Mealworm farming

[WestKnollAmy]

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Don't worry, we'll take care of that little problem for you!

 

[jpsbcfc]

i know i am late to join in this post but been readin it for ages, in fact this site inspired me to start breeding mealworms even before i got my chickens.

have a ton of beetles in my first bin now but no baby worms as yet, i keep it in the garage tho and as i am sure youre aware the uk isnt the hottest.

cant wait until i have a proper supply and can feed them properly.

 

[hannakat]

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Don't worry, we'll take care of that little problem for you!

 

[hannakat]

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Hi jpsbcfc!!! Welcome to the farm! It's nice to have you join in and share your mealie story. Can't be any more dedicated to the chickadees than to have a farm underway before they arrive. Awesome.

 

[hannakat]

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moths on the decline!!!

worms for the chickadee! Oh he is a total gentleroo! How cute.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

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Yes, but you are smart to get them going before chickies. I guess you do have more of a problem with keeping them warm but I would expect your humidity would be high enough, right?

My humidity is at 56% in the house right now even with the furnace running at night. I think that is good for them but it does get down to about 65 in here at night. They seem happy enough....running around, busy in their beetle and mealie business. Our apples are running out for the season since we are having some frost at night so I am back to buying some carrots and celery. I am horrid at growing carrots but would like to try that in the frass mixture in the greenhouse next spring.

 

[kuntrychick]

Wow...this thread is HUGE...lol

I've been keeping the same batch of mealworms for over 2 years now....never added anymore to them...they just keep multiplying though generation after generation. But, I think I'm gonna buy some more &'maybe get the 3 drawer system.

I'm just wondering where to keep them here in my house. I'm pretty limited on space. My current mealworms are all in one container in a little plastic shoebox on a shelf in a cabinet above my washer & dryer. The 3-drawer system will not fit on that shelf.

Where in your house do you keep them?

Oh, & I finally found this set of plastic strainers for about $1 or $2 where the mesh is VERY fine...works great on sifting through them.

 

[r4eboxer]

Hello, I will soon join the ranks of "Meal worm Farmer" I ordered 2000 mixed sized worms from UJ worm farm. I expect them any day now.

Can I afford to feed some of the worms to the chikens when they come or should I leave all of them to multiply? I plan on splitting them into two tanks. How long before I get beetles?

 

[BuffyGRL]

If I decide to put some of my mealies in non-medicated chick starter, should I nuke it or freeze it? Jus wanted to do an experiment on the growth comparing worms from the same bin of the same age.

Just gave some of the larger worms some fish flakes and they were instantly awakened, lol

Has anyone found that one substrate is more beneficial than the other?

Sorry for all the questions, and thanks for the input

 

[hannakat]

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I keep them on the floor beside the desk mostly....oh, except for the Cool Whip container full of itsy bitsy wormies that are in the oven with the light on staying nice and warm

It's nice to confirm that a successful colony doesn't need much space though.


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Yea!!!

Personally, I'd have to feed some to the chickadees...not many...but, oh yea!


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Questions?! We all love questions! Yes, chicken food, in particular, needs treated before use. I personally am a nuke girl...zap...kapow!

I used a ground up substrate of rolled oats, chicken food, wheat flour, dried milk and a touch of corn meal for the first batch of wee wormies and they really did well. I am trying wheat bran at the moment and hope to be able to determine if there's a difference. I've read where fish food is good but I haven't used it.

It will be interesting to hear what your findings are!! I kinda think temperature plays the biggest roll in their development but it wouldn't hurt to switch out the substrate from time to time.