Mealworm farming

[Ivywoods]

Chickens will even eat small snakes. They will chase each other around to get the snake away from each other and end up tearing it to pieces.

 

[Kassaundra]

Mine love both earthworms and small snakes too. They think my shovel is "The Great Worm Finder God" and I'm his Highpriestess! Do you know how difficult it is to dig a hole w/ 10 eager chickens sticking heads, feet and anything else they can get in to get the best first chance at whatever shows up in the hole?



The only caviot to this is that appearently some earthworms carry the parasite that gives chickens gape worm. A worm that attatches itself to their trachea and can greatly interfere w/ their breathing. I do not actively feed them earthworms, but there is no way to keep them from getting them, themselves.

 

[Newwell]

Hannakat - Many thanks!!! We have pupae hatching along at an incredible rate. I guess that goes along with our chickens now starting to lay.

Our little RIR Clarita is an egg laying machine. 4 eggs in 5 1/2 days & just started laying last Sunday.
My DH & I made one of your 3 drawer systems & house it in the same closet as our water heater. Nice 74 - 75 degrees in there. Got it going about 2 weeks ago. So I am pleased that everything is moving along so quickly.

Kassaundra - my chickens LOVE mealworms & won't eat earthworms. Bugs, yes...earthworms, no. I've dug them up & they just throw them around then walk away.

Nutty chickens. Oh well, more for my gardens.

 

[AliceMae]

Just a question here ~ are there many kinds of meal worms? I used to always think of them looking like the wax worms you use for bait when fishing!

So much fun and funny education on these forums - I truly thank you all! AliceMae

 

[wolftracks]

My do over on the worms has been postponed. I hope to get it started again this weekend, but broke my wrist tuesday and just getting to where I'm learning to be one handed. Sure glad worms are smaller and lighter than chickens.
I have my containers ready. Just need the little squirmy things now.

 

[iluvsedward]

what about giant ones? that would be an even better treat i would think. my local petstore sells them (both sizes lol) and I once had an accidental collanie in my turtle tank!!! VERY EASY TO KEEP!!!

 

[G-Man]

I’m actually excited about starting a meal worm colony.

My wife….. not so much.

I’ll have to keep them on the human side of the hen house. Mental note: guess I’ll need to supply a heat source too.

 

[G-Man]

Has anyone tried starting their colony with Grubco’s Mighty Mealys? They state that they are twice as big.
It doesn’t look like they are superworms.
Anyone with personal experience?

 

[Kassaundra]

Those w/ giant or super size meal worms etc.... could have been treated w/ a hormone to hinder pupation or cause the adults to be sterile.

 

[G-Man]

That's what I was thinking too. Think I'll stick with the regular ones then.
Thank you for your quick response.