Mealworm farming

[Chicky Monkey]

I've read that they can STINK really bad. When I would buy crickets for lizards, THEY stunk, and there wasn't that many of them! Is it true about mealworms? Solution? I've been thinking of starting a mealworm farm, too. I bought some at a pet store and my girls LOVED them. I agree, they would be a great protein source during the winter!

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Quote:
Yes, they can stink really bad--if you don't provide the right conditions for them. Moisture is the root of all stinky odors in the colony. If your colony is healthy and provisioned correctly, you'll never smell them. So, start your colony tomorrow!

 

[new world]

I must admit I do find my mealworms are a bit smelly already. I am going to keep them in the laundry as they need to be kept at room temperature. Hopefully I can handle the smell as there is no other place that is suitable that doesn't get too hot or too cold.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Is your climate very humid? It really shouldn't smell at all unless there is too much moisture in the colony. You might try feeding veggies on a newspaper like you see in the earlier pics by WestKnollAmy. That will help keep moisture from seeping into the bran (although it doesn't sound like you're feeding excessively moist veggies).

 

[crazy huhn]

Quote:
True, also if overcrowding causes bad odor, so maybe separate into 2 containers.....

 

[new world]

Thank you so much for the wonderful advice as I need all the help I can get.

I will be more aware of the moisture content. We are in our winter at the moment and coming in to our spring and our nights and mornings are cold and days are warm so hard to get a neutral temperature.

 

[ipana]

Put a plastic lid on top of your bran and it will keep the moisture of the vegetables from being absorbed. This has worked great for me. No odor at all. After the worms have eaten a while, the whole lid becomes buried!

 

[ipana]

I wish that whoever started the whole idea that mealworms would bite a baby bird's crop would stop it, already. Does not happen. Ever. No idea why that got started. I'm not saying anything bad about anyone for asking, because I heard that too at first and also wondered. I just wish misinformation like this didn't exist.

I hear what you're saying. Do you have a link or something to verify your thoughts? If not, then who to believe? After watching how quickly these worms get onto the vegetables, it would seem possible that they could do that in the crop of a bird, doesn't it? The crop contents remain for some time so it does seem plausible. Just sayin'.​

 

[galanie]

Quote:
I hear what you're saying. Do you have a link or something to verify your thoughts? If not, then who to believe? After watching how quickly these worms get onto the vegetables, it would seem possible that they could do that in the crop of a bird, doesn't it? The crop contents remain for some time so it does seem plausible. Just sayin'.

I don't know of any studies or official info but so many of us have been feeding them live to our babies who then show no discomfort or ill effects, it just doesn't seem possible that they are hurting them. They eat all sorts of live insects, surely if this could happen there would be others that would bite or harm them, too.

On the other hand, what are the experts that claim it does happen and what is the basis of their claim?

 

[hannakat]

Quote:
Welcome new world!!

on starting a farm. Yep, isn't it amazing what we'll do for the chickadees?

Come on folks! They're worms and pupae and beetles being kept confined to a specific area with vegetable matter and wheat products. There is bound to be some odor. I find that there is an odor with the mealworm colony but it seems to be an odor of what I have for the substrate. There is never a bad odor...it smells earthy to me but I know for a fact that some people are more sensitive to any odor or a range of odors. If you maintain a low humidity colony, and don't over feed, any smell is normal for worms.

I imagine that if someone states their colony 'stinks', it either needs cleaned out and dried out, or their sniffer sends different signals about the level/kind of thing they smell. Just saying cause I have a friend who can't even tolerate going to a restaurant that serves fish of any kind cause it makes her sick to her stomach. Go figure. We're all soooooo different.

Edited to add = btw... I can only smell the farm when I have my face in there managing it. hehee It sits on my desk and I can't smell anything until I open the drawer....then I'll get a brief wiff of earthyness