Mealworm farming

[Ivywoods]

I bought my screen at walmart


The rubbermaid tubs I cut with a pair of very heavy duty scissors. The plastic from the drawers is a little tougher, but I have used a dremel tool in the past.

What's the best source for these traps for moths? I had never heard of them.

 

[Chicks Galore3]

Thanks! I am just about going to ask my parents to leet me buy some worms!

 

[t/m]

What is the best or easiest way to cut the bottom out of the drawer?
...what the others said plus, you can use a stiff metal ruler or a square to guide a utility knife if you are afraid of the knife slipping -also works good for scoring the plastic.

 

[t/m]

I have a 3 box (shoe box) system. Jan 29 I got 100 mealworms. This past week I have beetles. Last night I moved the pupae and the beetles to a box with a screened bottom and oatmeal substrate (w/food sources). My question: How deep should the substrate be? Will the eggs go thru 1 1/2" of oatmeal to the bottom box? I only have a thin layer of oatmeal down now until I learn differently. Love all the info on here, thanks for sharing everyone! I started small (cheap) to see how we liked it and will probably move up to a regular 3 drawer system later, we only have 6 chickens. Also, if I have to add more oatmeal, do I have to move the pupae or can I just cover them? (since they come to the surface to pupate?)

 

[slabcrappy]

Just put mine together last night! Here are some pics...

Materials:
Mealworms:
Wheat Bran:
Finished Product:

Before I went to bed last night, I put a napkin for them to hide under and 2 halves of potato in there. This morning there were a few feeding off of the potato!

Sal

 

[hannakat]

t/m ~
My question: How deep should the substrate be? Will the eggs go thru 1 1/2" of oatmeal to the bottom box? I only have a thin layer of oatmeal down now until I learn differently. Yes, most of the eggs will make it through. I try to keep around 2+ inches of oatmeal in mine. The beetles have an instinct to borrow just like the worms so try to give them some depth. In my larger bin, I keep 4-5 inches of oatmeal in the beetle container and everyone is happy and the eggs make it through the screen and into the wheat bran just fine.

Also, if I have to add more oatmeal, do I have to move the pupae or can I just cover them? (since they come to the surface to pupate?)
You can just leave the pupae alone. They just about always come to the surface and it has to be for a reason.

Sal ~ Nice setupl! Love the photos.

 

[hannakat]

Just a suggestion.... starting out small is good if you aren't sure mealworm farming is for you. However, if your goal is to supply your chickadees a few times a week, you really need to start with a few thousand. Someone, not long ago, asked if I would do anything differently. The only thing I'd do different is start with more mealies. I started with 1000. I have 4 chickadees (actually, I recently added 2 more to my sweet little flock). I let 98% of my original worms develop and let that next generation also develop (since it was summer time and the chickens were finding their own bugs). I froze what I considered a bumper crop of worms to have for winter and continued to let a percentage develop. Even with all the planning and forethought, I have not had enough to get through the winter....and that's only with 4 birds (now 6).

So, if you are serious about supplying a regular amount to your chickadees, start out with as much as you can afford and get them developing!!

Also, I do want to mention that you do not need multiple bins to do this. It is a choice. You can keep hundreds of thousands in one bin. You can keep hundreds of thousands in one 3 drawer unit. I have HUNDREDS of beetles in a 10x6x6 container without problem. I also have hundreds in the top drawer of my 3 drawer unit and there is only 2-1/2 - 3 inches of oats. The worms do not require space either. Give them as much depth as you can and they're happy. They love to borrow and actually spend most of the time in the substrate, not on it.

I don't want people getting scared off because they think it takes multiple bins and hours to have a successful mealworm farm

The goal is to reach a point where you can take some out to feed to the chickens, which keeps the numbers in check, which keeps the size of the colony in check.... just have fun doing it!!

 

[hannakat]

where do you get the screening for the top and bottom?

Some people rip an old window screen up. You can get it at any hardware store such as Lowes in addition to Walmart.

If you drill a hole in the drawer about 1" from each corner, that gives you a place to start with heavy cutters to cut the bottom out. Keep about an inch all the way around to give room to hot glue the screen in place.

 

[hannakat]

Would it be possible to raise mealworms in dried out bread crumbs (baked then ground to crumb size) perhaps with some brewers yeast to boost the nutrients? I have a great deal of bread given to me and I was trying to figure out a way of using it and started thinking about meal worms. I have read that many raise them in oatmeal or bran. Obviously if they are fed whole wheat bread instead of white bread they would be more nutritious. Just trying to see if this is even a possibility.

Hi Tivona. I don't use any 'white stuff' since it is nutritionally empty. That being said, try it! We love to hear how things work out in different circumstances. Maybe add some wheat flour too? They are bugs, after all, and they'd probably do just fine. Using what we're given is always a good way to go. That's one reason I like raising the worms....I can give them bits and pieces of what would have been thrown away (cucumber & banana & carrit peel, broccoli stem, etc). Someone reported raising them in dirt, so go figure!!!

Just come back and let us know plz!!!

 

[hannakat]

I counted TWO beetles in my worm farm!

Now I am wondering if I should switch to a 3 drawer system. I haven't quite figured out how I can do it, though. Right now I have a rubbermaid tote with the center of the lid cut out and a window screen taped over the hole.

My problem is this: Once in a while I see a moth in the house. We had a real bad problem with them last year due to some parrot food that was infested. We thought we were rid of the problem and then we found a bunch in the basement in some old wild bird seed that had been forgotten. I don't want to take a chance on the moths getting into my worm farm. If I switch to the 3 drawer system, how would I make the drawers so that those little moths can't weasel their way in? They can squeeze into the tiniest places, and I 'm sure they would be attracted to the oatmeal I am using for worm food.

Any ideas? It sure sounds like it would be a nice system to have 3 drawers, but I'm a little worried to try it because of the occaisional moth. I saw one tonight, so I know there are still some around.

Congrats on the beetles Ivy! Don't have any suggestions about moths....listen to galanie!