San Diego Chicken meetup and Chat thread

[perchie.girl]

Quote: If its her she may meet you half way...

You know if you are willing to give the process a try they are very easy to raise yourself..... There are several DIY youTube videos showing methodology. Many Herpetology hobbiests raise em too.

deb

 

[vannaHaines]

A little unrelated, but I raise a small batch of mealworms. I recently discovered they've been infested with ants during this hot weather. Should I worry about the ants destroying my crop and if so, what is the best way to filter out my worms and beetles from those darn ants?

Thanks!

 

[UrbanFarmOC]

Quote: It's not local to you and you'd pay for shipping, but I've ordered worms a few times via Rainbow Mealworms and have been happy with their worms. They're definitely way cheaper than the pet store and have better quality worms.They occasionally have 10% off or free shipping coupons. Also, you might want to consider ordering more than you think you need. I was being conservative at first and only ordered 1000, but I discovered it wasn't enough to raise and feed the chickens, so I ordered more. I also ordered a couple more times when I had sick chickens that weren't interested in eating anything except worms. If I were to start over raising mealies, I'd order 5000 or more off the bat.

 

[UrbanFarmOC]

A little unrelated, but I raise a small batch of mealworms. I recently discovered they've been infested with ants during this hot weather. Should I worry about the ants destroying my crop and if so, what is the best way to filter out my worms and beetles from those darn ants?

Thanks!

Definitely worry about the ants! Ants have attacked my mealies many times. They killed and ate many when I didn't discover the infestation in time. I don't know the best way, because what kills the ants can kill the worms too. I generally try to destroy the ants outside of the box and the ant trail. As they get disturbed, I spray a towel with Trader Joe's cleaning spray, which I find to be an excellent ant killer, and wipe down the sides of the box repeatly. As ants climb on top of paper and veggies in the mealie box, I toss them out too. Getting rid of the ants is a PITA. Afterwards, I put DE around the box.

 

[vannaHaines]

Definitely worry about the ants! Ants have attacked my mealies many times. They killed and ate many when I didn't discover the infestation in time. I don't know the best way, because what kills the ants can kill the worms too. I generally try to destroy the ants outside of the box and the ant trail. As they get disturbed, I spray a towel with Trader Joe's cleaning spray, which I find to be an excellent ant killer, and wipe down the sides of the box repeatly. As ants climb on top of paper and veggies in the mealie box, I toss them out too. Getting rid of the ants is a PITA. Afterwards, I put DE around the box.

*sigh* Guess I'm gonna have to fish my worms and beetles out....darn ants!!!!!

 

[UrbanFarmOC]

Quote: Also, look for the mealworm thread. The folks there might have other suggestions.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
I used to be able to get ants out of the cereal when I was a teen.... it was a matter of whacking the box till they started exiting stage left... then killed the buggers with windex on a cloth. Removing the meal worms with a sifter may help shake out the ants and toss All the grow medium..... once you get them eradicated Isolated your meal worm bin so that no ant can make a trail to it.

Like setting the bin in a tray of water....

deb

 

[sweetlife]

It's not local to you and you'd pay for shipping, but I've ordered worms a few times via Rainbow Mealworms and have been happy with their worms. They're definitely way cheaper than the pet store and have better quality worms.They occasionally have 10% off or free shipping coupons. Also, you might want to consider ordering more than you think you need. I was being conservative at first and only ordered 1000, but I discovered it wasn't enough to raise and feed the chickens, so I ordered more. I also ordered a couple more times when I had sick chickens that weren't interested in eating anything except worms. If I were to start over raising mealies, I'd order 5000 or more off the bat. 

Thanks Deb and urbanfarmoc...i looked up Rainbow meal worms is only 20 miles from

 

[UrbanFarmOC]

Speaking of rainbow mealworms, I just got a promotional email from them....

15% off. Code: CHRISTMASINJULY

http://www.rainbowmealworms.net/

 

[perchie.girl]

Speaking of rainbow mealworms, I just got a promotional email from them....



15% off. Code: CHRISTMASINJULY

http://www.rainbowmealworms.net/

Oooh they have something Called Pheonix Worms.... Which are Soldier fly larva.... They are excellent composters for the home compost bin.... for the stuff from the kitchen. They eat protiens and fats and turn in to Soldier Flies. Which in of them selves act like a fly deterrent...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermetia_illucens

Thanks for sharing this link... I was planing on building a soldier fly composter in order to give my poultry some live food...

deb