Mealworm farming

[Emily1220]

I would be a little concerned about the eggs dropping down onto the 100 degree glass bottom.

 

[zzGypsy]

Quote:
that's an interesting thought... I'll have to put the thermometer on the bottom and see what temp it's running... I'm pretty sure it's not that warm, but I should find out, now that I've got my first few beetles.

 

[OwensMom]

Mealworms finally made it to the BIG TIME!! On an episode of "The Chew"(abc) the chefs were making and eating extreme food. One had meal worms prepared as cheese puffs!! According to the show 80% of the worls eats insects and this will be our future. Excuse me but I think that I will sit here on my farm and eat the chickens who eat the worms!!! I just took a look at my bin with meal worms swarming a couple wedges of apple-I just cannot do it!!!

 

[the4heathernsmom]

I am really thinking about doing this to save money and to supplement. I have to get over the yuck factor......

 

[F50myster]

during the early months of 2010 i raised mealworms from a fishing can lol for my chickens and after half a year i had so many that it drove me nuts and one day i just fed them all to my chickens lol

 

[OkChickens]

Here they are! I got 10,000 or so this morning and they are pretty cool! It doesnt look like they are there but they are! I have 5,000 in each drawer ant the 3rd drawer will have beetles in it on the top. I will soon need a 2nd 3 drawer but that is only when i start getting beetles! I am very excited. My wife HATES them! It was funny seeing her face when i poured them in the drawers!

Nate

 

[BeccaSmith]

Great pictures Nate! Just one recommendation, it is best to put the food such as potatoes and carrots, on something like a shallow plastic dish. I use a plastic lid from a take home container I got from some Miso soup, that way your bedding isn't getting moist and then mold from the food.

 

[BeccaSmith]

For some reason, my meal worms and beetles (both in separate drawers) do not seem interested any more in anything I give them like apple slices and carrots. I have even waited several days and then put something back in and they still don't feed on them like they did when I first got them. Is there any reason to be concerned? I do find a lot of pupa (15 to 20) each day so maybe it is just the stage in their life cycle? I would think the beetles would want to eat, or do they eat the wheat bran as well?

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I have noticed mine go through spells of eating a good bit and then slacking off for a while, especially as they get near the 9-10 week mark and get ready to pupate. But they also have some slack times while growing when you notice them taking a day or two to just chill out or as DH says....vegetate.

 

[BeccaSmith]

Quote:
Thanks for the info Amy! Good to know it isn't something I am doing or not doing....lol.