Mealyworms to raise for feed?

[6chickens in St. Charles]

Does anybody know how to get started on raising mealyworms for chicken feed/supplements?

Somebody else posted about "how to prepare for feed when the economy crashes", and it got me thinking, about putting my little boys to work on something useful. And neat. And with the perfect little boy gross factor

But I could be so proud of them if they could raise treats for the birds! We have only 6 chickens, soon to be 4, it wouldn't be a huge undertaking....

 

[Imp]

Hi 6 chickens.

Here's a thread that I thought was good about mealworms.

Imp

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=74575

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

Thanks Imp!

 

[gsim]

I had some comments for alternatives to try during hard times, which I think we are still heading into, and not out of. If you will do a search on mealyworms you will find sites that sell a starter kit for $25/$30. You keep about 50 to breed the next bunch. Is is cheap, high protein with live enzymes since the worms are alive. It can be done in the house and does not cause odors. Far easier than crickets. I think redworms could be done in the run itself if it is roomy enough. Once you can find alternatives to feed them, you will have a renewable free supply of protein for your chooks year-round. I know I am going to look into starting it. Mine do not free range because I cannot watch them all closely enough. I may some day be forced to do free ranging due to possible runaway inflation.

((Off topic political information edited by Staff--please stay on topic))

 

[dsmoosecountry]

Last spring I bought a thousand meal worms for $28.00. I let them run pupation to beetles, they laid eggs, a LOT of eggs. I'm not sure how many I have now, but it has been said that in ideal conditions one beetle will produce up to 50 eggs. If they only laid 10 that's roughly 10,000 mealworms! The hard part wit them is that they seem to pupate on different cycles, so I have babies, worms, pupai and a second round of beetles.

I have heard that a chicken will eat roughly 80lbs of food in a year. To even get 10 pounds of mealies you would have to have a VERY large amount.

I also have about 7 plastic totes full of redworms. Magnifiacant fertalizer, worm castings, and they seem to grow a little easier. Also they soley eat the horse poo, so they basically cost nothing.

The redworms can also help produce a little income, as many like to buy the castings, or even the worms.

 

[chickbird]

Quote:
when the beetles lay...do they then die??? where did you get the meal worms to start? what are you feeding the meal worms??? do you feed these to the chickens live??they look like they have pinchers and may hurt the chickens???????

 

[Suechick]

Most pet stores carry mealworms, 50 to 100 worms should cost $3 - $7 depending on where you are. They are a common treat for all sorts of reptiles and birds. I have heard that the "super" worms bite, but the smaller variety do not. The beetles for the small mealworms are flightless and also do not bite. They eat wheat bran and oatmeal and I'm not sure what else. I keep a piece of carrot or potato in with them to provide moisture.

I've had mine for about 6 weeks, there are maybe a dozen adults beetles, still some worms, a bunch of Pupae and quite a few who have died at various stages. I think the biggest difficulty to getting a good colony of mealworms is that they like to be warm, like 80 degrees. Mine have been colder, like 65 degrees. Several beetles have deformities, I'm not sure if it's poor genetics or poor conditions.

Here's another thread about mealworms from a couple weeks ago.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=3350974

Oh, yes, feed them to the chickens live. They LOVE 'em, it is definately one of their favorite foods.

 

[huntsman]

Mealworms are a fine source of protein, but are higher in fat than many other feeder insects.

I would recommend roaches which have the same amount of protein with lower fat levels.

They are FAR easier to breed than the worms and breed far quicker too. Dependant on the species, they are simple to contain, - perhaps in a Rubbermaid - and are cheap to feed, with great results. Let's face it, the less work you do with the highest reward is always the best way forward.

I've bred both, as well as crickets, and roaches are the best all round feeder there is, IMO.

Here's my site if you'd like to read more www.saroachman.co.za

 

[dsmoosecountry]

I would think that roaches would be a little more dangerous if they were to get out!!!

Meal worms love oat bran. You can get a 60 pound bag for like $11.00 and if it's kept dry that should last a LONG TIME. They get moisture from apple's sliced in half, or a potaoe sliced in half. I live in dry Colorado, so the potaotes dry out too fast.

I would feed the beetles to the birds. So far I haven't fed mine very many, as I'm trying to get my "worm farm" large enough to not be deminished by what I feed them.

I guess that once t he beetle dies it is still fine to feed the birds. Also, they don't pintch

I like mealies cause if the container is knocked over, I won't have an iffestation, as you might with roaches.

 

[huntsman]

Fair 'nuff, just thought I'd suggest them...