Mealworm farming

[Arielle]

Quote: Will do !!

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Will do !!

 

[crazy huhn]

The mealworms arrived just a couple weeks ago now, thanks to Crazy Huhn,   and I have a couple questions.  The mealworms seem to gather into the corners and cause lots of moiture build up there, with the bran clumping together via mold I suspect.  THe center area is covered by an upside down egg carton and covers about 3/4 of the surface area. . .. . Thoughts?  SUggestions???

Son is doing the mealworms as a boyscout project.

I agree with using carrots as your main moisture source at this time of the year or put your moisture source inside the egg carton and the worms will crawl inside.
If there are too many worms in the corners of your container, it might also be a sign of overcrowding or not enough wheat bran in the container in the first place, so you might want to add bran, choose a bigger container and/or divide your worms into a second container.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Thank you so much for the well packaged mealworms. We were in awe of the excellent packaging!!

Just picked up another container, a triple decker, and got more bran out. WIll divide as you suggested. We did remove some of the worms and the dead beetles to feed out. THe extras are in the freezer. THese are only fed to the chicks out with free ranging hens to help them love people. lol

Will look for carrots. ANyone use potatos?

 

[aart]

Will look for carrots. ANyone use potatos?

Potatoes probably too wet also.
But if you have them you could try it, put it on a shallow plastic lid(like from sour cream) so the wet doesn't touch the bran.

 

[Arielle]

Quote:

Will look for carrots. ANyone use potatos?

Potatoes probably too wet also.
But if you have them you could try it, put it on a shallow plastic lid(like from sour cream) so the wet doesn't touch the bran.

I am imagining placing a lid with 1/8- 1/4 inch lip on the bran, and placing the apple or potato ON the lid. Will the meal worms crawl over the plastic to reach the veg?? I'm a bit confused. FOr some reason I thought they came up from underneath . . . ???

 

[aart]

Quote:

Will look for carrots. ANyone use potatos?

Potatoes probably too wet also.
But if you have them you could try it, put it on a shallow plastic lid(like from sour cream) so the wet doesn't touch the bran.

I am imagining placing a lid with 1/8- 1/4 inch lip on the bran, and placing the apple or potato ON the lid. Will the meal worms crawl over the plastic to reach the veg?? I'm a bit confused. FOr some reason I thought they came up from underneath . . . ???
Yes, they will crawl onto the lid....maybe settle it down in the bran a bit.

 

[Arielle]

Quote:

Will look for carrots. ANyone use potatos?

Potatoes probably too wet also.
But if you have them you could try it, put it on a shallow plastic lid(like from sour cream) so the wet doesn't touch the bran.

I am imagining placing a lid with 1/8- 1/4 inch lip on the bran, and placing the apple or potato ON the lid. Will the meal worms crawl over the plastic to reach the veg?? I'm a bit confused. FOr some reason I thought they came up from underneath . . . ???
Yes, they will crawl onto the lid....maybe settle it down in the bran a bit.

ok! Thanks!

 

[Arielle]

Just thought of this . . . . put cut side of apple UP ???? Instead of down? I had been put the apple, skin side up and flesh side down. Maybe turn it over . . . .???

 

[aart]

Just thought of this . . . . put cut side of apple UP ???? Instead of down? I had been put the apple, skin side up and flesh side down. Maybe turn it over . . . .???

I wouldn't use apples at all this time of year, because of the fruit flies.

When I do use apples in winter, I usually only give them the cores cut from a quartered apple....no skin involved and just put it right on the bran.