Mealworm farming

[Pozees]

Yes, no question about it. advertising is key. I just mentioned it and got swarmed at my campground by all the guys that fish... then locally anyone that keeps lizards, reptiles etc.. Bait stores love em too.

How much do you sell for? My local PetsMart sells 35 large for ~ $4, is that comparable to what you are able to sell them for?

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Quote:
Right, the Lesser Mealworms (Alphitobius diaperinus) are a pest and not raised for feeding to anything (they are also pretty darn small). But I think that the species to which Mavrk is referring is probably Tenebrio obscurus, or perhaps some other Tribolium species, both are a bit larger than Lesser Mealworms, but much smaller than Tenebrio molitor. Since I've been keeping my colony outside, it's been repeatedly infiltrated by T. obscurus. They have much better dispersal capabilities than T. molitor, making them a bit of a pest too.

 

[Mavrk]

How much do you sell for? My local PetsMart sells 35 large for ~ $4, is that comparable to what you are able to sell them for?

I am new to mealworm farming and really am only doing it for my chickens right now, but I wanted to add a thought to this. I know that if you are selling online the price is going to be lower. But locally I think the cheapest I have seen is 50 for $3.50 at the local feed store. But buying 500 might be discounted (can't remember the price now). Of course PetSmart/PetCo/etc. will sell for more. I probably would say that if locally you find it to be over 11 cents per worm you should be able to beat that price easily and still profit. I would check the local feed stores and bait shops to see what their prices are.

As a side note, the thought of buying mealworms on a regular basis at those prices is what made me start farming them. I figure I would purchase once and be done with it. But if it weren't for threads like this I might not have done it.

 

[Tikkajazz94]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mavrk

I am new to mealworm farming and really am only doing it for my chickens right now, but I wanted to add a thought to this. I know that if you are selling online the price is going to be lower. But locally I think the cheapest I have seen is 50 for $3.50 at the local feed store. But buying 500 might be discounted (can't remember the price now). Of course PetSmart/PetCo/etc. will sell for more. I probably would say that if locally you find it to be over 11 cents per worm you should be able to beat that price easily and still profit. I would check the local feed stores and bait shops to see what their prices are.

As a side note, the thought of buying mealworms on a regular basis at those prices is what made me start farming them. I figure I would purchase once and be done with it. But if it weren't for threads like this I might not have done it.

This topic/post got me into mealworms.... Not once, but twice.... It's really amazing what posts can do.
I'm slowly getting everything ready to start selling. I'm thinking on prices though... :/ I want to sell less worms than what I go mine... maybe $9.99 (the price I paid) for 750 Plus extras so 800 worms.
Or for small orders like $0.01 each worm, I'd only be loosing 3 cents this way. And for big orders $0.03. Plus shipping.

I'm not to sure.. I'm going to think on it and research more

 

[Pozees]

I am new to mealworm farming and really am only doing it for my chickens right now, but I wanted to add a thought to this. I know that if you are selling online the price is going to be lower. But locally I think the cheapest I have seen is 50 for $3.50 at the local feed store. But buying 500 might be discounted (can't remember the price now). Of course PetSmart/PetCo/etc. will sell for more. I probably would say that if locally you find it to be over 11 cents per worm you should be able to beat that price easily and still profit. I would check the local feed stores and bait shops to see what their prices are.

As a side note, the thought of buying mealworms on a regular basis at those prices is what made me start farming them. I figure I would purchase once and be done with it. But if it weren't for threads like this I might not have done it.

Yes, same here, it's just taken so long to see any results that I was beginning to think about giving up, and then the other day I saw a tiny meal worm when I was moving an apple piece, and the very next thing I read here was not to give up when you are about to LOL. If it is possible to pay for some chicken feed with meal worm sales, I'm all for it!

 

[Mavrk]

I've heard of chicken math, but I think there might be mealworm math too I just went to look at my colony and the surface is teaming with baby mealworms. I am using a single 10 gallon aquarium setup which I know would be enough mealworms for my 4 hens. But seeing how easy it is, I am thinking about putting some bran in another aquarium I have sitting around and putting the beetles in there (or at least most of them) to start another container full. I could probably just put them in a bigger container (which I might do later), but I think it might be fun to have the two next to each other. Of course you know this is going to end up being 3... or more... and then I'll have different size containers. I'll be looking at things and thinking, "I could grow mealworms in that." Where will it end? The answer of course all depends on what my wife sees

 

[Tikkajazz94]

I've heard of chicken math, but I think there might be mealworm math too I just went to look at my colony and the surface is teaming with baby mealworms. I am using a single 10 gallon aquarium setup which I know would be enough mealworms for my 4 hens. But seeing how easy it is, I am thinking about putting some bran in another aquarium I have sitting around and putting the beetles in there (or at least most of them) to start another container full. I could probably just put them in a bigger container (which I might do later), but I think it might be fun to have the two next to each other. Of course you know this is going to end up being 3... or more... and then I'll have different size containers. I'll be looking at things and thinking, "I could grow mealworms in that." Where will it end? The answer of course all depends on what my wife sees

I personally like under the bed tubs... they have wheels, they have a air vent and they're stack-able and still allow air through. I have two that was given to me, but the other one is broken. :/ So Im only using one. hopefully buying more of these.

 

[LaBella]

OK I find that I am intrigued by the mini mealworms.. Just because mealworms tend to be too big for some of the things I would have in mind for them, lol.
Be jealous.. be VERY jealous everyone, I have TONS of fish tanks and a fish rack from when I was breeding betta fish.. Can you imagine how many mealworm I could harvest with 5 20 gallon long tanks, WITH under tank heaters, lolol.

I haven't even gotten my farm, the closest thing to a chicken I have been near is last night's dinner, and I am already making plans.

Has anyone seen snake breeding set ups? A lot of the time they use underbed bins.. No reason why if someone is handy, they can't build similar shelves. Also, there are metal shelves/racks you can buy at walmart/target. I am pretty sure you can order extra shelves from the company, and have an excellent mealie farm.
I'm seriously considering doing that myself. Except for the fact that space is at a premium at this time, I probably would have by now, lol.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

HAHAHA! Let the mealie math begin

 

[DMRippy]

I picked up 4 LONG totes on clearance for $4 each. I will make 2 more stacked farms. I have LEARNED not to use NYLON window screen. They eat it. I need to harvest some metal screen from some doors and replace it with the NYLON