Mealworm farming

[kevinhannan]

Wow! How long does your postman take?! lol!

I was thinking of the dried worms you can buy in the pet stores.
Surely it must be possible to do that at home? Anyone?

 

[hannakat]

Quote:
Yes, you freeze them first and then slow roast them (generally done outside because of the smell). I freeze my excess to use this winter but because they freeze so well, I haven't pursued the roasting part. Let us know how it turns out!!!

 

[reereechickens]

I don't mind red worms or earthworms and pick them up no problem. It's just those ugly gross catepillars!

 

[hannakat]

Quote:
Then you will probably be okay with mealies. Can you cope with the beetles? (mealworms are the larva of Darkling beetles and you have to raise them up to beetle stage for them to lay eggs in order to get more mealies....

 

[reereechickens]

Yeah the beetles are fine too! Maybe when DH gets paid again I may try it.

 

[kevinhannan]

@ hannakat - will do!

@rrc - check out for worms at the roots of plants, not just anywhere in the garden - you'll have much more luck

 

[Mommato5]

Quote:
I just wanted to add that I virtually never touch my mealworms! If I HAVE to for some reason, I pick them up with a spoon or scrape them off their food with a knife. I keep all of mine in one bin so no moving from one place to another. Mine have all turned to beetles. Can't wait to find some little wormies in there!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Quote:
That would be great for you to get on board with the meal worms! My chickens adore them! And my chicks mob me for them and the keets are learning to love me just a tiny bit because of them.

I have no problem when the meal worms get on me because I can't feel them. But let a spider get on me and I do the goofy human dance!

I can deal with caterpillars and grasshoppers but DH can't.

I have no idea if 50 is too cold for them. they would probably just slow down in production. I keep 6 tubs in the house but am trying to get down on the number of tubs for the winter. Easier said than done but DD said she could smell the 2 older ones and they have a lot of frass in them still. At least I am working on it.

 

[oneofseven]

Quote:
I started mine with a small bin from The pet store.

 

[blackbelt]

Hey my friend your on the right track I have a page on my website about meal worms, they can be very profitable. I use them for my chickens, but also market them even the red worms. Your on the right track. The meal worms keep the chickens active in the winter. I keep about 2 feet of shavings on the floor in the winter, and the chickens are always scratching for the worms. Summer is different because their outside. You can cut your feed expense big time if you do it right. Did you know your eggs are higher in omega 3 doing things the right way? Keep it up! Reptile farms will also buy them. Joe