Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[PAchickenlover]

How do you get these "worms" started?

I have had them going for a few years now,,,,,,if I remember correctly, I got a container of 100 at petsmart.....I grow them in a dark container in my tv stand,  they seem to prefer it dark, and the heat of the tv always on keeps them toasty.....I use plain old fashioned oatmeal....the tall round container, make sure it is not quick oats.......then about once a week I throw a few carrots in..(I always have packs of those baby carrots, we like to snack on them dipped in peanut butter)...some people use potato or apple or other fruits, but you have to be careful the fruit does not cause mold.

 

How do you get these "worms" started?

It's so simple! Just get a container, fill it about 1-3 inches with rolled oats, get about 1000 mealworms (its just a good starting number), throw em in, and give them a vegetable or fruit (that doesn't easily mold) and you're good. Seperate the different stages about once a week so that they don't eat eachother and in a few months you'll start to get babies.

I do not seperate, and never had a problem.....I keep it simple..

How do you get these "worms" started?

It's so simple! Just get a container, fill it about 1-3 inches with rolled oats, get about 1000 mealworms (its just a good starting number), throw em in, and give them a vegetable or fruit (that doesn't easily mold) and you're good. Seperate the different stages about once a week so that they don't eat eachother and in a few months you'll start to get babies.

Thanks! I will get to work on getting some started. How often do you need to replace the oatmeal? Or do you just add some here and there? What does the oatmeal serve for the mealworms? Is it just for a soft place for them? Sorry about all the questions, but if I am going to do this u need to know a few things. Thanks again..

 

[wingstone]

oatmeal is both bedding and food for mealworms.....some people use chick crumble...just add more as needed...things need to be kept dry...watch for mold

I feed them to the chickens,, and my older brother takes them fishing with him, my neighbor gets them for his critters???some form of lizard...

there's many threads on here about growing mealworms,,,,just like chickens you will hear all different ways..

 

[eweaber]

Hi everyone. I have been MIA for a number of months. Took some time off the chicken addiction to work on some art projects and I started fur trapping. Hope everyone is well.

 

[chippysmom327]

 

How do you get these "worms" started?

It's so simple! Just get a container, fill it about 1-3 inches with rolled oats, get about 1000 mealworms (its just a good starting number), throw em in, and give them a vegetable or fruit (that doesn't easily mold) and you're good. Seperate the different stages about once a week so that they don't eat eachother and in a few months you'll start to get babies.

I do not seperate, and never had a problem.....I keep it simple..

I was thinking about that. I may just separate pupae. My first pupae are really the most crucial that I hatch so that I can get more worms faster. After that I may not seperate. I don't really know yet.

 

[BullChick]

Hi everyone. I have been MIA for a number of months. Took some time off the chicken addiction to work on some art projects and I started fur trapping. Hope everyone is well.

 

[fisherlady]

Hi everyone. I have been MIA for a number of months. Took some time off the chicken addiction to work on some art projects and I started fur trapping. Hope everyone is well.

Glad to see you back!!! So... PICS??? Loved the saw blade work you did before... soooooo????? where are pics of current projects?

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Thanks! I will get to work on getting some started. How often do you need to replace the oatmeal? Or do you just add some here and there? What does the oatmeal serve for the mealworms? Is it just for a soft place for them? Sorry about all the questions, but if I am going to do this u need to know a few things. Thanks again..

I'm glad you asked, I've been very curious too particularly after giving my chickies mealworms. You'd have thought I'd thrown $100 bills! They are like e and I am

 

[LisaYolkUm]

oatmeal is both bedding and food for mealworms.....some people use chick crumble...just add more as needed...things need to be kept dry...watch for mold

I feed them to the chickens,, and my older brother takes them fishing with him, my neighbor gets them for his critters???some form of lizard...

there's many threads on here about growing mealworms,,,,just like chickens you will hear all different ways..

I know raising mealy worms is supposed to be easy............but mine all died!
I had them in the oatmeal and gave them carrots etc........

not sure what went wrong...............

 

[PAchickenlover]

Thanks! I will get to work on getting some started. How often do you need to replace the oatmeal? Or do you just add some here and there? What does the oatmeal serve for the mealworms? Is it just for a soft place for them? Sorry about all the questions, but if I am going to do this u need to know a few things. Thanks again..

I'm glad you asked, I've been very curious too particularly after giving my chickies mealworms. You'd have thought I'd thrown $100 bills! They are like e and I am

Lol, your welcome! I have been wanting to give my chickens some more good treats too..

 

[dheltzel]

I know raising mealy worms is supposed to be easy............but mine all died!
I had them in the oatmeal and gave them carrots etc........

not sure what went wrong...............

The most common cause of failure is too much moisture. Keep the bedding dry. The reason for the carrots/potatoes/etc, is to supply some moisture, but in a form that does not seep in to the bedding. If there is not enough moisture, the adults become more likely to eat the larvae (for their body fluids).

Avoid huge extremes of temperatures, that slows them down more than outright kills them though. They are tough survivors and programmed to reproduce rapidly.

For your initial stock, but them on ebay, that's far cheaper than the pet store. I think there is a seller in northern PA that was the cheapest last time I looked. He'd also be tuned into local weather and not ship with impending "polar vortexes" (still find that term funny because of it's "trendiness").

On a related note, is anyone else concerned about mealworms carrying Mareks disease? That's the only reason I don't raise them anymore.