Mealworm farming

[Slinglings]

I can’t take a picture of my mystery beetles because I already fed them to my chickens, but they did not look like the picture posted above.
I’ve done a fair amount of research online about breeding mealworms and I ran across a “system” where you place the beetles in a container with a window screen bottom with another bin underneath. The eggs are supposed to fall through the screen and into the lower bin. This prevents the beetles from eating the eggs and small mealworms. Has anyone tried this, or do you think it would work? It sounds like an easy way to separate the beetles from baby mealworms.

my system was somewhat similar--it was a mesh basket inside of a dishpan, so all of the small stuff fell through. It worked fine..then I got a mite infestation and dumped the whole thing out. I will try again in the spring

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I can’t take a picture of my mystery beetles because I already fed them to my chickens, but they did not look like the picture posted above.
I’ve done a fair amount of research online about breeding mealworms and I ran across a “system” where you place the beetles in a container with a window screen bottom with another bin underneath. The eggs are supposed to fall through the screen and into the lower bin. This prevents the beetles from eating the eggs and small mealworms. Has anyone tried this, or do you think it would work? It sounds like an easy way to separate the beetles from baby mealworms.

Many of us are using this method with good results.

 

[lbrtyldy]

I agree that nuking anything is not a good idea. My family is pretty much used to the idea that I banished the nuker. I read somewhere a long time ago that it changes the molecular structure of your food. That just seems soooo wrong to me so out it went.

 

[lbrtyldy]

Whoops I should have quoted the post (from a long time ago!) that I was concurring with. Regarding whether to freeze or nuke your wheat bran or other food source so as not to get mites or other non-mealworm creepy crawlies.

 

[lbrtyldy]

Just got an order of 1000 worms/pupae/beetles from crazy huhn. OMG, the ick factor is really really high right now. The worms were all over the inside of the shipping bag so I had to get right in there and start handling them, much to my chagrin! Then one fell off the kitchen table onto my foot! Ugh! Then a beetle clung to my finger - that just about pushed me over the edge into insanity but I think I've recovered, for the most part. There was only one dead worm which is pretty amazing and they made it from San Diego to NH in 2 days!

I'm going to add more organic wheat bran. They don't seem to be going crazy for the food I put in on little pieces of newspaper - celery, carrots, apples. I thought I've give them choices but there are some on them but not covered like in some pics I've seen. I am really looking forward to having tons of them to feed my girls!

I bought a 5 drawer system and hope to fill it right on up! I know it will take some time, but I can try to be patient!

This forum has been amazing - thanks for all the helpful hints and encouragement.

 

[DMRippy]

Just got an order of 1000 worms/pupae/beetles from crazy huhn. OMG, the ick factor is really really high right now. The worms were all over the inside of the shipping bag so I had to get right in there and start handling them, much to my chagrin! Then one fell off the kitchen table onto my foot! Ugh! Then a beetle clung to my finger - that just about pushed me over the edge into insanity but I think I've recovered, for the most part. There was only one dead worm which is pretty amazing and they made it from San Diego to NH in 2 days!

I'm going to add more organic wheat bran. They don't seem to be going crazy for the food I put in on little pieces of newspaper - celery, carrots, apples. I thought I've give them choices but there are some on them but not covered like in some pics I've seen. I am really looking forward to having tons of them to feed my girls!

I bought a 5 drawer system and hope to fill it right on up! I know it will take some time, but I can try to be patient!

This forum has been amazing - thanks for all the helpful hints and encouragement.

I sold 2 sets of starter worm/beetles/pupae and they both kinda had ick factors too...... BOTH DUMPED them in the chickens pens. I don't really have any yuck factor with them. I just set and forget!

 

[ekofke201]

We are raising mealworms in my second grade classroom as a part of our unit on insects... I would like to start raising my own for my girls, but am unsure if I should use these as they came from a lab and they have been exposed to 26 germy seven year olds. Where does everyone get their "starter set" of mealworms for their farms?

 

[lbrtyldy]

We are raising mealworms in my second grade classroom as a part of our unit on insects... I would like to start raising my own for my girls, but am unsure if I should use these as they came from a lab and they have been exposed to 26 germy seven year olds. Where does everyone get their "starter set" of mealworms for their farms?

Got my starter kit from crazy huhn on this thread. Plus I don't know if being exposed to a bunch of germy kids would really be so bad for the mealworms? I would use them and see how it goes.

 

[onafixedincome]

Wow. I need to move my worms in--it just decided to get WINTER here with a fast hard dip to 32*. Hope they didn't all croak last night! They're in the garage, so I might have gotten lucky. Maybe.

Wish me luck....

 

[DMRippy]

Finally I had time today to work on my worms. I got everyone sorted and put in new bins and moved on top of the incubator... since it is not looking like I will turn it off.

Pleased with myself I am.

Now I just have to go and pick the turnips for my winter stash.... they were out of food too.