How to be overrun with black soldier fly larvae

[@justinwithrow3616]

While watching this on my computer desk, about half way through the video I look behind me to see all 15 of my chickens staring in the window fervently...

[@brianandlynphilippines]

I read "children" at first, had to do a double take on that number!

[@inlovewithhumans]

Hahahahahahaha

[@RockingtheBody]

haha

[@jedone11]

ahaha so funny :-)

[@kevreilly7]

Licking their cops. Lol

[@ramzeneger]

More power to you and God Bless! Thank you for the Philanthropic effort for making the farm and videotaping them and publishing. You said "thanks for watching" You are wrong, WE THANK YOU for the effort and being selfless and helping a lot of people. Thank you and God Bless!

[@ezekielshija9251]

You are so blessed Ram

[@areyouentertained2944]

So, essentially you are The Lord Of The Flies!

[@setserc]

Nice work. It looks like your operation has grown since I was there a Couple of years ago. I need to get some flies going again for my inner city chicks. It’s basically free food, super high in protein, and easy to grow. I don’t have any indoor areas to keep them growing year round. Thanks for continuing to post videos. The information is always appreciated.

[@adddad9779]

You have created the beginning of an excellent aquaponics system. Tilapia would help you with your overcrowding larvae issue. Tilapia poop would make great plant food...

[@artbyrobot1]

yup

[@rellewilson7814]

Oh my god that room would be disneyworld for my dragons lol

[@Zuhri9]

when you go to DisneyWorld, do you eat a lot?

[@josefaure8410]

Hey! So the barley you use is coming from a brewery? and another question, what's inside the buckets underneath the egg laying blocks? Also, do you keep the mesh in those buckets because of the fruit flies?

[@omniXenderman]

Dude you need to sell these to bait shops, pet stores, reptile wholesalers, also dry them out and grind them into powder and sell insect flour to aquaculture companies

[@TimothyEdgin]

Honestly, you need to scale up as quickly as possible and try to get a contract with a feedlot. This will produce far better chicken and fish than corn alone (I think a mix would be perfect), and it can also enrich the local environment. I would even considering applying for a government grant to hire some full time people and get a dedicated building: Cargill might even be open to seed funding you, and if we can steer them to sustainable foods like this I am all for it. Insect numbers are plummeting and I do not see why every farm does not have at least a worm farm, beehive and robber fly farm.

[@Biophotogenesis]

I'm starting a black soldier fly and worm bins but robber flies sound amazing. I can't seem to find any information about anyone farming them whatsoever though, or where to buy their larvae though. :(

[@Padriom]

@@Biophotogenesis hey, i've found this article, it might help you out! Greetings from Brazil! www.eawag.ch/en/department/sandec/projects/mswm/black-soldier-fly-biowaste-processing/

[@RockingtheBody]

Love these ideas

[@TimothyEdgin]

@@Biophotogenesis You do not want robber flies around too much! Trust me on that.

[@TimothyEdgin]

@@RockingtheBody Insects are key to our survival-can't go to space without them.

[@firewheelfarm7095]

Have you thought of playing some Barry White in the love room? Might help them to get in the mood!

[@TimothyEdgin]

You could bring in a couple chickens to help you clean the floor of bugs and debri. And nothing wrong with letting some escape: they benefit the environment in many ways. Farming these is a no lose situation. This is the perfect insect to farm; coupled with worms you have a nice setup.

[@NWRedworms]

The chickens are at the door every morning eating the flies on the floor.

[@George-zr3vn]

What about using a shopvac to get the larvae and extra flies sucked up quick?

[@martianusharijadi6747]

What media do the black soldier fly larva feed use?

[@aminaomegbu2612]

Very educative n quite encouraging for small scale organic farmers. Weldon. I suggest u regularly sort them according to size for quality sales presentation. It will also promote uniformity n quicker, robust pre- pupa stage production.

[@Michael-vo3tk]

wonderful, thank you for this. you mentioned some points I've not heard elsewhere. very helpful, thank you.

[@moondazed5451]

Do you feed them anything else besides barley? I'm curious how you separate them from the barley.

[@vincentbrown8182]

You are awesome... resourceful... I'd personally come to help you... I'm pretty handy. 101st Airborne... Screaming Eagles Vet... I've used 5hrs watching Soldier fly harvesting... its a joy... I just learned today...its satisfying

[@teresadavis9283]

Amazing! But I have a question: How do they drink water without a mouth? Or do they absorb the water through their skin?

