Mealworm farming

[Kassaundra]

Oh, I have a mealworn farm. I meant about that guys putting up walls in his barn and insulating it! LOL I went to the dollar store and bought three containers to start my mealies in! LOL

I think galifrey actually eats his mealies himself, so more of a financial justification for added expense.



I had not looked at my bins in weeks (since the rodent wiped me out) anyway thought I'd toss in a few carrots today and I had lots of baby wormies, a couple looked like they were getting big enough to think about becoming pupa.

 

[mychookschick]

Hey guys! I just found my first few pupa! I hadn't paid a lot of attention to them the last few days because I have eggs in my incubator, and eggs under two different broodies, all due to hatch this week. Anyways, I looked in today while I was watching an egg pip (they are top of the incubator) and found 5 pupa! And that is only what is on top! I need to sift through and find the rest, but haven't gotten a chance yet. The little buggers still creep me out but my chickens will love me for it, right? LOL

Here is my farm and the pupa that I found (sifting pictures are from more than a week ago):




And the pupa:


And to top the day all off, cuteness is arriving! Too much excitement!

 

[Emily1220]

I am thinking about moving my mealies out to the garage for the summer where they will be warmer. Temps out there are approx mid 90's where as in the house it is mid 70's. But I am wondering about when we start the car if the gas fumes would hurt them. We never have the car running in the garage, only long enough to pull it in and out. The mealies would be up on a shelf beside an open window. Anyone have any thoughts or knowledge about this????

 

[Emily1220]

Hey guys! I just found my first few pupa! I hadn't paid a lot of attention to them the last few days because I have eggs in my incubator, and eggs under two different broodies, all due to hatch this week. Anyways, I looked in today while I was watching an egg pip (they are top of the incubator) and found 5 pupa! And that is only what is on top! I need to sift through and find the rest, but haven't gotten a chance yet. The little buggers still creep me out but my chickens will love me for it, right? LOL

Here is my farm and the pupa that I found (sifting pictures are from more than a week ago):




And the pupa:


And to top the day all off, cuteness is arriving! Too much excitement!

Oh noooooo........dont stop the pictures here. I want to see the rest of the hatching pictures!!!! That is adorable.

 

[DMRippy]

I am thinking about moving my mealies out to the garage for the summer where they will be warmer. Temps out there are approx mid 90's where as in the house it is mid 70's. But I am wondering about when we start the car if the gas fumes would hurt them. We never have the car running in the garage, only long enough to pull it in and out. The mealies would be up on a shelf beside an open window. Anyone have any thoughts or knowledge about this????

I would think it would sweat and cause problems in a window.

 

[SteveBaz]

I now have mostly beetles and new born so do I have to wait until all the eggs start hatching again to feed the worms to the girls?

 

[ChickenWifey]

I am looking to buy some beetles for my mealworm farm. Please contact me if you have some for sale or know someone I can contact. Thanks.

 

[Kassaundra]

I am looking to buy some beetles for my mealworm farm. Please contact me if you have some for sale or know someone I can contact. Thanks.

Your wanting to buy BEETLES specifally??? Most people buy the meal worms. In the first post there is a list of those places that people have had good success purchasing from and those that haven't, but I think all those sell meal worms not beetles.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Meal worms travel better than beetles and beetles are likely to lay during the trip and eggs can be lost. If you purchase meal worms most places sell them when they are about ready to pupate and turn into beetles. Unless someone buys from me, then I send all sizes so all the fun can be enjoyed and you are not sitting there looking at a tub of pupae.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Quote:

If it were to rain in that window they could get too wet and have mold or mildew problems. Moths can get through screen and I have heard they can cause problems in a meal worms bin. Mice are really attracted to meal worms but if it is covered you may not have a problem.
Those are the only concerns I would have other than direct sunlight, which they do not like.