roses, but she won't shine as brightly.

Likewise the worms have favorites... and wheat bran is one of them. Carrots are another.

Hope that helps.

 

[Dipstick]

Ok, how do they self-harvest? This would be a convenient trick to "teach" mine. I know BSF larvae can be set up to self-harvest, but mealworms? Do tell!

If you look at my pics you will see some up out of the bedding on an egg crate. They will climb out of the bran and the general population when they are planning to pupate. This is one way that they will self harvest. It is at this time that they are ready to be fed to your critters.

 

[subhanalah]

What exactly does "self harvest" mean?

 

[Dipstick]

Hi all,

I'm thinking of trying this. My question is, I know some worms will arrive dead. Should I go through them all when they arrive and cull the dead ones? Or will they just be "absorbed" by the live ones?

It is the dead ones that will stink, but beyond this they are nothing to worry about. I tend to pick through only if I can't stand looking at it, and have absolutely nothing better to do... or if the number of dead is more than about 15% of the population.

As they self harvest, they will leave the dead ones behind to be disposed of with the frass... which will be sorted in the sifting process should you wish to isolate the frass for the garden or other purposes.