Mealworms!

[HenGirl805]

Hello! I was thinking about raising some mealworm. I was wondering...

Can I keep them outside?
What do I feed them?
How many is the minimum?
What should I keep them in?
Other stuff I should know?

 

[featherhead007]

I don't raise them, I buy them. Lost my car, refinanced my house, to pay for them!

 

[Chickassan]

They can live in a big plastic tub, they don't climb well so no worries. Mine are eating flock raiser crumbles and veggie scraps to give them water. I started with 1000, forgot about them they made beetles the beetles laid eggs and iv'e got countless tiny worms now. I would'nt keep them outside, temps need to stay around 80 and stuff will try to eat your worms. Carolina wrens and five lined skinks decimated my superworms so i'm guarding the mealies.

 

[Flamens Farm]

I saw online where people use plastic storage bins about 3 or 4 high and they put them in oatmeal as their food source and add veggie scraps.

 

[Jacquie Button]

Hello, I kept mine is a plastic tub (started with 1000). It was $8. Then when they started the different stages I separated them in a 3 tier container. I eventually moved them outside. Still going strong, I give them bran and veggies and fruit. I got them in Sept 2017 and still on the same batch. But...now I have chickens and I'm dwindling fast!

 

[The Phantom]

Hello! I was thinking about raising some mealworm. I was wondering...

Can I keep them outside?
What do I feed them?
How many is the minimum?
What should I keep them in?
Other stuff I should know?

I kept mine in a tub inside and fed them oatmeal and potatoes. I had egg cartons in there also. I started with 5,000.

 

[The Phantom]

Here is where I got them. The actual worms come from Louisiana. https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=8810

 

[oregonkat]

Hello! I was thinking about raising some mealworm. I was wondering...

Can I keep them outside?
What do I feed them?
How many is the minimum?
What should I keep them in?
Other stuff I should know?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-to-raise-mealworms.48416/ This is a good article. I found it best to keep two tubs going, one for the growing worms and then one for the beetles.

 

[Jacquie Button]

I forgot, I also put in pieces of egg cartons. I found they love bananas and don't care to much for onions. I also have given them bran cereal and oatmeal. They take some time but really not much. I find them like succulents...the more you leave them alone the better!