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- #1,171
Quote:
There should be half grown mealies by now. Have you looked through the substrate?
There should be half grown mealies by now. Have you looked through the substrate?
Mealworm farming
- Thread starter hannakat
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #1,172
Quote:
Give it a few weeks. It takes around 2-3 weeks for eggs to hatch and then a couple more weeks before the worms can be seen. If you check under the veggies in your bin regularly, you'll eventually catch one of the little darlings grabbing a snack. Look very carefully!
Give it a few weeks. It takes around 2-3 weeks for eggs to hatch and then a couple more weeks before the worms can be seen. If you check under the veggies in your bin regularly, you'll eventually catch one of the little darlings grabbing a snack. Look very carefully!
1. How many chickens are you trying to feed w/ your worms.
Uhmmmm, at least the 100 plus chicks I usually have and hopefully a few of the 27 breeder pens I have. With more than 500 chickens right now I have to pick and choose who may need them the most.
2. Are you going to use as a treat, or main protien source.
I like to think of the mealies as both. The protein source is wonderful but the chicks and chickens just think TREAT! I hope to produce enough mealies as a great winter protein source.
3. How many mealies are you feeding out per day or week or what ever you are doing.
Right now I am only feeding a handful a few times a week to 3 of my 4 brooder pens and occasionally to my keets for training.
4. How big is your colony/s. Like how big is the container/s and how full since most of us have no way of knowing how many mealies.
I have 3 plastic tubs in 3 different sizes. The smallest being 1x2' and the biggest is 2x3' and still they need to be bigger or I have to add another. My smallest and middle size are showing me they are way too small!
5. What are you feeding them?
The are in wheat bran with some rolled oats. I add a piece of bread every now and again, they get cucumber, carrots, and small amounts of fresh fruits almost daily now.
6. At what temp / condition are you keeping them?
They are in my den on tables and that room stays at 76 degrees during the summer. It will be much colder come winter. There are lids laid across the top of the bins so they still get air exchange but are not open for the cats to play in.
Uhmmmm, at least the 100 plus chicks I usually have and hopefully a few of the 27 breeder pens I have. With more than 500 chickens right now I have to pick and choose who may need them the most.
2. Are you going to use as a treat, or main protien source.
I like to think of the mealies as both. The protein source is wonderful but the chicks and chickens just think TREAT! I hope to produce enough mealies as a great winter protein source.
3. How many mealies are you feeding out per day or week or what ever you are doing.
Right now I am only feeding a handful a few times a week to 3 of my 4 brooder pens and occasionally to my keets for training.
4. How big is your colony/s. Like how big is the container/s and how full since most of us have no way of knowing how many mealies.
I have 3 plastic tubs in 3 different sizes. The smallest being 1x2' and the biggest is 2x3' and still they need to be bigger or I have to add another. My smallest and middle size are showing me they are way too small!
5. What are you feeding them?
The are in wheat bran with some rolled oats. I add a piece of bread every now and again, they get cucumber, carrots, and small amounts of fresh fruits almost daily now.
6. At what temp / condition are you keeping them?
They are in my den on tables and that room stays at 76 degrees during the summer. It will be much colder come winter. There are lids laid across the top of the bins so they still get air exchange but are not open for the cats to play in.
I just went and fed the darlings again and noticed I now have beetles in my bin from ExoticNutrition!!! Egad, that was fast!
I am thinking I may start another bin. Between the beetles and all the mealies growing in my first 2 bins they are really consuming any fresh food I put in within a matter of hours. I have created beasties!
It also looks very crowded, especially in my smallest bin. Thank goodness I bought extra plastic bins and I have several bags of wheat bran still in the freezer.
My DD is quickly losing space in the den since that is her "space". I suppose I will have to clean up the living room and start bringing bins in here. In the winter this room may work well because it faces south and there aren't any trees. Maybe a table in front of the window so they can get some warm sun on their community.
Oooooohhhhhh, Trish.........we have a winter experiment!
Leave the bins in the den where the walls are north and west and then have bins in the living room where the window is facing south. Granted, I am in South Carolina so we don't get horrible cold weather but this past winter was purty darn chilly with a week of snow on the ground. For us, that is a lot.
I am thinking I may start another bin. Between the beetles and all the mealies growing in my first 2 bins they are really consuming any fresh food I put in within a matter of hours. I have created beasties!
My DD is quickly losing space in the den since that is her "space". I suppose I will have to clean up the living room and start bringing bins in here. In the winter this room may work well because it faces south and there aren't any trees. Maybe a table in front of the window so they can get some warm sun on their community.
Oooooohhhhhh, Trish.........we have a winter experiment!
Leave the bins in the den where the walls are north and west and then have bins in the living room where the window is facing south. Granted, I am in South Carolina so we don't get horrible cold weather but this past winter was purty darn chilly with a week of snow on the ground. For us, that is a lot.
- Thread starter
- #1,175
Quote:
What? Are you "rubbing your hands together in anticipation" now too?
Yep, sounds like it's time for more bins at your house. Maybe reconsider freezing some?
What? Are you "rubbing your hands together in anticipation" now too?
Yep, sounds like it's time for more bins at your house. Maybe reconsider freezing some?
Quote:
That's a lot of mouths .......... (mmmm beaks) to feed. How many mealies are you anticipating needing?
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Bumping this up as I want to research the drawer design again. Mine are all in tubs. I think the drawer design sounds simpler.
- Thread starter
- #1,180
Lil'ChickFarm :
Bumping this up as I want to research the drawer design again. Mine are all in tubs. I think the drawer design sounds simpler.
The truly simple way is a single bin allowing them to develop all together. Many people have the single bin set up and are very happy and successful. I have the 3-drawer for observation, research and 'play' but the bulk of mine are now in the single bin all moving along beautifully. I have too many to keep in the 3-drawer colony now and I know at one point I'll be done fussing with them. Gallo del Cielo's colony has been going strong for over 20 years in one container....that's where I want to be!!
Bumping this up as I want to research the drawer design again. Mine are all in tubs. I think the drawer design sounds simpler.
The truly simple way is a single bin allowing them to develop all together. Many people have the single bin set up and are very happy and successful. I have the 3-drawer for observation, research and 'play' but the bulk of mine are now in the single bin all moving along beautifully. I have too many to keep in the 3-drawer colony now and I know at one point I'll be done fussing with them. Gallo del Cielo's colony has been going strong for over 20 years in one container....that's where I want to be!!
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