Sourcing Mealworm in Northumberland area

[Killerbunny]

Very interesting to know, not that I will ever do it, the thought of them getting loose, someone knocking the pail or bucket over is too much for me.

well you just bring the birds in to clean up, no problem!

[WLLady]

okay i have been thinking a lot about starting up a system here, even though i'm not sure i could even handle them! i find them in the garden sometimes and fire them off to the birds....there's are so few places that produce them.....and i just learned that the beetles cannot fly, which makes it a little more attractive to me, nor can they climb non-textured walls to escape. i get the heebie jeebies when i think about it, but maybe something that would make a bit of money for little work? and i can buy bran or oats in bulk easily from the feed store, not a big deal there....
hm......

[Ontario Chick]

The "make a bit of money for little work" statement is a bit worrisome, is there such a thing?
Container full of wriggly things, needs a pretty strong stomach I think

[Jaye]

I have a 6 bin meal worm system, and it does make for less work, but there is still some maintenance involved. The beetles don't fly if they are happy, as in well fed and "watered", but they can if they decide they don like their environment. I've not had any escapees in my setup, so they must think it's alright. Yes, they're creepy, but like anything, you get used to them. I don't mind picking up the worms now, but still can't deal with the beetles. I use sieves to move them if necessary. They also need a regular source of moisture such as potatoes, carrots, broccoli stumps ... I use slices of carrots mostly, although I also use slices of broccoli stumps and sweet potatoes when I have some on hand. I have also used potatoes. It needs to be a veg that isn't too high in moisture because you don't want mold in the bins. Anyway, happy to answer any questions on what works for me, if you're interested.

[Killerbunny]

OK I think we need a tutorial on how to do this!

[Ontario Chick]

Wow @Jaye You are a braver woman then I am, I love my chickens but not that much

[WLLady]

i think i would be better with the beetles than the worms....ug. i just was thinking that so many people want to buy mealworms and i honestly only found about 3 places that sell them that would actually ship to my area. wonder how big a colony it would take to be able to sell small bags of frozen worms? probably quite a bit.....
can't believe i'm thinking of doing this.
we always have carrots on hand (horses), and potatoes-i grow our own and store them so there's always the odd ones that get a little soft. how many worms would i need to do a start up? could i do that with just a couple hundred? i did actually figure out that i would have to buy LIVE worms...um....lol. and i haven't actually found the beetles for sale anywhere, and that the live worms likely would have to ship in spring since they'll die under 40F for a period of time-unless shipped next day fedex or something. and absolutely NOWHERE has live mealworms around me...they're all freezedried in bags....(except possibly Al who is a good hour away now...). hm...i'm guessing the beetles like dark and would likely love egg cartons and stuff to hide under too?

[windwalkingwolf]

At the second annual Lombardy Buy Sell Trade Day, on May 5, there will be a lady there selling mealworm kits, if anyone is interested. The sale is 8-12, go very early if you want good stuff like that. The kits start at $25 if I recall correctly.

[Jaye]

You can start with as few as a hundred to start your own colony, but the more you have to start with the sooner you will have enough to use as feeders once they've completed a life cycle. I can post some good reading resources for you later this evening, but this website I find is a treasure trove of useful information: www.spacecoastmealworms.com. He also has a ton of good YouTube videos on his setup.
Yes, you will want to start with meal worms. You can probably find some reptile feed suppliers in your area that sell them. I started with 1500 and added another 500 a few weeks later (my supplier ran short, so I had to wait for more). The best time to do this is when it's warmer, unless you have a room where you can regulate the temps. Right now I'm not feeding any of mine to the chickens or quail: my colony is just maintaining, no growth or progression through their lifecycle, because our laundry room is the coldest room in the house. And I'm not paying extra hydro to keep the room at 21C + for a bunch of worms. lol.

[Epona]

Thanks Al & Jaye for the great info! I think if I kept the birds confined all year round, I would definitely go that route. The gang seems pretty good at finding insect protein on their own most of the year. The birds free range most months and I just need that added kick to feeding them over the more severe cold months. That Chubby meal worm company had a bag delivered in less than 4 days of ordering them. Thank you everyone for all your help!