Mealworm farming

[Kassaundra]

So is there no need at all to separate the beetles/eggs/worms? If so..that'll make me very happy...

Absolutely no need.

 

[Slinglings]

so why does everyone keep the separate containers? Insurance against colony loss?

 

[Kassaundra]

so why does everyone keep the separate containers? Insurance against colony loss?

I imagine that is one reason, you can do that by having two (or more) smaller colonies each in it's own bin. Some especially when they first start like the interaction w/ them, when you do one bin you just put food in at first before you start harvesting so there really is minimal interaction. Others just learned it that way and prefer it. I personally do one bin, but am changing to multiple micro colonies (the size of a plastic shoe box) about 16 of them and I am going to keep egg producing adults in the small bin for 1 week at a time, then move them to the next so that all the worms mature at roughly the same age and I will feed out each box during it's "week" (16 wks later) and just keep them rotating. That way I know exactly what I'm feeding out at all times. And my frass and substrate never get old, never have to be cleaned just toss it to the girls and start a new colony that week.

 

[DMRippy]

One reason I keep mine in separate bins is it make it easy to sift out worms all about the same age. I sell a few every once in a blue moon and it makes it easy to sell all stage if needed. Being able to sift out all the worms at the same size also insures there are NO EGGS left behind if there were no beetles.

I can just toss the frass not worries.

 

[cluck-cluck]

I'll be really excited when I finally see obviously new worms in there. Somehow I doubt my beetles are laying (though they probably are??) Poor things have been though a lot

 

[Slinglings]

I'll be really excited when I finally see obviously new worms in there. Somehow I doubt my beetles are laying (though they probably are??) Poor things have been though a lot

The worms are super super tiny when first hatched. I can barely see mine. They may be there and you just can't see them yet!

 

[Kassaundra]

You will see movement long before you see the actual worms.

 

[NCGrammie]

I went to our local TSC for wheat bran and they looked at me like I was nuts! I asked them if it was something I could order and they said no. I don't know where else to look for this, is this something I can buy in the store? Currently I have some oatmeal in there but I'd like to get them what they really like. Any ideas?

 

[DMRippy]

I went to our local TSC for wheat bran and they looked at me like I was nuts! I asked them if it was something I could order and they said no. I don't know where else to look for this, is this something I can buy in the store? Currently I have some oatmeal in there but I'd like to get them what they really like. Any ideas?

I got mine from a coop 3 counties away

 

[Slinglings]

My grocery store sells it --80 cents a lb. In the bulk food section.