Mealworms

[bulldog3817]

Hello everyone!
I am looking into raising mealworms for our chickens. I see everywhere I read what to use as bedding. I have not seen anyone mention using soymeal as bedding. I was thinking about soymeal because it is so cheap. At least here at the co-op in Alabama. I use it as a supplement for our chickens. It is around $15 for a 50lb bag. Something like that. I don’t remember for sure. It lasts a long time because I don’t add much to our feed. Has anyone used soymeal as a substrate for mealworms? Will it work? Thanks!

 

[Kiki]

You feed it to your chickens?
Do you have a link to the product?

 

[bulldog3817]

You feed it to your chickens?
Do you have a link to the product?

I mix it in with their feed to increase the protein level. Doesn’t take much because soy meal is 45% protein. I get it at our local co-op.

 

[bulldog3817]

I mix it in with their feed to increase the protein level. Doesn’t take much because soy meal is 45% protein. I get it at our local co-op.

It is rather fine. Not as fine as flour, but maybe close to cornmeal in grain size. Not as course as cornmeal though.

 

[bearcreekbees]

I use wheat bran in my pupae and mealworm drawers, which I get at the feed store for $11/40 pounds.

I use oatmeal in the beetle drawers for two reasons- 1) I get it for free, and 2) the wheat bran is so fine that it falls through the screened bottoms of my beetle drawers- the coarser oatmeal does not. I don't use oatmeal in the mealworm drawers because it is too coarse- the bran seems to be easier for them to consume.

I think that the soybean meal would not work for me because it is so fine that it would be impossible for me to sift my mealworm drawers without losing the uneaten soybean meal through the sifter. But if you don't sift your drawers/bins or don't care if the SBM goes through the sifter, then I am not sure it matters- other than it is more expensive (in my area at least) than wheat bran so it would not be a good choice for me financially. It is also higher in protein than what mealworms require, but as far as I know that should not harm them.