Starting a meal worm farm

[kardar2]

I am watching YouTube and learning what I need to do. Where would I buy meal worms. How many should I start out with? Looks like they multiply a lot.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

If you want to get going fast, I'd start with at least 1000. You can start with any number but if you only have a small batch it will take a long time to have a significant number for feeding.
The online version of some pet stores sell in large volumes for pretty cheap.

Then there's this.
http://www.rainbowmealworms.net/shop-mealworms/

https://www.timberlinefisheries.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=1829

 

[ImNotYogi]

I started mine with 2500. Depending on how many chicks you have they can go pretty fast. You also have to account for the time it takes for then to mature and death rate before they mature/reproduce. Some people separate each stage or just take the beetles out. If you don't then there's a certain level of cannibalism to be expected though it can be offset by providing enough greens, carrots, ect. It's very tedious to separate everything though.I used to when I first started mine but have since gotten lazy. They're very easy to raise.

 

[kardar2]

Thanks I have 20 hens so how many should I start out with?

 

[ImNotYogi]

I'd go with at least 5000.

 

[kardar2]

So how many worms can I put in one tray?

 

[ImNotYogi]

I just keep mine in one rubbermaid tote.

 

[kardar2]

I just keep mine in one rubbermaid tote. 

ok thanks can you put up pictures or video of your setup? Thanks I have been watching video and some people cut out the bottom of the beetle drawer so the eggs fall through. So do you have a set up with big totes like that?. I am going shopping and look at totes thanks again

 

[eviemethugh]

I think I'm not yogi is saying they don't seperate at all, the whole operation is in a single storage tub. Worms, pupae, beetles and all.
We leave everything in one tub but then maybe 2-4 times a year we strain the beetles out into a fresh tub, the biggest worms and pupae end up going with them also but we figure that just keeps up the beetle population. All the eggs and substrate and most sizes of worms end up in the old bucket for feeding. When we run out, we just strain again.
We started with 3000 and it took 4-6 months before we felt like we could pull worms out to feed to the chickens. It took about 1 month to get our first beetle and then the additional time was for laying eggs and the worms to be big enough to really see/use.
We started off separating everything out, but then beetles started escaping their 3" home. It was exciting to see the different stages at first, but escapee beetles...we just dumped everything into the storage tub!! Haha!! No more escapees.

 

[kardar2]

Oh I read that theyou will eat on each other and you lose a a lot. Hmm okay thanks