Mealworm farming

[Latestarter]

Latestarter,

Congrats! If you find that mold starts growing, I would get rid of the sponge. You will soon figure out how much carrot, etc they will eat in a day. Then it will just be a matter of feeding them the same amount every day til they pupate. Have fun!

Thanks Sue I live in high plains (almost desert) conditions here on the front range in Colorado... I'll keep a close eye on it and if it seems too moist or I think mold is developing, the sponge will come out. I check them several times a day (hey, I can't help it... I'm nosy!)... in the early AM before work, as soon as I get home, and before I go to bed... I'm sure the thrill/entertainment value will wear off shortly LOL. There were already pupae in there when I dumped them out and just in one day, the number seems to have doubled... I'm eagerly awaiting my first beetle!

 

[aart]

Hmmm...I just give my hens oyster and egg shell.
Just using wheat bran for mealies.......just feeding as chook treats tho not a big part of their diet.

 

[RoseMarie1]

Here's a picture of the screen. I bought a roll of it at the local Lowe's and cut out the size I needed. Hubby cut the bottom of the drawer out for me leaving about 1" all around but you don't need to leave that much. Hot glue works great to secure it.

HOW do you keep all this from falling thru the screens when you have to open the drawers to add more carrots or whatever?

 

[sueblack]

 
Here's a picture of the screen.  I bought a roll of it at the local Lowe's and cut out the size I needed.  Hubby cut the bottom of the drawer out for me leaving about 1" all around but you don't need to leave that much.  Hot glue works great to secure it.

HOW do you keep all this from falling thru the screens when you have to open the drawers to add more carrots or whatever? 

I do not use this system but it would seem that the only way to avoid making a mess is to open both drawers at once, feed the top drawer with screen, close them both together, then open the 2nd drawer.

 

[chrissyr]

ok, i've had a problem keeping separate stages in different bins. so now i have 3 bins with all stages.
BUT, I've found a way to feed mealies without feeding beetles.
I use a spaghetti strainer for sifting mealies. But i leave it in the bin with some produce in it. I have plenty of other produce around for the beetles. But if I put the produce in the strainer, only the mealworms can get in. I don't have to sort through to get out the beetles when i feed.
@gallodelcielo -I couldn't remember. Do you feed all stages, including beetles?

 

[RoseMarie1]

I do not use this system but it would seem that the only way to avoid making a mess is to open both drawers at once, feed the top drawer with screen, close them both together, then open the 2nd drawer.

tried it several ways and it still comes out. Tried opening the bottom one since it doesn't have screen on it with the one above it and then trying to close them at the same time is a little hard to do. Mine is a small one so I can only imagine the larger ones. I think I am going to just use plastic shoe boxes and leave them in place and not separate them all out. If I keep them veggies in there they shouldn't eat each other.

 

[RoseMarie1]

ok, i've had a problem keeping separate stages in different bins. so now i have 3 bins with all stages.
BUT, I've found a way to feed mealies without feeding beetles.
I use a spaghetti strainer for sifting mealies. But i leave it in the bin with some produce in it. I have plenty of other produce around for the beetles. But if I put the produce in the strainer, only the mealworms can get in. I don't have to sort through to get out the beetles when i feed.
@gallodelcielo -I couldn't remember. Do you feed all stages, including beetles?

I threw in some food in all of mine just n case cause I was wondering the very same thing. ???

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

ok, i've had a problem keeping separate stages in different bins. so now i have 3 bins with all stages.
BUT, I've found a way to feed mealies without feeding beetles.
I use a spaghetti strainer for sifting mealies. But i leave it in the bin with some produce in it. I have plenty of other produce around for the beetles. But if I put the produce in the strainer, only the mealworms can get in. I don't have to sort through to get out the beetles when i feed.
@gallodelcielo -I couldn't remember. Do you feed all stages, including beetles?

I only feed the larvae. It takes so long to get them to the pupae and beetle stage that it seems more efficient to save those for reproduction. Clever idea with the strainer!

 

[chrissyr]

I only feed the larvae.  It takes so long to get them to the pupae and beetle stage that it seems more efficient to save those for reproduction.  Clever idea with the strainer!

Thank you. It was pure accident. I left it in there and noticed some climb through the bottom. So I tried putting produce in it and had tons in there.
I figured you didn't feed beetles but wanted to confirm. It would be a waste.
This does help so we don't have to pick out beetles.
I have a lot going to the strainer, even with produce in other parts of the container.
I really don't have to sift at all to find them

 

[sueblack]

I only feed the larvae.  It takes so long to get them to the pupae and beetle stage that it seems more efficient to save those for reproduction.  Clever idea with the strainer!

Thank you. It was pure accident. I left it in there and noticed some climb through the bottom. So I tried putting produce in it and had tons in there.
I figured you didn't feed beetles but wanted to confirm. It would be a waste.
This does help so we don't have to pick out beetles.
I have a lot going to the strainer, even with produce in other parts of the container.
I really don't have to sift at all to find them

Ditto on the strainer being a clever idea. I am going to try this. I think it will save me a lot of time.