MEALWORMS - Raising Them the Easy Way

[ShaggysGirl]

I just received my 1st meal worm order. I ordered from EBay I got 5000 for about 50.00 with the shipping included. I had them in wheat bran and a 1/2 apple in the containers. I have 4 containers right now and another 4 ready to go if needed.
This last week the chicks were eating the worms right out of my hand and the hand of my 4 year old GD. She was so thrilled over that.

 

[foweler]

Ebay.......doh, why didn't I think of that!

5000. That must sound awesome when you listen to them all slithering. With that many you could feed your chickens every day and maybe not run out before new ones hatch. With 2000 I ran out and the girls are having to wait until these new babies get a bit bigger.

Going out and seeing new baby worms was almost as much fun as finding the girls first eggs!


I'm no expert but yes, you end up with dead beetles, shed skins and frass (poop) and it needs to be cleaned from time to time.

Here's a good link for info on caring for them:

http://www.sialis.org/raisingmealworms.htm

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
I've been raising mealworms for many years, and I have never removed dead beetles and/or shed skins/frass. They find their way down to the bottom of the bin, under the wheat bran. About once year, I screen out as many mealworms and beetles as I can, save those, dump the bin in the garden with lots of small mealworms. After scouring the bin, I put in fresh wheat bran with lots of carrots and start all over.

 

[ShaggysGirl]

Quote:
That what I'm hoping for that they'll last long enough to breed..lol I only have 16 and I bet if I let them they would eat the whole 5000 in a hour

 

[foweler]

Hi Joe
Your thread is what originally set me on a course to raise mealworms and your info was the first I read. Thank you.

I'm on my second try now (I baked the first one in the sun trying to dry out excessive moisture---I forgot about the poor little guys) and just got babies last week.

In both containers though they were/are not churning the meal enough to settle the debris to the bottom and I am getting a slight odor. Not too bad and if I open the lid and air it out for a few daily it seems stable.

But I still have plenty of dead beetles, dead worms, skins, and frass up top as well as mixed in.
I'm going to separate the beetles and worms into two containers and clean everything up once I'm sure I have the cycle established, before I go throwing away any eggs, but I want to see large worms first.


ShaggyGirl
I only have 3 birds but I was giving them a good sized handful every day and noticed that I was running out of worms. I had plenty of beetles so I wasn't too worried. As long as I didn't do anything stupid (like the last time) I would get established and I think that's getting close to happening.

 

[CarlaRiggs]

Where do people order the wheat bran? I've made it before from freshly ground whole wheat flour, but what a hassle!

Would feed stores carry it? I'm clueless about the amount needed for say, 500 worms. I'd just like to get a small amount going...

Thanks!

Carla

 

[ShaggysGirl]

Quote:
We bought ours at a local feed store

 

[espressola]

I bought some wheat bran at our feed store but it was a bit $$ so I found some in the bulk bins at Winco (discount grocery store). Or you can use unmedicated chick starter too I think.... that should be easy to find right now.
Patty N. ;-)

 

[foweler]

I could only find a 50# (about $11 if I remember) bag at my local feed store. I'm sure I could have went to the natural food store and bought 3 or 4 pounds but it would have cost the same as 50.

Needless to say I have a lot of wheat bran.

 

[CarlaRiggs]

You'll have to get some tasty recipes to use all that bran!

Thanks for the information.

Carla