[@NWRedworms]

I don't know, I spray the flies with a mist and it looks like they are drinking.

[@peacetham83]

Do you have video on your harvesting the bsf eggs? How do you do it?

[@Paquitatravelcompanion]

How do you keep the tiny larvae from leaving the bin?

[@kevreilly7]

Do you want to keep the flys around the bin as long as possible??? How do you keep the system going for as long as possible? I seem to get one good batch then have to keep waiting for more....

[@NWRedworms]

The flies only live for 8 days and can lay eggs for only 2-3 days. I have indoor tents to keep them around as long as possible.

[@kevreilly7]

@@NWRedworms thx,,I just keep it covered as much as possible

[@rochrich1223]

I've seen some videos of bees over wintering inside a shed. The CO2 levels have to be managed in order to avoid it getting too dangerous(for humans). Have you ever measured the CO2 in your operation?

[@highwaytoquail754]

Throw a few big leaf plants in there and CO2 should be a non issue.

[@LatinDanceVideos]

A little ventilation would make the co2 a non issue. Good point tho as it is an unexpected issue

[@steph6337]

You: "take these to the fly room" Me: "wait, what? This isn't the fly room" When you opened that door: 🤯

[@steveholloway6151]

impressive, Pet Smart on meal worms was like 9.99 a small cup. i been growing my own for a while in small buckets for my chickens and fishing!

[@tmo4330]

I feed my soldier fly grubs to me fish. 2 acre pond full of bluegill and bass. Nearly 300 pounds of bluegill harvest this year.

[@fredflintstone1547]

you would experience a greater return if you got rid of the bass and introduced catfish to feed on the bream

[@tmo4330]

@@fredflintstone1547 Thanks, I do want to find ways to increase the pounds of fillets! Great comment!

[@VickiBrun]

Are you feeding them wheat? I might have missed this part in the video what you are feeding them.

[@ashleiwilliams447]

How much would you charge? I'm looking at starting a colony.

[@orangefool1527]

This video did not disappoint, he has truly been overrun.

[@adisbern]

Whats the size of those wood bricks used for the Eggs?

[@dragowoo]

How do you prevent grain mites/fruit flies in your farms? I have been trying to start my own edible insect farms (mealworms, crickets, BSF) but i have problems with grain mites every single time! I live in a tropical country with average humidity around 70%. I've tried freezing and toasting the grains I feed them. I feel helpless no matter what I do and restart the grain mites infestations always come back!

[@NWRedworms]

I get grain mites and they are tough to deal with. I have a dehumidifier running all the time in the larva area to keep them from spreading and I sift out the mites once I isolate the bins.

[@FusionDeveloper]

Me too. I hate grain mites. They eat mealworm eggs. If you're not getting any babies, you probably have mites eating the eggs.

[@jamesp2391]

I bet the chickens would go crazy in there. They would clean up everything on the floor for sure.

[@tonyhussey3610]

James P I thought the same, if I had a favourite chicken I would let her clean up as a treat..

[@quangga1993]

Sorry Mr. Can you teach me about the light and humidity in your flying room ? how many hour light a day ? And thank for your video.

[@bravetang8]

Have you had any issues with wipeouts due to disease? Late July, I went from around 1 pound harvests per day to zero almost overnight and it has not improved ever since. New larvae were growing but they died before reaching maturity. No changes in food scrap composition, and I monitored temperature/humidity carefully.

[@NWRedworms]

when I first started I would have see this in some of my bins, and I had to clean them out. I started keeping multiple bins to keep them newer/younger. It could be mites or mold, both can cause problems.

[@tomquintero7583]

Probably ventilation may help, it helped me with my super worm breeding a small fan blowing over them.

[@themeeshies4810]

How much compost/feed do you have to give them and how regular?

[@davidgibson1638]

How do you prep/soak your barley to get an acceptable moisture content? It doesn't seem to be a soggy mess and larvae don't appear to be able to crawl out but I'm assuming your bins aren't completely dry either. Thanks for sharing the videos and knowledge!!

[@NWRedworms]

this is the way I get it from the brewery

[@king_kwang]

Hi excuse me im 6 years late, do you soak the barley before feeding?

[@NWRedworms]

I use spent barley that is already soaked. It doesn't last long, so I have to pick up fresh barley every week.

