Mealworm farming

[oneofseven]

Mine love potatoes, carrots, and apples. They pretty much take care of themselves. Just check every day or so. You must be patient and let nature take its course.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

It is hard to be patient with the life cycle of the mealies. Now that DH is totally on board he talks to the beetles every day. He cheers them on for egg laying and meal worm growing!

Just as I am writing this he came in the house and moved the lid off the most recent bin and talked to them. See, I am not the only crazy one in this house!

 

[Gypsi]

Oh my. I talk to my fish and garden plants, but so far I have drawn the line at mealworms. I need to buy some apples, carrots and potatoes, and work on my ignore function.

What happened to the gal that was going to eat some of hers and see what they tasted like?

 

[oneofseven]

Quote:
You might also want to keep them at room temperature Mealies do not like cold. They send nasty-grams.

 

[Gypsi]

They are in the warmest room in my house, the fish room. Going to make it a bit warmer with some more insulation later today.

 

[TheSpiceGirls]

Slightly off topic but looking for advice from this all knowing group.

I have two batches of meal worms going right now and was feeding them to the girls while one was molting. But the one who isn't molting, the Jersey Giant who's a PORKER, has decided to bully the BO when I bring out worms. They get along like twins the rest of the time. This just started all of the sudden last week. So I stopped feeding them worms for a week.

Yesterday, brought out a big handful and the JG went after the BO. The BO whines and desperately wants worms but you can see her fear of getting pecked too.

What's up with that?

If they are going to act that way, then I'll stop feeding worms altogether. But I have two big tubs full and I don't want those to just go to waste.

 

[kari_dawn]

can you separate them while you feed? Or maybe force the JG to wait? Thats so wierd that this just started

 

[TheSpiceGirls]

Quote:
Yea, I've tried separating them. But the JG just SCARFS hers down and then comes hunting for the BO who will back away.

If I separate them literally with the gate, the JG just goes ballistic and it's like she can smell the worms on the BO's breath and goes after her anyway.

The only time it seems I can do this peacefully, is when the JG is laying an egg, I can sneak the BO out and give her worms. But then I work all day so I can only do this on the weekends.

It's so strange.

The Jersey Giant is 14 months old and I've been told they don't mature till 1 1/2 years of age so maybe she's doing one last growth spurt and is extra hungry lately. I can only HOPE that this passes with time.

 

[ipana]

The proverbial pecking order? Try to either have enough to spread around so everyone gets something or allow the most timid a "private feeding." It's actually kinda' fun to feed each hen individually. It also gives a chance to feel the crop, check for matting around the vent, etc. Plus, I love to look into those little faces.

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

I've enjoyed mealworming, but I think I need to give up my setup. I just can't really have another project right now with all the other millions of things I have going on. Anybody in the Bay Area want a great deal on a ton of worms, beetles, water gel, and 40 lb bag of bran? PM me.