Mealworm farming

[tmasker]

Ok.. I am curious.. what exactly is the three drawer method of raising Mealworms? Why do you need three drawers?

My hens LOVE freeze dried mealworms. Last night my husband was MUGGED when he brought a plastic container of Happy Hen Mealworms out to the coop last night. They jumped on him and he dropped the container. Now thecontaiiner has more sand then mealworms and the hens are happy alright

... I wish I could've seen it!

Anyway, I think I may attempt to raise our own mealworms or get a second job to support my chicken's (mealworm) crack habit!!

 

[TerryLou]

3 drawer method is just 3 containers for separating at each stage instead of one container & letting nature take over.

 

[tmasker]

Touching the live worms gives me the creeps. How does the 3 drawer system separate the stage? <still not sure about this!>

 

[galanie]

Most of us in this thread are referring to the method of cutting the bottom out of the top drawer and replacing it with screening when we mention the "3 drawer method." Your breeders are in the top drawer and lots of eggs/babies drop down into the second drawer. Once you get a bunch in there growing, you can swap the second drawer with the bottom drawer and Viola! Separated w/out needing to touch anyone. Some of the wormies will still be in the top drawer, which renews your breeding beetles. I think it's a neat system.

Heres a YouTube video to give you an idea how to do it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTjv5fek0-s
You use hot glue to fasten the screening in. It's just the same screen like you buy for window screens.

 

[Kassaundra]

Quote:
Use medical gloves, you can buy a whole box pretty cheap at any pharmacy or pharmacy dept in the mega stores.

I still can't pick up my roaches bare handed.

 

[hannakat]

Quote:
Check out page 3 of this thread to see my 3-drawer system. I have pictures of it scattered in the first few pages of the thread.

Yep, gotta watch for lurking chickens now....never know when they're gonna take you down and frisk you for some mealies!

 

[LittleDarlings]

Kassaundra: Use medical gloves, you can buy a whole box pretty cheap at any pharmacy or pharmacy dept in the mega stores.

I still can't pick up my roaches bare handed.

You are a much braver soul than I am!! Gloves or no gloves, I COULDN'T touch roaches!! I've dealt with these mealworm things before when my DD got to bring home the class Gecko. (It DEFINITELY did NOT look like that cute little green guy on the commercials!! LOL)​

 

[hannakat]

Quote:
You have to separate them except for when the beetles are in the top drawer....the eggs and/or wee wormies fall into the second drawer where you feed them and take care of them until they mature or you move them or feed them to your chickadees.

I kept my original worms in the bottom drawer. When the pupated I moved the pupa to the top drawer where they morphed into the beetles, which lay the eggs, which hatch into more meal worms. It's a cycle. Each female beetle lays up to several hundred eggs so it's a process worth developing if you want feeder worms.

The ick factor degree does decrease with exposure!

Also ~ Check out Gallo del Cielo's meal worm farm! img/smilies/yippiechickie.gif" alt="yippiechickie" />">https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=56638-how-to-raise-mealworms

 

[homesteadinmama]

Love this thread, would never have thought to grow my own worms. Just ordered 1000 and will be here next week!!!! Gotta go get my 3 drawer set up.

Question cause I only have read through page 23, when you harvest the worm larvae to save for future use, do you freeze them or fridge them--do they die or just stop growing? I am interested in doing this so I can have worms for the chickens/ducks during the snowy winter. Thanks!

 

[hannakat]

Welcome to the 'farm' homesteadinmama!

It is my hope to freeze them for use throughout the winter. They do slow down in the fridge but won't keep forever! I had some continue to grow and then pupate while in the fridge but I did take them out once a week to give them the opportunity to eat....my bad?? hahaha

I'm not sure if any of us have actually frozen any yet. Since my first generation of wee wormies are still growing, it'll be a few more weeks before I attempt it. The PLAN is to freeze a sample batch for a day and then take a portion out to dry. I want to see whether or not they get mushy.

There has also been recommendations about just letting them develop and use them since there will be so many. Considering how many I have in the drawers and also in my single bin colony, I'm even considering that option. Because of my inquisitive mind, I'll probably do both AND keep some in the fridge....just in case!!!