Mealworm farming

[Chickenpoor]

I dont know if someone else may have posted a link to this in the thread already (I just came across the thread and havent read through all of it yet) but I thought I would go ahead and post it anyways because I thought the prices were decent although I havent checked into the shipping price yet.

http://www.armstrongcrickets.com/mealworms

 

[galanie]

Website says second day shipping to residences is $3. Not bad.

 

[oneofseven]

I like supporting BYC members

 

[oneofseven]

Quote:
What's the temperature now?

I think the tank was getting too hot. I unplugged it for a while. I saw a bunch of worms turning black.

 

[hannakat]

Quote:
What's the temperature now?

I think the tank was getting too hot. I unplugged it for a while. I saw a bunch of worms turning black.

 

[ChickenWisperer]

Another question. Can the grown beetles climb the walls of the enclosure?

 

[Kassaundra]

Quote:
No that is if you are using the typical bins (plastic tubs or glass aquariums) the sides are reletively smooth and straight. If you use wood or something rough I don't know.

 

[Kassaundra]

I was looking up something else about mealies but found this along the way and thought I'd share

Nutritional Value: (Source: http://www.dbs.nus.edu.sg/research/fish/livefood/mealwm.html)

Stage Dry Matter % Moisture % Crude Protein % Crude Fat % Ash % NFE %
Larvae 43.05 56.95 48.31 40.46 2.92 8.31
Pupae 38.39 61.61 55.30 36.54 3.27 4.89
Adult 42.10 57.90 59.43 28.33 3.16 9.08

Note: Grubco's analysis was 62.44% moisture, 12.72% fat, 20.27% protein, 1.73% fiber, 1.57% ash, 133 ppm Ca, and 3345 ppm P.


This link is very thourgh and informative, especially the two posts by chewchew.

http://www.thatquailplace.com/smf/index.php?topic=3789.0

 

[Terri O]

Quote:
What a lot of information! Recommended reading for sure. Thanks! Terri O

 

[JMidJr]

There's a new farm at the farm; 1000 mealworms arrived today and their habitat is set up. I raised mealies years ago to feed the critters I kept "back when." it was an unsophisticated setup - a shoebox half full of oatmeal - but it kept the toads et-al going thru the winter. Now I'm using a sterilite with wheat bran per all I've read here. I suspect I shall soon gain improved esteem in the chicken run!lol

The things we do for critters...