Mealworm farming

[Latestarter]

If you are worried about the bleach, there are always organic... Personally, I don't worry about it. I've tried about everything else, including damp sponges placed on tupperware lids... carrots are the best source I've found. Some here have taken long carrots and split them length wise... Too much work

I'm moving this coming summer and have narrowed it down to either TX of KY... Born and raised in New England so cold doesn't bother me (as much as heat)... Though I grudgingly admit i don't care for it as much as I used to. My comfort range has narrowed considerably as I've aged.

 

[ladyearth]

i try to buy organic if i can. esp fruit and veggies.... hard (but WAL MART CARRIES)to in a small town. Otherwise have to drive 30 miles to a Krogers Or 90 miles to Meijers or W F or TJoes. I trust the farmer mkts more than regular groceries. That why I get upset w myself for not getting seeds going...
If I had my way I would have moved south. As We get older hate the cold more...
when I run out of pumpkins will use carrots again for the mealies

 

[Spartan22]

How old are you guys? I thought most of you are young and energetic, raising chickens and veggies and kids

 

[Latestarter]

LOL Old enough to have 1/2 a dozen grand kids, some already in elementary school! Old enough to be retired but not quite old enough to file for my social security benefits yet. Old enough to know I'm not as young as I used to was.

 

[johnnyjean02]

I'm getting ready to try my hand at mealworms for my chickens. It's taken me a while to take the leap because I hate the idea of breeding bugs in my house. Can I do it in the garage. I live in Oregon in the valley. It's been below freezing lately and I'm thinking maybe I should put them in there with the heat lamp. If I do this, can it be on constantly? I'm also nervous about moisture as it's very wet here.

 

[Latestarter]

Welcome to BYC @johnnyjean02 Glad you joined the discussion. Meal worms go dormant if they drop much below ~60 degrees. Folks put them in their refrigerator for just that purpose... to keep them in the worm stage and stop them from pupating. However, once the temp drops below like ~45, they start to die. Additionally, you need to take them out about once a week or so and warm them up, let them eat a bit and drink some moisture before putting them back in the fridge.

You can use a heat lamp, but it will be difficult to get it to work right as too close and it will be too hot right under the light and cool rapidly outside that zone. If you move the lamp away, it won't provide the heat needed aside from right on the surface of the substrate. The bottom will be frozen. Worms aren't like chicks that can rapidly move in and out of the heat to warm themselves, and don't have the body mass to hold any heat. You could use a WEAK (very low power) heat pad UNDER the container so the heat can rise up through the substrate, but you'd need to try it out before putting the worms in as if it's too hot you'll dehydrate and or fry them.

Moisture is another issue... damp = cold(er), damp also = mold/mildew which will kill the worms. It can also lead to other issues with the substrate like grain mites and other nasties. Outside, you also have to worry about attracting mice and rats for that grain substrate and a little protein boost from the worms.

Some people freak about vermin and wouldn't think about raising mice or rats inside their house, but for some reason will accept guinea pigs and gerbils... go figure? Meal worms aren't "squishy" like earth worms... They are dry and clean to touch. The worms can't/won't climb out of the container as long as they have food (they can eat and hide in/under - substrate) and water (veggies they suck moisture from). The pupa wiggle a bit, but don't move over distances. The beetles CAN fly, but rarely do. They are more content to chase each other around breeding and laying eggs, and prefer to keep out of sight/hidden as well, staying under a sheet of paper in the container or burrowing under the substrate.

Whatever you decide, best of luck.

 

[Cluckies]

I caught one in the middle of morphing from pupae to beetle, here are a couple of photos, was going to upload it to youtube (the movie) but man, 145 minutes or more to upload a 4 minute video, so i'll have to think about it, or do it overnight, cripes! It was kinda like someone wriggling out of a tight pair of pants, lol

But, here are a couple of photos:

 

[Cluckies]

How old are you guys? I thought most of you are young and energetic, raising chickens and veggies and kids

You are correct, I am young and energetic! hmmm, I have a daughter that is 25. I do raise veggies, chickens, meal worms, 1 cat, 2 dogs, kid is raised and out of home though, lol

 

[aart]

I caught one in the middle of morphing from pupae to beetle, here are a couple of photos, was going to upload it to youtube (the movie) but man, 145 minutes or more to upload a 4 minute video, so i'll have to think about it, or do it overnight, cripes! It was kinda like someone wriggling out of a tight pair of pants, lol

But, here are a couple of photos:

Cool pics!!

4 minutes can be a 'big' video file, depending on resolution settings...how big is the file?

 

[Cluckies]

405k. I uploaded just the last part of the morphing now, it was only 89k...

Pupae morphing to beetle, last part