New hens not going into Eglu Go Up

[lillybettybabs]

Live mealworms are the only treat i give my girl but they are so expensive.

So i have decided to set up a farm and feed them on the left-over bits of cereal (the end of a box

and there's not enough for a bowl full) and veg s"Ooops, word censored!"s. Four days later and they have shed the skins and

looking huge. No pupa as yet but fingers crossed in a few months time i will have an abundance of worms

fed on s"Ooops, word censored!"s of food that would have been thrown away.

Edited August 22, 2012 by Guest

[Saronne]

Sounds amazing! Where did you learn about it?

[superkitty]

Ooh yes, I'd love to know more about how you've set that up. I pay a fortune for live mealworms - my 2 girls go through 2.5 kg a month

[lillybettybabs]

I'll take some photos, I have used what i have in the house to keep costs down.

I can't believe how big they have grown, hopefully they will start to pupate soon.

[Lewis]

I did this a couple years ago, they turned into beetles and started again

Are yours in the fridge or not?

 

Mom freaked out and gave the whole lot to the chickens?!

[lillybettybabs]

They are kept on top of the fridge, They are gigantic now!

[The Dogmother]

Darn I forgot to look at them on Saturday does the kitten bother them at all?

[lillybettybabs]

He can't get on top of the fridge thankfully.

They devoured a whole banana skin on one day - becoming big monsters now!

[The Dogmother]

Oh, he will.... just you wait. Won't be long judging by the speed that he legged it up my jeans

[lillybettybabs]

The little darling is having his claws cut tonight!

[The Dogmother]

You'll need full body armour for that, mind you he's young enough to not inflict too much damage.

[lillybettybabs]

Well they have started to pupate now (they look like little aliens ) , I have just filtered all the pupa into a separate container so the beetles can lay their eggs and start the cycle again.

I now have lots of meal worms.

[The Dogmother]

I'll bring a container next time I'm over!

[welovemarmite]

mmmmmm i know where you live now... i may have to come and snaffle some!! he he he

[lillybettybabs]

The beetles are laying eggs all over the egg boxes, I feel i will be over run with them soon so you might

have to come and take some.

[superkitty]

LBB, what have you got them in, on top of the fridge - is it a plastic box with airholes or something similar? Did you just put a bunch of live mealworms in there, with some egg boxes and food? Sorry for all the questions....I'd really like to have a go at 'growing my own' but not sure where to start!

[lillybettybabs]

I have some plastic boxes which i have cut the middle out of the lid to make a frame, i have then used the frame

to secure muslin over the box, i have filled it with weak a bix, porridge etc the some egg boxes. I then give them some succulents two times a week.

When they start to pupate i separate them into another box set up the same, when they hatch the the beetles lay

eggs on the egg boxes then die.

[superkitty]

Excellent, thank you. I might have a go!

[The Dogmother]

Should I bring a bucket at the weekend?

[lillybettybabs]

Well i have my first batch of home reared mealworms growing nicely now, It did take a while to get going

but they will keep the birds happy during their moult.

[scubababe]

Ooooo. I want to give this ago too. sounds ace. Is it something i could do in the shed? A bit worried about setting something like this in the house. Don't think Ofsted or parents would be impressed if I was growing bugs

[lillybettybabs]

They need some warmth but they maybe ok in a shed, word of warning it does take a good few mouths for them

to establish.