Mealworm farming

[yankeefan]

I was just wondering, once I get my mealworm farm going, and I begin feeding out the worms, how many should I be feeding out without overdoing it?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not one to over analyze the simple stuff, but I was thinking maybe a handful every few days or so ?

BTW, I have 7 pullets. Thanks for any help, and thank you all for the warm welcome.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

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Glad to see you are here and you will learn so much from this thread and get lots of support.
Good deal on the wheat bran! Cheaper than what I get it for down here.




Geez guys....is it the music we play that has them in a conga line, doing the macarena and the polka????

This past week I have been playing a lot of Tubular Bells because I love it so (no, I never have watched the Exorcist)and the Halloweenie season. How the beetles got the congo line out of that I don't know but I swear one threw his leg out when the strike sound was made. I should have known better than to put them beside the computer!

 

[racuda]

Hello worm farmers! I started my mealworm farm six weeks ago and got beetles three weeks later. I gathered the beetles and put them in a separate container. After the beetles had been together for ten days I sifted the wheat bran (and hopefully eggs) into the main tote and gave the beetles fresh bran. Shouldn't I have week old baby worms by now?

 

[cjwaldon]

I've only had my worms for a couple of weeks. They started out great, but now they are quite lethargic. I can't tell if they slowed down because of the cooler weather or if there is something else not quite right. I can see shed skins, and there are some light colored mealies which I'm guessing are the ones growing. But so many of them just seem to be catatonic, barely moving even when I nudge them. I've only found two that have pupated, no bettles yet. Is it normal for them to slow way down before they pupate? Or did I kill them by offering them old cereal (Fruit Loops)?

 

[oneofseven]

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From what I've read, eggs can take 10-100 days to hatch depending on circumstances. Humidity and heat being the strongest factors. Patience is the biggest factor. Remember, these are not domesticated animals. They are controlled by drive and environment. Let them do what they do best: eat and multiply.

 

[oneofseven]

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That is normal. Mine did the same thing. I would change the Fruit Loops to oatmeal and bran. It's cheaper and has fewer chemicals.

 

[Kassaundra]

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That seems to be the $64,000 question. I have never found an answer to that, unless you ask your chickens and there answer is never enough mealies!

 

[Kassaundra]

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That is normal. Mine did the same thing. I would change the Fruit Loops to oatmeal and bran. It's cheaper and has fewer chemicals.

Be careful w/ the sugar, don't think it will harm the mealies, but it could draw the ants!!!!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

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You know, I have tons of wormies but I have not ever feed mine more than once a week because I was really trying to get them used to my hands or to come when called. Of course, with as many chickens as I have I can't give them all they want and have any left!

I usually take a bowl full down to the brooder room and even my smallest chicks remember the bowl or seem to be able to hear the crackle of mealies in bran because they go nuts before I ever scoop any out for them. Then for days after they my hand gets attacked when I feed and water them. They so want more mealies!

It seems to me, with your number of chickens that you could feed 1/8 cup a week to them. But it also depends on conditions and growth rate of the colony.
I think most of us hold back to start with for fear of feeding out too much of our colonies. However, you know where to get more!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

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I got some mealies from ExoticNutrition back in July. They turned to beetles just fine but I did not find any mealie babies in the mix until yesterday! I can't believe how long it took compared to my others. I picked up a piece of apple I had put in 2 hours before and looked over it with my magnifying glass (thanks, hannakat, for that idea!) and there were the babies. Sure took them long enough!
So 3 months......it could happen.