Mealworm farming

[DMRippy]

Quote:
That is what I HAVE. I have several containers TEEMING with worms of all sizes and pupae and beetles. I have even sold several thousand out. Never too many at a time. Usually after I sell about 1/2 I chicken out and hold on to them. They are thriving on my incubator right now. Not sure where they can live in the summer. Maybe the same place, but I will have to cover the window or they will sweat to much there. They did last summer.

 

[onafixedincome]

My petco worms did actually extremely well despite fast warm-up--they pupated when they ought and survival was very high. I did get a discount on some cups due to the # of dead or the # I was buying (I wound up paying just about $13 per thousand, and over the summer bought...hm. About ten cups (5K worms), at a guess. After that, the beetles started hatching and more mealies and then insanity hit and I have LOTS of 'em now.) Hopefully I still will in spring...I have the boxes out where they can get sun most of the day and thus stay warmer than in the garage....which reminds me, they're due for a new round of carrots....

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I wonder which will come first. My first egg or my first mealworm big enough to feed to the pullets. At this rate, I am guessing the egg. But maybe it would be more fair to see if all 4 pullets start laying first or the mealworms get big enough first. I still bet on the eggs, but we shall see.

Edit to add: boy does waiting stink

its hard.. I was ready to chuck it all. then i lost interest... then i remembered to feed them one day LOL, wow explosion! I think its been good for my chicks, all 16 are over 6 weeks now and look AWESOME. They do get fermented feed too, but their feathers are just radiant, eyes look great, sparkly clear. they just look healthy and happy. I am using more right now with everything frozen and snow covered. My grown up flock is grateful too! glad i left it all sit and "forgot" about them. I have 3rd generation beetles now!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I guess you would say I am the closest to eating one as I plan to get. My set-up is on the counter next to the stove. Living in FLorida, I hadn't considered heat sources, but in the little bit of winter we have here the nights can get unpredictably colder. I noticed one of you is in Montana - we might even get down to 32 or 31 degrees F on some nights! Anyway, I thought until we reach our nighttime temps into the 60's and 70's more consistently I will keep them inside. But maybe not always next to the stove. If Darling Hubby isn't so darling one night I may be tempted to use something other than fried onions on top of his green bean casserole!

X2

 

[Mavrk]

Having mealworm thread withdrawals

 

[LaBella]

Guess what I got...
shhhhhhhhh

 

[Mavrk]

Guess what I got...
shhhhhhhhh

How many did you get? What system are you going to use? Congrats!

 

[LaBella]

Well, I went on a shopping spree for the critters. I needed to buy a ton of cat food, not just for the house cats, but for the ferals we've been feeding, (thank god we've got most of them sterlized, but I swear as soon as we get them all done, new ones show up from people dumping them), and we needed puppy food, and the toad needed crickets and earthworms.
While we were waiting for an associate to be not busy, I had the bright idea to grab a container of mealies since I was already there. I THINK it was 100 count, maybe 50 count, I forget, it was the smallest and cheapest. I figure since I have no chickens and it may be a while before I get some, I can start small and grow from there.
I'm just completely moved in with my mother, while we prepare to get our land, so I don't really have much on hand, BUT I did have a sterlite shoe box, and I did have wheat germ on hand, and I did have some kind of random greenage in the fridge, (either collards or turnip, not exactly sure) so I ripped a leaf off and when it warmed up, I tossed that in. half are munching on it, the other half, I think aren't aware of the greenage yet. Considering it was an impulse buy, not too bad, lolol.
I'm doing the one bin system for now, I have a couple experiments I'd like to eventually try. likely I'll continue to one bin them, and have many many bins, However, being a micro organizing OCD sufferer, I can see me hand picking out pupae.

These guys were from Petsmart, and not a single dead worm in the mix. Also.. How did I forget how small they are compared to superworms???

 

[onafixedincome]

Guess what I got...
shhhhhhhhh

**GASP!!**

You've Got WORMS!!!

Gosh, and in public, too.

Congratulations! You *do* recall that like, 500-1,000 worms will do quite well in a shoebox, right? *evil grin*

 

[Mavrk]

Well, I went on a shopping spree for the critters. I needed to buy a ton of cat food, not just for the house cats, but for the ferals we've been feeding, (thank god we've got most of them sterlized, but I swear as soon as we get them all done, new ones show up from people dumping them), and we needed puppy food, and the toad needed crickets and earthworms.
While we were waiting for an associate to be not busy, I had the bright idea to grab a container of mealies since I was already there. I THINK it was 100 count, maybe 50 count, I forget, it was the smallest and cheapest. I figure since I have no chickens and it may be a while before I get some, I can start small and grow from there.
I'm just completely moved in with my mother, while we prepare to get our land, so I don't really have much on hand, BUT I did have a sterlite shoe box, and I did have wheat germ on hand, and I did have some kind of random greenage in the fridge, (either collards or turnip, not exactly sure) so I ripped a leaf off and when it warmed up, I tossed that in. half are munching on it, the other half, I think aren't aware of the greenage yet. Considering it was an impulse buy, not too bad, lolol.
I'm doing the one bin system for now, I have a couple experiments I'd like to eventually try. likely I'll continue to one bin them, and have many many bins, However, being a micro organizing OCD sufferer, I can see me hand picking out pupae.

These guys were from Petsmart, and not a single dead worm in the mix. Also.. How did I forget how small they are compared to superworms???

Sounds like a good start. You will have a lot by Summer. You mention you don't have chickens yet, but I see you have a toad. I am sure the toad would like a mealworm treat