Mealworm farming

[chrissyr]

I was referring to mealworms (from the pet store, not wild)

 

[blobear23]

How hot did you let them get?  There is a time period where you will see no new worms then BAM thousands of them.  Just make sure you don't mess to much with the substrate during that time.  That's what I've noticed at least.

It was getting around 105 daily here. We didn't mess with other than to pick up their crate and look through. Tomorrow I'm feeding to the chicens and starting iver

 

[buttercup95]

I was referring to wild bsfl flies I already knew about the mealworms being clean raised. Thank you for trying to help though

 

[sueblack]

I started my mealworm farm 6 months ago and now have several 7" high totes with different stages of mealworms and beetles in them. I kept my mealworm farm in my garage all summer and have now discovered a couple of chipmunks are happily munching on my open pupa drawer (the others drawers are covered). So....... no more uncovered drawers for me. This raises another issue.......which is........that I am taking my mealworm farm into the house for the winter (cold NW PA winters) and can imagine mice and other vermin trying to get into the house to get a tasty meal...................................What kind of critters should I be concerned about getting into my house?

 

[DHinton]

I started my mealworm farm 6 months ago and now have several 7" high totes with different stages of mealworms and beetles in them. I kept my mealworm farm in my garage all summer and have now discovered a couple of chipmunks are happily munching on my open pupa drawer (the others drawers are covered). So....... no more uncovered drawers for me. This raises another issue.......which is........that I am taking my mealworm farm into the house for the winter (cold NW PA winters) and can imagine mice and other vermin trying to get into the house to get a tasty meal...................................What kind of critters should I be concerned about getting into my house?

get a kitty that's a hunter, and you should be good?

both my girl cats are ruthless.

 

[ferguson63901]

I know this has been a answered before, but I haven't found it after going through many pages. I have hundreds of beetles, as I started with 5,000 mealies. I've had numerous beetles for the past month to 6 weeks. When should I start seeing babies? The eat anything I give them practically overnight, and the weather in Missouri is quite humid right now.

 

[hosspak]

I have read the babies will be hard to see in the first few days and if you have a screen set up they should be falling through the bottom into more oats and food. The beetles may be eating the babies!

 

[so lucky]

If you get a magnifying glass and use it to examine a bit of the bedding once it has been disturbed a little, you may see some worms that are tiny, tiny, tiny. I can't remember how long it takes for eggs to develop into worms, but it seems to take forever if you are waiting for it.

 

[chrissyr]

I know this has been a answered before, but I haven't found it after going through many pages. I have hundreds of beetles, as I started with 5,000 mealies. I've had numerous beetles for the past month to 6 weeks. When should I start seeing babies? The eat anything I give them practically overnight, and the weather in Missouri is quite humid right now.

Mine I couldn't see but I took a spoon and scooped up a little near the bottom and the bran was moving. At first I was worried but they seemed to be all at the bottom of my bin. Now I can see them, but just barely. But if your bran is moving and you know there's no beetles or big worms in it, then that's them

 

[ferguson63901]

Thanks everyone I have mine in oats, bran, with some powdered milk as well. I probably have a bit much bedding. This all seems too easy! I can't wait for the new generation of mealies