Mealworm farming

[hannakat]

Quote:
I don't know if there is a 'right' temp but they grow much faster when it's kept warm. Mine was doing fine at indoor temps of 72 degrees but when I moved them out to the garage, they've pupated quicker for sure. I have 3 containers in the fridge to slow them down to start another batch when these beetles are almost done.

You can keep them anywhere.....some people keep them in a bin under the bed, in the closet, on a shelf inside/outside. They have to be kept dry and any ventilation holes need to be covered with screening material to keep other insects out. They also prefer the dark.

Hope this helps and welcome!

 

[luvanimals2]

Hi, I am a newbie that has no idea what she is doing. I bought too many mealworms for my chickens and I now need some help. They are in a very large bin w/ wheat bran. They have been eating carrots and potatoes for the most part. They were swarming around the other day and I forgot to feed them. Today I saw most were dead= no moving at all. So I look closer and I see lots of movement so I think they are in the worm stage? What do I do now? Do I move them? Or leave it as it and continue feeding as normal? Thanks in Advance for any help.

Nancy

 

[galanie]

Quote:
Just leave them and feed as per normal. If you see a lot that are light colored and don't quite look like a worm, don't move but can flip some when you touch them - those are pupae and will be your next breeder beetles. The beetles lay eggs and die naturally but it takes a while.

 

[hannakat]

I found my first baby wormie!!!!! Can't tell you how excited I am. So, if there is 1 baby wormie in the second drawer, there are a dozen or more!! Soooooo cool. (I've been searching using a magnifing glass)

Also, since I started taking my 'fridge' worms out once a week to feed them, they started pupating!!! oh no!!! I wanted them to stay worms until the original beetles were dying. Anyway, there's now another generation working in the bottom drawer since I don't want to put them back in the fridge. One of 3 containers did not start pupating so I put it back in the fridge and I did NOT feed them.

Here's the "Patrick" and "Sylvia" Pupae family...continued!!!

 

[hannakat]

Quote:
Just leave them and feed as per normal. If you see a lot that are light colored and don't quite look like a worm, don't move but can flip some when you touch them - those are pupae and will be your next breeder beetles. The beetles lay eggs and die naturally but it takes a while.

x2

There are pictures of the pupa on page 3 and 8 of this thread for reference of what a worm that pupated looks like.

fyi...They do not die that easily....most of the time they just lay on the top not moving. If they are dead, they will turn black.

and Welcome! Keep us updated on your farm! We love photos too!

 

[luvanimals2]

Thanks for the help!

I think when I wrote for help I did not quite know what I was dealing with. I placed potatoes in there thinking it would be for the live beetles. They are DEAD though. On their backs and dry. Should I remove the dead ones? Well, I went to pull on the potato to see what was going on and now I can see what appears to be ALOT baby worms.

I mean tons. Please correct me if I am wrong but I got them as mealworms and then they turned into pupae sort of fat and did not move much and then they turned into the black beetles now the black beetles are dying and there are the little mealworms.

I would not want to move them to bigger digs?

Thanks again!

Nancy





Quote:
Just leave them and feed as per normal. If you see a lot that are light colored and don't quite look like a worm, don't move but can flip some when you touch them - those are pupae and will be your next breeder beetles. The beetles lay eggs and die naturally but it takes a while.

x2

There are pictures of the pupa on page 3 and 8 of this thread for reference of what a worm that pupated looks like.

fyi...They do not die that easily....most of the time they just lay on the top not moving. If they are dead, they will turn black.

and Welcome! Keep us updated on your farm! We love photos too!

 

[motherhenmindy]

I have been into chickens for all of 6 weeks...and I just started my mealworm farm. They are decimating the 2 apple slices I have in there. I am getting fruit flies in the container though. Is this ok? Not a big deal? Normal? I don't know why, but I'm more bothered by gnats and fruit flies than I ever will be over mealworms.

edited for spelling.

 

[hannakat]

You're welcome luvanimals2.

Babie wormies!!!! AWESOME! They went through the process on their own....how cool.

I'd take the dead beetles out (but some people don't so it's up to you). I'd also move them to bigger digs.

With the worms being so small, I'd just dump the whole thing into a larger container with a couple inches of oats or other wheat product. Feed them regularly and your colony will be well on it's way to another stage!

 

[hannakat]

Quote:
I've been wondering about flies since I moved them out to the garage. Because of that, I've been sticking to carrots and greens. Gnats and flies seem to like fruit better.

Do you have a single bin or 3-drawer? I put screen over the openings in my single bin but that's impossible with the 3 drawer.

Maybe try setting out a little saucer of apple cider vinegar for the gnats? Hopefully, someone with more ideas will post.


edited to add that a few drops of dish washing liquid goes into the vinegar for a successful gnat trap.....

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Quote:
That is so great! I know you are excited! You have been looking for quite a while now. Considering that yours are pupating in the fridge (that is just crazy!

) you must have some mighty healthy worms!

I thought about setting mine outside for a few hours every afternoon for more heat but am sure something would happen to them. I do not have a good spot to keep all the different meal worm predators away. Even on the top shelf down in the brooder room could be dangerous if those chicks learn they are there. The chicks have a way of getting into everything in the brooder room.