[@roisinr407]

Hi, I live in Chile and am really struggling to find the right lighting. What are you using?!😊

[@NWRedworms]

this is what I use: insectsatlarge.com/allcategoryfarmproducts/blacksoldierflybreedinglight-5d47m

[@regissoulieres6000]

what do you use as a substrate for your larvae? you do not seem to have any problem escaping larvae before it is mature. at my house he gets out of my bins in quantity every day. thank you

[@FusionDeveloper]

He uses Used/spent barley grain from a brewery. However they can subsist on used coffee grounds.

[@highwaytoquail754]

Have you considered selling on Amazon or Etsy? There are sellers on there, and they get good money for their larva. I know cause I need to buy some and price is a factor indeed.

[@sisterlavender1188]

Hi. Great video. Why do you put the adult flies in a separate room? Nvm. I guess it's bc of different light needs

[@NWRedworms]

yes, light, temp and moisture.

[@gelif1132]

what kind of lightning you use for the breeding room? and many hours you turn on the light?thank you

[@marcotattoo]

Hello! whats the media that u are using for the babys, it looks like sawdust, what is it?! cheers ;)

[@QuiChiYang2]

OMG, you are da Lord of da BSF. Dude you are rich. You have a full fledged business. Just streamline & tidy up a bit & you can make money sustaining 7 nearby organic poultry, pig, quail, grouse farms. Local waste management sites maintaining food waste. Restaurants will love this system. You SHOULD GET GOVERNMENT MONEY to scale this system UP!

[@arifulhaque631]

what is the room temperature & humidity should keep always for black soldier flies also learves?

[@rebeccaallsteadt4505]

Wow good video. I am half way threw watching and wondering what are u feeding them. I would be baking them til crispy and bagging those things up lol. I want to do this in Alaska for to store up for my pigs, chickens, fish, and quail. I'm so impressed 😊

[@adisbern]

Tip for selling them. Look for the nearest Pet Store near you. They are awesome feeds for reptiles and other farm animals.

[@pplive-usachannel1468]

what the food are you feed them? thank you so much

[@reshmiborkakoti9973]

How much food needed for 10grm eegs to complete the cycle upto prepupa stage?

[@miller17013]

I have one of the self harvesting bins however my larvae slowed down i believe due to temps an not having enough to keep the bin warm. So I currently have a small setup in my reptile room in the 80s but if I wanted to run them through the winter is the compostin smell from these bins to overwhelming to keep indoors or should I consider a way to move them into the garage an heat a small makeshift room for them there?

[@NWRedworms]

keep them above 40 degrees and they will just hibernate till it's warm again.

[@giobelkoicenter]

What food they like?

[@magician2020]

Have you considered using an LED light instead of a fluorescent light? The LED lights would not generate heat and help keep the humidity up.

[@beebop9808]

They will produce a little less heat by using less power and they don't radiate heat from the front but they do generate heat from the back. There's no escaping heat when power is consumed.

[@missparadise879]

They like heat so that may be counterintuitive.

[@cliffofoegbu3797]

What are you feeding them?

[@azyzykehinde]

Good job, may the lord bless you. please can you tell me the type of light you used. i have issue with lightning almost all flies in my farm dies before laying an egg. i will like you suggestion on what to do to let them lay eggs because i was impressed when i saw your video.

[@embracinglife777]

How much on a 100,000 and are you willing to do International shipping

[@generbeduya8902]

good day sir i watch your video about bsf cultivation what sabstrate you use as food for maggots as it looks dry im t0t0 from philipines thank u sir

[@lynnhowdeshell2641]

Thank you for all the information. I have been following you for about 10 years and made the bin that you did a long time ago. It worked great for me. I keep growing BSF and am working on getting them going again this year. I want to make the egg laying boards as I think it will work better that cardboard. Are you planning on doing a video of how to make them and where to get poplar wood? Thank you and keep of the good work. I do not remember what area of the US you are in.

[@ricehair8807]

10 years? Thats some dedication!!

[@iatjitrawasita6580]

What kind of light that is better for bsf to mate and lay their egg? Or perhaps type of light is not crucial, humidity is more crucial?

[@NWRedworms]

a full spectrum daylight light is best. There are many different kinds. There are many different variables that get them to lay eggs.

[@gekwen]

Great Video. God Bless you. What is your Harvest of Larva Per Month?

