Mealworm farming

[Gallo del Cielo]

UPDATE on my incubator mealies.......

AWESOME! They are super active, begging for food and active as all get out. Temp is 99 and humidity is 40% with the hygrometer beside them. It may not be as correct as it should be but they are trying to climb out of the container. I will be adding a bunch of little ones later today in another container to see how fast they also will grow.

Those sound like perfect mealworm conditions to me!

 

[Scooter&Suzie]

This weekend I plan on buying some wheat bran. For $13 dollars I can get a 50 pound bag, or for $8.50 I can get a 25 pound bag. I am planning on keeping just 1,000 mealworms. It's tempting because for just $4.50 more I can get twice as much than if I went with the 25 pound bag (The different amounts are from different places, that's why there is such a big price change). My mom is worried that the 50 pound bag will be too much.

Can anyone tell me about how big a 25 pound and a 50 pound bag is? How long each one would last? Which one you suggust?


BTW, I wouldn't be using it all at once - I would store it with my chicken feed in a trash can (in seperate bags in the trash can, of course).

 

[bloom_ss]

This weekend I plan on buying some wheat bran. For $13 dollars I can get a 50 pound bag, or for $8.50 I can get a 25 pound bag. I am planning on keeping just 1,000 mealworms. It's tempting because for just $4.50 more I can get twice as much than if I went with the 25 pound bag (The different amounts are from different places, that's why there is such a big price change). My mom is worried that the 50 pound bag will be too much.

Can anyone tell me about how big a 25 pound and a 50 pound bag is? How long each one would last? Which one you suggust?


BTW, I wouldn't be using it all at once - I would store it with my chicken feed in a trash can (in seperate bags in the trash can, of course).

I just went with the 50 lb bag. They don't seem to go through it very quickly (I started out with 1,300 mealworms), but I plan on getting as many worms going as I can. =)

 

[OkChickens]

I have around 10,000 worms/ Beetles and I bought a 50# Bag and I have a 3 drawer set up with about 2-3" in each drawer. I have about 1/4 of the bag left. I haven't had them for a long time but I plan on expanding into another 3 bin in the next few months. I would go ahead and get a 50# because of the price. I have mine in a 55 gallon barrel in the bag with the barrel full of chick starter.

Nate

 

[Scooter&Suzie]

Okay, sounds like 50 pounds is the way to go.

 

[AliciaM]

I just ordered another 500 extra large meal worms.. Im getting these from WWW.GRUBCO.COM. Anyone order from them? Here is what there website says about the "mighty mealies"

Mighty Mealys are twice as big, or bigger, than our large size mealworms. These over-sized mealworms are perfect for the larger appetite. They are very lively and have been a Grubco trademark product for over fifty years! Unlike Grubco superworms, Mighty Mealys are true mealworms. Mighty Mealys have been used as live pet food by many zoos and universities for generations of animals with excellent results. They are a preferred food of Sugar Gliders. If you need a large mealworm in your animal's diet, Grubco's Mighty Mealys are just what you need. Mighty Mealys also make excellent fishing bait for trout and other various types of fish. A #2 hook is ideal for fishing with Mighty Mealys. Please keep these mealworms refrigerated as they will turn into beetles very quickly. (I like this part)

Since the first batch I got yesterday are smaller than I thought, I figured id try another source.. Maybe get my farm going a bit faster.. Besides, I think about half or more of the worms I got yesterday are dead.. Lots are not moving and some are black.. Should I leave them in or feed them to the chickens?

 

[LilyLovesBugs]

How do you clean out their bedding and frass?

 

[dmclalin]

Not all of my worms are going for the pieces of carrot. Do they actually eat the wheat bran as well? Or should I add more carrots and apples?

 

[Kassaundra]

Not all of my worms are going for the pieces of carrot. Do they actually eat the wheat bran as well? Or should I add more carrots and apples?

They eat the substrate, they eat the fruit and veggies too, but it is mostly for moisture.

 

[Emily1220]

dmclalin......yes they eat the wheat bran and anything else you put in there. The fruit and or veges is for hydration as well as food. Mine didnt eat the carrots to well but they devoured celery. Dont bother cutting and slicing. If you want to try carrots just put them in there whole. Otherwise they get all dried up to fast.