Mealworm farming

[greatchicken]

I just got my 5000 today. They are all alive and wiggling. They love the potatoes that I gave them. I cannot wait until I give some to the chicks.

 

[hannakat]

Quote:
Someone mentioned that a good way to gather some to feed to the chickens was to put a slice of apple in and wait 10-15 minutes, pick it up and shake the wormies off.

Earlier this week, I set up a single tub environment for the mass of pupae I have (my top drawer is full!!) DH drilled a 1" hole in each side and I covered it with screening material. With the lid on, it's pretty safe from all invaders so this might be an option for you. I'm still keeping them in the house though. For outside, more holes would be needed for better ventilation.

I'm still impressed with the '5000' ! Thats a LOT of wormies!!

 

[hannakat]

Quote:
Fifty years ago, my dad had me following him around picking up worms, playing in the dirt, learning about nature. It's so great to hear how other parents are introducing their children to the natural world! My 4-year-old grandson loves learning about the chickens, chicks, and now the worms. I love it when he picks some out of the drawer and calls to the chickens. It's been part of the whole process for me.

 

[hannakat]

Quote:
Congrats!!

They're gonna love you!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Most of my mealies are laying along the walls of the tub so I can just scoop them up with my hand. Maybe it is too crowded?

I gathered a few and took them down to the brooder room. There were some oats mixed in with the mealies and when I put my hand in the 3 week old chicks tub they went after the oats because they love those treats but then they noticed the wiggly things and everyone froze for a minute to watch.

Once one of the worms fell from my hand and onto the brooder floor a chick grabbed it and it was on!

So others came to grab the mealies. I did the same thing for the 2 week olds and 4 and 5 week olds. I did not take enough to share with the other brooders and the ones I did share were only about 10 per brooder.
Last night while finishing up the brooder room for the night I had chicks all over my hands poking around trying to find more worms!

 

[luvmesomechicks]

Quote:
Fifty years ago, my dad had me following him around picking up worms, playing in the dirt, learning about nature. It's so great to hear how other parents are introducing their children to the natural world! My 4-year-old grandson loves learning about the chickens, chicks, and now the worms. I love it when he picks some out of the drawer and calls to the chickens. It's been part of the whole process for me.

Yes she loves watching and looking for the ones in the pupa stage with me. Can't wait to have enough to have her feed the chickens with her hand. Its amazing how she looks up to me for guidance and approval for picking up worms while she has the same basic knowledge I have!!!!!!

Btw I went and picked up an extra 500 yesterday. Along with some screening to get ready for the beatles. Can't wait to see the cycle start again!

 

[hannakat]

With dozens of beetles in the top drawer now, I'm just waiting for evidence of wee wormies in the second drawer! I have the ground up substrate because I hope to see the wee ones early!

It's been very interesting to learn and watch them. I've never watched something like this develop before and it's been very educational! Every stage has been fun. The beetles are definitely mature and with all the 'activity' I see going on, there has to be eggs! I am hesitant to disturb the pieces of egg carton and paper I have in there for them to lay eggs on. At some point I will though, cause it's another stage and I hope to able to find mealy eggs!

All the pupae I put in the single bin are morphing quickly. I have noticed some strange things though.....don't know if it's because I was keeping the pupae in a smaller box or what, but there have been 4 that did not develop completely into a beetle. Two looked like the beetle on the head end, with legs, but the back never developed into wings....just stayed in the pupa form. Then there were two that had curly wings and didn't do well either. I took all four out yesterday and gave them to the chickens....figured they'd never make it to breeding age anyway!

Today, I'm picking some dandelion and clover to put in the with the mealies. Figure it's out there so I might as well try to use it!!!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I have been trying to find time to read all the info on the mealie farming.
I read that some of the beetles do not always morph out correctly and are deformed so not to breed those. It may happen with all beetles in everybody's bins so let us know what all you see.

Of course, this article also says to quickly separate all stages because they eat each other. From seeing the set up here on BYC with some of you raising all stages together I can't see it as a big problem.

I do want to eventually have the beetles tub with a screen bottom for the eggs to fall through to another tub but that will be a bit further down the road. I really haven't much time to spend on all this but am trying to get a system set up so I don't have to spend but 5 minutes a day on them. Fresh fruit and veggies, check for larvae etc.
I know there will be times I have to do more but not on an every day basis.

With all the chickens outside, my DD's 80+ Guinea Pigs here in the house and now my mealie farm, we stay very busy. There is always plenty to do. The only time spent here on the computer is while I am eating breakfast, lunch and supper. Occasionally while waiting for a customer, too so I do get computer time.

Can't wait to hear about baby mealies, hannakat!!!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Okay, so here come my questions....

Most of my mealies seem to be on top of the bedding. Is this okay? The chick starter was heavier so has moved to the bottom of the bin and oats are on top.
I am seeing plenty of dead skins so I guess that is a good sign?

Can I take the ones that are turning white and put them into the next stage bin? With bedding and food, of course.

I saw some pupae in there the other day but have moved the bedding around some and now can't find them. Will they surface later by the moving mealies?

And I wanted to state that so far mine have loved the apple, carrots and cucumbers the best. The potato is not a huge hit nor was the strawberry. I will try dandelion and clover later today. I didn't even think of that!
And maybe Lamb's Quarter?

 

[DickGJ]

Quote:
The majority of mine seem to be at the top of the substrate too. Of course, this may be due to the fact that our fruits/veggies are on top as well so that's where they're getting their moisture.

Seeing plenty of dead "skin" is a GREAT sign...that means the larvae are molting their exoskeleton as they grow. When they first emerge from that exoskeleton, they are very white in appearance but will darken to their typical golden brown color. Completely, normal.

My eyes aren't that good anymore so I like when I find the pupae on the surface of the substrate. All of the pupae I've separated were "spooned" from the top of the substrate. The pupae have relatively no mobility at all. They can wiggle their "butts" when touched...but that's about the extent of it. They will continue to develop normally and emerge as an adult beetle when the time comes if they ended up covered under the substrate. THere is a possibility though that some larvae will eat the little bugger since it's full of moisture...but with 5000 mealies in your bin I wouldn't worry about it too much. Especially, if you're keep their bin replenished with fresh fruit/veggies. No doubt you'll lose a couple to cannabalism, but hey...I'll say it again, You've got 5000!!! If you had all 5000 get to adult stage and lets say half are females capable of laying 300+ eggs...if they only lay 150 eggs each you'll have upwards of about 750,000 larvae. I'd say 3/4 Million mealies will keep your critters happy. If you let those 750,000 get to adult stage...you may need another building to keep them going...or perhaps we'll see a sign posted for "Amy's Mealworm Company!"