[@tressieharzman8250]

Do you still grow these flies? The link you have is broken.

[@NWRedworms]

www.northwestredworms.com/allcategoryfarmproducts?category=Black%20Solider%20Fly

[@harrellt1405]

How can they drink when they have no mouth

[@masadequechaklader1324]

I have collected BSF larvae from natural sources. They have been pupae after being put in chicken feed and are currently being flies. Flies are dying 8-9 days after hatching but not laying eggs? As an attraction I have broken wet wheat and blended ripe bananas. What else can I do to lay eggs? Please help.

[@NWRedworms]

they need sunlight

[@stevesoutdoorworld4340]

Have you tried to feed them wheat bran? Do you have a spacer in them wood blocks?

[@NWRedworms]

spent barley is free. I don't go outside the realm of free. the spacers are the thickness of a zip tie.

[@stevesoutdoorworld4340]

@@NWRedworms Thanks for the info Bro!

[@mohamedb5060]

how much food do you need to feed this unit

[@NWRedworms]

it starts at one cup a day and increases to 10 gallons per day

[@mohamedb5060]

@@NWRedworms 37 Kg How can you provide this quantity to them What materials do you use?

[@mohamedb5060]

@@NWRedworms can i use Glaucoma of birds only

[@lilinda975]

Sorry for using this space for a different question: How to get rid of BSF babies in my supposedly sealed compost bin? I live in a city apartment and has a tiny balcony. One of my compost bins has a little hole I didn't notice earlier, and before I know it, I saw the wiggling white little things in that compost bin...How can I get rid of them in a nice humane way? I just physically cannot bear the sight of them (no offense), I literally dropped my bin when I first notice them...

[@ducpham454]

If you keep a closed room, what kind of temple do you use to mate?

[@NWRedworms]

81 degrees

[@eltoncarvalho9456]

What are your thoughts on dehydrating them and also about masking pellets?

[@NWRedworms]

Im not ready for that big step

[@mikesbeardeds6462]

Dang what I would give for one of those trays.......my beardeds would be in heaven!

[@Tara-sf7uu]

Same here lol

[@karenwilliams9617]

Ditto

[@jennifercline6866]

So would my hedgehog, but she's not as interested once they hit the final pupae stage.

[@GarrettXHolder]

Make a big solar dehydrator and store the dried larvae for chicken/fish feed. Since you asked for suggestions lol

[@remarkpetrov1591]

Super! This is best video about BSF (step-by-step)

[@Parasuniversal]

Remark Petrov you may like this too www.parasuniversal.com/2018/07/black-soldier-fly-vertifarm-setup-and-with-jacob-of-sixlegs-farm-includes-up-close-video-of-inspecting-feeding-egg-laying-more/

[@aa-wf8pm]

How long did it take you to grow it this big?

[@NWRedworms]

I've been doing this for almost ten years with little changes that made it better. The project you see took 3 years and is working very well.

[@BruceBrandt59]

I found you after hearing about the flies on an Aquaponic video. Try advertising on aquaponic groups and pages.

[@exclusivefrenchies343]

Where are you located? Oh my god, teach me your ways.

[@vetmett]

what type of container are you using? I see integrated ramps. Where did you buy these? Or did you produce them? Thanks for your very appreciated Feedback! Best regards Stefan

[@NWRedworms]

Yes I manufacture them www.northwestredworms.com/all/insects/ez-bsf-larvae-lab

Can you give me the detailed design of BSF automatic harvesting bin.

[@NWRedworms]

Here is a link to my large bin design www.northwestredworms.com/all/black-soldier-fly-larvae-bin-instructions

Thanks @@NWRedworms

[@muqeetmustafa3289]

hi. can we grow fish and chicken on bsfl only? without any commercial feed?

[@NWRedworms]

no, they would need some kind of filler. Like leftover spent barley.

[@briankarkada3208]

very good info. how do you manage the frass?

[@NWRedworms]

Currently my fras goes to the worm compost

[@anthonycellitti568]

How would one contact you for purchase of bulk larvae? Maybe, 50 to 100k to start

[@NWRedworms]

www.northwestredworms.com/allcategoryfarmproducts?category=Black%20Solider%20Fly

[@mehedyhasan7739]

What the food list of black soldiers flies. Not the soldiers flies larvae... Kindly say me...

[@ripscuds4467]

So you collect maggots to feed chickens? What are the blocks for?

