What made you happy today?

[MROO]

There's only about 6" on the ground here, but it's treacherous bc it's layered. We first got a couple of inches of snow, then a layer of sleet, topped by more snow. So it just looks like snow, but when you try to walk on it, surprise, it slip-slides out from under you. DH doesn't want me out there on it at all.

Listen to him! Even today, with the sun shining again, that ice layer is down below. Be careful!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

My dear, dear, DH shoveled me a path to the hen house for my safety ...

... and Merida the Brave, my SS, came out into the sunshine to greet me. I'm VERY happy!

 

[SkyAJK]

Mealworms are easy to raise. Give it a try!

At the moment my sick hen Mint now decided she is not eating bugs anymore, so the mealworms are growing in the containers.

Can I let these grow and lay eggs? I added oat and potato piece to feed them. I would love to grow them as they are hefty price.

 

[SkyAJK]

I am happy today from hearing on the news that the extreme heat is over today.... today we will have 30C=86F, the heat is much lower than yesterday.

 

[MROO]

At the moment my sick hen Mint now decided she is not eating bugs anymore, so the mealworms are growing in the containers.

Can I let these grow and lay eggs? I added oat and potato piece to feed them. I would love to grow them as they are hefty price.

As long as you didn't buy "treated" mealworms (the ones dusted with vitamins for birds or lizards,) you've officially got yourself a mealworm farm! There are good ideas on how to set one up in pretty much any sort of space, right here on BYC. I've used a terrarium (pretty, but hard to maintain without mildew,) several different types of plastic containers and a two-gallon aquarium with a few inches of dry oats and the bottom portion of an egg carton.
The egg carton aquarium worked best, but my favorite was a big, cracked bowl that I didn't want to throw out but could no longer use for its intended purpose. I kept it out on my kitchen counter, where it was pretty much ignored by everyone until my mother visited. I wish I'd had a camera on her reaction ... it was priceless!

 

[SkyAJK]

As long as you didn't buy "treated" mealworms (the ones dusted with vitamins for birds or lizards,) you've officially got yourself a mealworm farm! There are good ideas on how to set one up in pretty much any sort of space, right here on BYC. I've used a terrarium (pretty, but hard to maintain without mildew,) several different types of plastic containers and a two-gallon aquarium with a few inches of dry oats and the bottom portion of an egg carton.
The egg carton aquarium worked best, but my favorite was a big, cracked bowl that I didn't want to throw out but could no longer use for its intended purpose. I kept it out on my kitchen counter, where it was pretty much ignored by everyone until my mother visited. I wish I'd had a camera on her reaction ... it was priceless!

The mealworms I got was from a farm produce shop, it is in a take away plastic container, they have wheat bran and mealworms without any specific details of what in there except mealworms 100g so I have no idea what other things in there - are they treated or not. I will give it a try nevertheless.

I will find that BYC article on mealworms and start on it. Thank you.

 

[MROO]

The mealworms I got was from a farm produce shop, it is in a take away plastic container, they have wheat bran and mealworms without any specific details of what in there except mealworms 100g so I have no idea what other things in there - are they treated or not. I will give it a try nevertheless.

I will find that BYC article on mealworms and start on it. Thank you.

If it doesn't say they're treated, they're likely not. Go for it!

 

[SkyAJK]

If it doesn't say they're treated, they're likely not. Go for it!

I read the article How ti Raise Mealworms on here BYC. I have a question, but I noticed the author has not been online since October 2025. You raise mealworms so you might be able to help me, thanks.

A few days after I added in a piece of cut uncooked potato, the inside lid of the mealworms container has steam on it. Is this mean that container has too much moisture?

Will too much moisture ruin the whole thing?

There are some mealworms that look like they are dead, the whole worm turned black and like a stick frozen. Is this mean something wrong with their enviroment?

I have an old small fish tank that I will use to rehome these mealworms into.

 

[MROO]

I read the article How ti Raise Mealworms on here BYC. I have a question, but I noticed the author has not been online since October 2025. You raise mealworms so you might be able to help me, thanks.

A few days after I added in a piece of cut uncooked potato, the inside lid of the mealworms container has steam on it. Is this mean that container has too much moisture?

Will too much moisture ruin the whole thing?

There are some mealworms that look like they are dead, the whole worm turned black and like a stick frozen. Is this mean something wrong with their enviroment?

I have an old small fish tank that I will use to rehome these mealworms into.

Good call, that's exactly what's wrong! The black "sticks" are dead worms. Pupae are golden-tan and chubby.

If the sides of your container are smooth and vertical, you don't really need a lid. Mealworms are the larvae of darkling beetles, which can't fly (and don't bite) and neither the larvae nor the adults can climb smooth sides, so they won't escape. If you're more comfortable with a lid, then you'll need LOTS of ventilation. For my first box, I used the tip of a hot glue gun to melt holes all over the top and up high on the sides - worked like a charm!

For the mini aquarium, I fitted the top with a piece of window screen mesh, not to keep the critters in, but to keep my cats out! Apparently, darkling beetles are great fun to pull out and chase - a lesson I learned the hard way when my worms were in an open bowl!

Whatever you use, make sure it's clean and dry before starting over. You want to make sure there's no mold or mildew left. Then you can simply sort out the live mealworms and put them in their new home with fresh food. They don't need water. They'll get all they need from a slice of potato or apple.

Good Luck!

EDIT To Add: And there's my "What Made You Happy Today?" response. I got to help someone get started on a project that will save a lot of money and make for some very happy chickens. It feels good to help!

 

[EmmaDonovan]

One of our EEs is our only blue egger. She has never laid very often and hasn't laid in almost a year. She laid a beautiful blue egg at 3:30 this morning, while she was asleep on the roost. The egg fell 2' onto the dirt floor and didn't break! She never even opened her eyes.