Why raise meal worms?

[countrygoddess]

Well seems like I am about to become a meal worm farmer! My gals (lets hope they are gals!) are 5 weeks and the rest are 2-4 weeks, when should they start eating these. I am also still a little unclear about if they are treats or a source of protein? The feed store I bought the chicks from are seriously letting me down! The basically gave me the medicated starter feed and shoved me out of the door with a " you will be fine!" but I dont want to be "fine" I am trying to give these little beasts my best! Thanks for the help

I gave my chicks their first live meal worms when they were two days old. They chased each other around for them and then swallowed them whole! I give as a supplemental source of protein, particularly during the winter when they can't forage for bugs.

 

[ChickensRDinos]

Oh! I like the three-drawer bin idea! I've got one of those. If I transferred them in, I could grow a lot more and they wouldn't be as crowded. And yes, knowing what they're eating is a bonus. I make my own organic, non-GMO chicken feed because my family and I DO NOT do soy and the soy in commercial chicken feed is found in their flesh and eggs. The hot cereal I use is organic and 5-grain as opposed to the 7-grain I also found at the store because the 7-grain included soy.

I am very happy with the three drawers. I actually separate out the beetles from the worms so I can provide them a slightly different environment and keep everyone a little less crowded. I am way too into this.

I just now started red worms so that is my new experiment.

 

[ChickensRDinos]

Well seems like I am about to become a meal worm farmer! My gals (lets hope they are gals!) are 5 weeks and the rest are 2-4 weeks, when should they start eating these. I am also still a little unclear about if they are treats or a source of protein? The feed store I bought the chicks from are seriously letting me down! The basically gave me the medicated starter feed and shoved me out of the door with a " you will be fine!" but I dont want to be "fine" I am trying to give these little beasts my best! Thanks for the help

I use them as a treat. Any chicken feed you buy is going to have protein and if you are mixing your own you should be mixing it with a high enough protein percentage in mind. Great healthy snack as part of any overall balanced diet is what I would recommend. What kind of feed are you planning on using?

 

[countrygoddess]

I am very happy with the three drawers. I actually separate out the beetles from the worms so I can provide them a slightly different environment and keep everyone a little less crowded. I am way too into this.

I just now started red worms so that is my new experiment.

Red worms! Yes! I've been wanting to do those, too! I thought I might try Black Soldier Flies, but they aren't native here so I would have always buy a new supply every year after winter die-off. Instead, my husband and I made a maggot bucket into which we put everything you would normally throw away after processing chickens for the freezer. We have individual frozen bags of that stuff and we thaw and refresh the bucket with it throughout the summer. The chickens go crazy for the "treat dispenser"!

 

[k8beane]

Does anyone know if I could use aluminum trays for raising mealworms? I have 1000 coming in the mail on Saturday and I just found 3 large aluminum trays laying around. I wonder if I could use them instead of plastic bins. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Liberty Nursery]

My chicken run was built over my Red Worm compost. Eventually my chickens got sick of eating them and when they find on while scratching they ignore it. Not saying that will happen to everyone, and if your chickens get sick of them they are very useful in many other ways. You can use their castings to grow other things for feed.

I am considering raising meal worms after reading this thread, even skittish leghorns will fly up into my arms if I am holding meal worms.

 

[mrsc1951]

k8beane, I would not consider the aluminum trays unless they have covers. They do prefer the dark and many people simply put a layer of newspaper over them. You do want to make sure they stay contained and if using them outdoors, the trays may not keep uninvited guests out. Also

. There is an entire thread devoted to meal worm farming on here; just type in raising meal worms in the search bar. Lots and lots of good information.

 

[WNYchick]

I just started raising mealworms for my girls. I figured I could start them now while they can forage for bugs in the yard and by the time the winter hits I will have plenty for them then.
This is my first attempt with these critters, but I am using the 3 drawer bin (got mine at Wally-world) and am using chick food left over since I switched over to layer pellets last week. I put about 2" of feed in the bottom with a plastic lid to hold the carrot or potato so the moisture doesn't cause the feed to mold.
I plan on (time allowing...) to separate the life cycles (hence the 3 drawers), but seeing as how I just got my wormies yesterday it will probably be a while before I have that honor...
I got my worms online through Uncle Jim's worm farm in PA. I went through them for my red wigglers for my compost bin and have been happy with their service and pricing.
Wish me luck, and good luck with all of your worm farms!

 

[MelissaTXRn]

My girls love mealworms and they don't take much to live. I use wheat bran and carrots. Easy peasy. Here's where I got all my info

http://www.sialis.org/raisingmealworms.htm

 

[BackyardChick12]

I had neighbors that raised chickens, & at first I was buying big buckets of roasted ones to hand them out for treats. That was $30 a pop, & found it was MUCH cheaper to raise some (they're not hard to raise either!). They always looked forward to my visits, & one day, while I was giving them hand-outs, my favorite chicken in their flock was getting a bit antsy because she didn't want to wait for her turn, so she pants me . (I lost a lot of weight) In a nutshell, raising mealworms is cheep, easy, & your flock will thank you in their own special way!!