[@paperm2023]

Laying eggs I think

[@lynnhowdeshell2641]

Where do you get the barley? How much water to barley so it is just right wet? Thank you. I have been growing BSF for years since I saw your first build and they are great for my chickens.

[@FusionDeveloper]

He uses Used/spent barley grain from a brewery. However, they can subsist on used coffee grounds.

[@kathireshk7952]

Hello sir, what substrate are you using to grow these larvae..

[@brianandlynphilippines]

In zee video, he said Barley and he put the crawl out ones in a box of their own husks. Hope that answers your question.

[@kathireshk7952]

@@brianandlynphilippines thanks for your reply....

[@CarlosRomero-mh8ed]

Desde que estadio se autocosechan o cosechan las larvas para que lleguen correctamente a pupa?..👍

[@kennethhart3904]

Are you freeze drying for market?

[@Screamingpinesfarm]

Idea on selling maybe a package deal of 100,000 young larvae plus how to book and a bin to get started or something like that. would like to raise/grow black soldier flys for feeding but live in north central MN but as you know they do not like the cold.tried and failed with red wigglers, did ok with mealworms and had the gaint mealworms pupa turn in to breeder flys however the meal worms are very slow at turn around time.

[@myfrenchytrader]

amazing setup great video :) would you happen to know how big of a setup I would need to produce 15kg of larvaes per day?

[@isabeauskorski9961]

I was wondering the same

[@imprimisxo]

What type of wood do you use for egg laying devices?

[@NWRedworms]

poplar

[@FusionDeveloper]

Or you can use 1 inch by 4 inch corrugated cardboard strips bundled together. Be sure to cut it the way that has the most holes and point the holes towards the sky and ground, that is what the look for.

[@kazanspru]

Amazing! Please, could you tell how many pounds of food is needed need to get 1 pound of larvaes?

[@NWRedworms]

I have no idea.

[@simong7735]

Food waste...you can feed them anything

[@FusionDeveloper]

He uses Used/spent barley grain from a brewery. However, they can subsist on used coffee grounds.

[@Realme.99]

What food you fed the larvae in video?

[@rajsaindhav]

What food do you give to the hatched larva ? and What food do u give to the Larvas after 5 days ?

[@kevreilly7]

I think just any old bad food will work but I am not the expert.

[@dingdizon3640]

What do yoi feed the younger larva?

[@zacherynagy8445]

Is that rolled oats for feed??

[@FusionDeveloper]

Used/spent barley grain from a brewery.

[@logicmonkey1034]

I'm just starting out, I need to build a screen box to keep my flies in one place so they will breed and lay rather than fly off and hardly any return to lay eggs in my tote. Each night I dump about 20 ready larva but only get 1-4 egg lays a week. Stagnated

[@timbotide]

Do you sell the frass? I hear it is an awesome soil amendment.

[@NWRedworms]

i currently sell mealworm fras.

[@nandomancinas2563]

Have you tried eating the larvae? If so how did they taste?

[@alfierealfiere6419]

Hello, great video. What kind of lamp do you use?

[@abdusamadkadengal8737]

Sir, how can growth laurvea whithout smell. U using powderd grains. Iam using kitchen waste, and fish waste, so i would like to strt indore same like u. The temprateur naturaly nice in my place.

[@FusionDeveloper]

He uses Used/spent barley grain from a brewery. However, they can subsist on used coffee grounds. Do not over feed them. Only give them about 1-2 days worth of food and keep it aerobic (oxygen, airflow).

[@goingup824]

How much per 100,000 larvae?

[@NWRedworms]

$198, but currently our stock is too low to sell 110k.

[@pioli12]

What temp do you keep the building where you host the BSFL?

[@NWRedworms]

81 degrees

[@jimwilleford6140]

These buggers just appeared and filled my smaller worm bin almost over night. What good are they to me? They ran my worms off.

[@BlueberryDro1]

so how many pounds of larvae are you harvesting per day or week?

[@NWRedworms]

about 20+ lbs per week to the chickens, 10+ lbs to the fly room to become flies, plus the thousands of smaller larvae that I ship out. This is only a fraction of the amount that I could harvest if I had more room and fed the larvae more. I could easily produce 100 times more if I had the time, space and waste available to feed them.

[@BlueberryDro1]

@@NWRedworms Thanks for answering. That's a pretty nice harvest