Mealworm farming

[Kusanar]

Quote: They may not survive 45F.....65 they won't be growing morphing or reproducing...they need at least 70-75....80 is optimal.

They should survive, they won't do much else. Before I snuck mine home, I had them at the barn in an unheated room until it started getting down to freezing at night, then I put them in the fridge (that's the warmest place in the winter) until the water bottle I put next to them started crusting up with ice a little, so they were in COLD temps for a month or more before I brought them home, as soon as they warmed up and "thawed out" they took off growing and morphing again.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

They may not survive 45F.....65 they won't be growing morphing or reproducing...they need at least 70-75....80 is optimal.

I think it's true they might not be growing and morphing as fast. And it doesn't actually swing 20 degrees each day, that is the winter to summer swing. Daily is usually less than 10.

Maybe that's a good thing since they are semi-neglected right now.

Inside the house I couldn't keep up with them and all the trying to keep different stages. Now I am trying to keep it simple though.

Also, it wasn't just that... there was chicken math. 3 turned into 48!

So catching up housing and all that has been an adventure with a learning curve.

 

[Latestarter]

...they are semi-neglected right now.

Inside the house I couldn't keep up with them and all the trying to keep different stages. Now I am trying to keep it simple though.
...chicken math. 3 turned into 48!

So catching up housing and all that has been an adventure with a learning curve.

I might have mentioned in a post or two that doing that screen/multi stage/sorting/etc. was VERY labor intensive...

Glad you've simplified things

It makes it much easier, less hassle, less time consuming, works just as well and did I mention easier?

Wow.... that's some serious chicken math there my friend! I imagine you have some decent live landscaping/lawn ornamentation now!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I might have mentioned in a post or two that doing that screen/multi stage/sorting/etc. was VERY labor intensive...

Glad you've simplified things

It makes it much easier, less hassle, less time consuming, works just as well and did I mention easier?

Wow.... that's some serious chicken math there my friend! I imagine you have some decent live landscaping/lawn ornamentation now!

Oh ya, I even thought of you as I posted that because I remember seeing your recommendations.

I had previously reached that conclusion but your posts were the confirmation I needed. And it's translated to other areas as well like my composting red wiggler bin and my crushed egg shells that get fed back to the girls. The shells are no longer sitting in a container waiting to dry out and be dumped all over my kitchen! Now they go out everyday with whatever doesn't go to the worm bin.

Yes, I have many different breeds and they do make some nice yard art/ eye candy.

 

[WillK]

Hi guys, I'm doing some research in mealworm farming for a university project so I have been doing some loitering around this thread, I've now begun performing deeper research and made a questionnaire in order to gather some information about how any why you farm mealworm.

If any of you could fill it out I would be very grateful!

https://will340.typeform.com/to/q4drQC

 

[aart]

Hi guys, I'm doing some research in mealworm farming for a university project so I have been doing some loitering around this thread, I've now begun performing deeper research and made a questionnaire in order to gather some information about how any why you farm mealworm.

If any of you could fill it out I would be very grateful!

https://will340.typeform.com/to/q4drQC

Pretty good survey questions...just browsed thru it as I don't actively grow meal worms at this time.
One suggestion I have is to include US dollars in your income question, I believe a majority of members here are in the states.
Also wanted to mention that participation on this forum is kind of low at this time of year....
.....wonders what other forums you might be gathering data from.
Have you read a lot of this thread?
Are you aware of the risk of potentially serious allergy issues when dealing with meal worms?

 

[edenrice]

This is a great idea for organic feed! I'll have to look more into this.

 

[WillK]

Pretty good survey questions...just browsed thru it as I don't actively grow meal worms at this time.
One suggestion I have is to include US dollars in your income question, I believe a majority of members here are in the states.
Also wanted to mention that participation on this forum is kind of low at this time of year....
.....wonders what other forums you might be gathering data from.
Have you read a lot of this thread?
Are you aware of the risk of potentially serious allergy issues when dealing with meal worms?

Thanks, feel free to answer it based on your past experiences growing mealworms - its still valid feedback that will help me.
I may change the currency, thanks - I have a second questionnaire which is also in £s so for continuity I didn't want to have two different currencies but it does look a bit stupid on an international forum..

I have read parts of this thread and many blogs, videos, interviews etc.. If you have names for other forums I'd appreciate a heads up, i've seen a few they were mostly inactive.
I am aware of the allergies caused by mealworm farming, however understand that this is only a problem when grown indoors and in a enclosed space, I aim to move the process outside of the house - hopefully avoiding any issues.

 

[aart]

Quote: Well could you edit survey to show both currencies?
The allergy thing can happen outside too, as generally exposure comes during sifting....
.....and the bigger the operation(needed to gain any real harvest IMO) the bigger the exposure risk.

The categories in the survey, chicken and reptile hobbyists, lots of forums to find on both of those, would be my first thought.
The human consumption thing threw me(really?).....
.....I mean I know folks eat larvae in many places of the world, but wouldn't think mealworms would be a viable 'crop'.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Well could you edit survey to show both currencies?
The allergy thing can happen outside too, as generally exposure comes during sifting....
.....and the bigger the operation(needed to gain any real harvest IMO) the bigger the exposure risk.

The categories in the survey, chicken and reptile hobbyists, lots of forums to find on both of those, would be my first thought.
The human consumption thing threw me(really?).....
.....I mean I know folks eat larvae in many places of the world, but wouldn't think mealworms would be a viable 'crop'.

Couldn't stand breathing them, it's why they are outside. Even then I am planning to wear a mask and have to avoid windy days.

Biggest challenge for me is climate control and location.

I tried talking my family into it!

The Korean part anyways, as a joke when I first started farming. Haven't been able to convince them yet.

But they're all about eating the chickens!