When can I start feeding mealworms(dried) to chicks?

[Perris]

I tried it last year but it stinks for me to continue. Part of my problem was I did it in the winter season. So it seem like it took half a year to even get 1/2 inch mealworms.

sounds like something wasn't quite right with your set up there. I have found the smell depends a lot on what you give them as greens; e.g. cauliflower is really pongy, and so is mint, but in different directions on the olfactory scale! It's also important to remove anything mouldy as soon as you notice it.

 

[Tonyroo]

sounds like something wasn't quite right with your set up there. I have found the smell depends a lot on what you give them as greens; e.g. cauliflower is really pongy, and so is mint, but in different directions on the olfactory scale! It's also important to remove anything mouldy as soon as you notice it.

Can you list your food items for the mealworms and your general setup and maintenance? Just curious to see a different perspective on managing these buggers.

 

[TropicalBabies]

I feed my chicks mw at a few days also. In nature mom is out there giving them bugs as fast as she can. I'd imagine the protein boost is awesome. I figure I am their mom and they warm up wonderfully with mealworm help and I never, ever have had a problem. I only give between 3-5 worms in the morning and the eves when little and increase qty as they get older, weaning them or just sporadic at about 6 weeks. They are friendly, trained and happy to see me.

I also raise m. worms and absolutely love it. I started with a few hundred. It took me a bit to get my rhythm but once I did it was awesome!
Just keep pluggling along. It's almost as cool as getting eggs... almost.

 

[Perris]

Can you list your food items for the mealworms and your general setup and maintenance? Just curious to see a different perspective on managing these buggers.

the general set up and maintenance is still as described in the thread. For moisture (and sometimes they eat it, don't just suck it) I give them whatever seasonal veg trimmings I have at the time, so at the moment they're getting e.g. outside lettuce leaves, turnip leaves, beetroot leaves, chard, carrot tops, courgette trimmings, radish trimmings, cucumber trimmings etc.

 

[TropicalBabies]

the general set up and maintenance is still as described in the thread. For moisture (and sometimes they eat it, don't just suck it) I give them whatever seasonal veg trimmings I have at the time, so at the moment they're getting e.g. outside lettuce leaves, turnip leaves, beetroot leaves, chard, carrot tops, courgette trimmings, radish trimmings, cucumber trimmings etc.

I like red wheat bran. What are you using for the substraight?
Have you ever had mites?
Sorry hijacking this thread

 

[Perris]

What are you using for the substraight?
Have you ever had mites?

Sorry for the delay in replying; I was out all day yesterday.
I use wheat bran for the substrate (no particular colour). I haven't had mites, but I have had moths. I've learned it's easy to control by keeping the sack top well folded once open, and removing the chrysalises whenever I see one.

 

[TempletonPeck]

I spent a small fortune on dried mealworms for my 7 week olds, knowing that the garden birds loved them so much.
They won’t eat them! They come running to me, all earnest and interested, have one peck, and then retreat in disappointment. If they were human, they would be shaking their heads, sadly.