Mealworm farming

[freshfish]

A question for those using the three drawer set up, do you have any issues with ventalation? Do you modify the compartments for ventilation? I have a successfull colony in a large conatiner but want to switch over to the three drawer.

Thanks,
John

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Hi, I have just gotten interested in raising my own meal worms after reading a little about them on the net.
Any suggestions for reading to learn more about this befor I jump into it? Also, any suggestions as to where to buy my first worms once I am ready to start growing them?

Check out the first post in this thread; everything you need to get started you can learn there.

 

[MrsMoonCat]

John, my three drawer unit has a little gap all around the top each drawer where they don't quite meet the "dresser" frame. Not enough to let critters in, but it seems to be plenty for ventilation. I've had this setup for over a year and have raised numerous batches. I do keep a close eye on the food I put in to make sure it doesn't get moldy.

 

[SteveBaz]

Well I finally got on board with you guys. I bought a 10 gallon fish tank, 5 lbs of wheat Bran put 2 cups of oyster shells in it. I bought 100 Meal Worms at Petco for $5.95 for 100 and found 1000 for $16.

on line with free shipping so bought an additional 1000 Meal Worms to really get it going.

I cut up an apple with some skin and some potato slices will that due for now?
What other stuff do I need to do?
Is 80 degrees to hot? How hot should I get it?
Now its basically wait for? How long is the question before they start multiplying?

 

[SteveBaz]

I have a 5 tower worm farm can I raise mealworms in that?
I raise african night crawlers and have extra towers is that acceptable? Right now I started in a 10 gal fish tank.

 

[gale65]

I didn't even realize it but our worm farm has exploded. They are all pretty small now although there are a couple of big ones which puzzled me. I guess I had different ages of worms from the start. I have been neglecting the cleanup so now I'm in the middle of picking out hundreds of dead beetles, pupa and worms and then what? Do you strain out the frass and compost it? Do you worry about eggs being in the frass? Is it all frass or is it oatmeal (or wheat bran if you use that) that has been picked to a powder?

One thing I am going to do is always slice potatoes thinly. Nothing like trying to break roaches and worms out of a veritable maze of tunnels in a chunk of potato that is rock-hard.

 

[Ivywoods]

Well I finally got on board with you guys. I bought a 10 gallon fish tank, 5 lbs of wheat Bran put 2 cups of oyster shells in it. I bought 100 Meal Worms at Petco for $5.95 for 100 and found 1000 for $16.

on line with free shipping so bought an additional 1000 Meal Worms to really get it going.

I cut up an apple with some skin and some potato slices will that due for now?
What other stuff do I need to do?
Is 80 degrees to hot? How hot should I get it?
Now its basically wait for? How long is the question before they start multiplying?

It sounds like your farm is up and running. I'm pretty new at this, too, but everything you have said sounds right on. 80 degrees sounds pretty good. I'm wondering how you manage to keep it that warm. My house is not that warm. The amount of time varies, but with those conditions, depending on the age of the worms when you got them, you should see them pupate and then turn into beetles. A 5 stack tower should be more than adequate. I have 2000 worms in a rubbermade tub right now. I think it all just depends on how much time you want to spend separating them and how many you need to raise for your chickens.

 

[Ivywoods]

Check out the first post in this thread; everything you need to get started you can learn there.

I just bought 2000 worms from New York Worms. They were reasonable and they arrived in great shape. I did not see a single dead worm, and they were delivered during cold weather, so they did well on their trip half way across the continent.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Well I finally got on board with you guys. I bought a 10 gallon fish tank, 5 lbs of wheat Bran put 2 cups of oyster shells in it. I bought 100 Meal Worms at Petco for $5.95 for 100 and found 1000 for $16.

on line with free shipping so bought an additional 1000 Meal Worms to really get it going.

I cut up an apple with some skin and some potato slices will that due for now? Sounds good to me.
What other stuff do I need to do? Whisper to the colony every day: "Grow....Grow.....Grow...."
Is 80 degrees to hot? How hot should I get it? WestKnollAmy and OkChickens (I think?) are having great success keeping them in their incubators at about 99 degrees. They do well on my back patio at 110 in the summer.
Now its basically wait for? How long is the question before they start multiplying? An eternity. At least it will feel like it.

Welcome aboard!

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

I just bought 2000 worms from New York Worms. They were reasonable and they arrived in great shape. I did not see a single dead worm, and they were delivered during cold weather, so they did well on their trip half way across the continent.

That's good to hear!