little chickadee Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 (edited) I've started off my mealworm breeding kit, although to be honest I wouldn't recommend buying the kit, as all you get with the worms is some food and I've been told that you can just give them normal rolled oats and some occaisional pieces of frit/ veg (they eat the oats and get water from the fruit veg) My son is going to be very excited when he gets home but my husband is not impressed as they creep him out! Will let you know how I get on. Edited January 24, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 Looks like an interesting adventure - keep us posted as to how it goes Sadly, there would be a divorce in our house if I suggested doing it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 Where do you get the kit from? Do they all have names? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 eeeuuuuwwwwww They turn into nasty black beetles BTW I remember from when I had an Iguana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted November 12, 2007 Author Share Posted November 12, 2007 I got them from www.wigglywigglers.co.uk but I'd just get some live mealworms and start them off yourself. I can let anyone know what it said in the instructions! When they pupate, you put them into a seperate ice cream tub and then put them into another one (with food) when they turn into beetles. etc etc and give them new feed/bedding once a week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 I remember someone else on here tried that before - the smell put them off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted November 12, 2007 Author Share Posted November 12, 2007 No smell yet, I'll just have to see how I go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 The longer you keep them the more the ammonia starts to build up but maybe that was just because I never moved them out of their original boxes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 Interesting... I don't think I'd want to do that though, knowing my luck I'd drop them on the floor! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted November 12, 2007 Author Share Posted November 12, 2007 I'm planning to clear them out once a week with my son, so I'm imagining the smell won't build up then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 I tried to do this last year and it turned into a big smelly mess, if you let them hatch into beetles they are horrible...........Keep a close eye on it and good luck hope you do better than I did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 It must've been you I remembered then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 I hope no-one mistakes that tub for muesli Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prongs Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 They're yucky - I dont know why anyone would want to breed them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted November 12, 2007 Author Share Posted November 12, 2007 I want to breed them because my chickens adore them and they cost too much to buy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 Lesley-Jean tried too - and failed/gave up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfrock Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 I can't even bring myself to buy a tub of the dried ones because they make my skin crawl so the thought of real live ones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted November 12, 2007 Author Share Posted November 12, 2007 Hopefully I will triumph where others have failed! I'll give it a go anyway. I've got a very helpful 6yr old to help me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 A mealworm farm and a 6 year old - yep, I think that will work. I could see it appealing to my 5 year old anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 He'd love it Snowy.. that's until his angelic little brother knocked them on the floor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted November 12, 2007 Author Share Posted November 12, 2007 I need to point out I'm not planning on farming the little critters to sell, just to give to the chooks! Although my son maybe has bigger ideas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 Good on you but rather you than me. I can cope with the dead dried ones but I tried to give the girls live ones once and nearly died of the creeps trying to hold the box. Just awful!! Girls loved them and they are horendously expensive, I could NOT have live meal worms in my house. That's like when OH has asked (very rarely) to keep maggots in the fridge. It sounds like you're planning to keep them even when they turn into bugs?! And if anything turned into a big black beetle in my house, well I have big black boots and I'm afraid (sorry any sensitive souls, veggies or otherwise nice people) I would have to stamp on them (and I HATE killing things!) Mrs Bertie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted November 12, 2007 Author Share Posted November 12, 2007 I'm told by the friendly people at wiggly wigglers that the beetles dont' fly and don't even need a lid to the tub (although mine will have as the children might accidently knock them all over the place!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 I hope no-one mistakes that tub for muesli Or a tub of 'Car Door' ice!!!scream Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...