Mealworm farming

[K-Kritter]

Hey there K!

and welcome to the thread!

It is exciting isn't it? I did the same thing and had my worms months before the chicks. Just want to throw this out there... I wouldn't feed the worms to the chicks till they are at least 3 weeks old. Also, once you start feeding them anything but chick feed, you'll need to provide them with chick grit. just a heads up.

Thanks for the info, I was actually wondering about that.

 

[katatonic123]

You can also get wheat bran in the grocery or Walmart stores "Bob's Red Mill" brand is what I get. You can also get it in health food stores, etc.

Is it in the baking aisle?

 

[Sidhe13]

Or just use rolled oats...much quicker and works the same way...

 

[Cluckies]

Is it in the baking aisle?

At walmart it is in the baking isle, at the grocery store in the natural foods sections I believe.

 

[kubotafoot]

At walmart it is in the baking isle, at the grocery store in the natural foods sections I believe.

If you have an ALDI in your area, they are even cheaper! You "might" want to pulse the oats a bit to make them smaller, or not, as you wish. They find what they need and eat, just the same. Bob's wheat bran is so very expensive in proportion to oats and I have had great luck with oats and wheat, but a cheaper feed store wheat.
Keep your eyes open. Prices are all over the place! I haven't had a worm complain to me yet with what I've done, but I did note more vegies makes for a happier colony.

 

[Sidhe13]

I am getting a new batch of worms today and will be giving a finer bedding a go...not powdery, but a bit smaller... i also want to try adding chicken
pellets and other dry animal foods... and maybe a bit less besding and morw paper to climb through...a few new things to try.

Made a Beetle Barn last night. A large plastic container with a lid with mesh hot glued to the bottom. The lid is a screw topand i have laid the container on its side mesh side down. Photos to come. 80 beetles is just too many to keep in a takaway container and multiple little containers is less productive and more fuss...

The remaining worms are all lethargic and uninterested in veges or crawling into the layers of paper...they are all just waiting to change to pupa...

 

[katatonic123]

Thanks @Cluckies. I added some slices of squash tonight and they are all over them. Guess they are tired of potatoes.

 

[Varglet]

I think I'm close to having my first beetle! Found 47 pupae this morning, and probably another 30 tonight, but I didn't count them because I was in a hurry to set up for my two new baby chicks.

 

[Varglet]

Working on it. Does he look well formed for the point he's at?

 

[drewskimac]

Working on it. Does he look well formed for the point he's at?

Nope - he's deformed. That's as far as he's gonna go. It looks like he attempted to morph about a day ago but it was unsuccessful. He probably just lays on his back and wriggles his legs all day, right? Don't sweat it, it happens!