How to Raise Mealworms Complete Guide

List of Supplies: mealwormbreeding.blogspot.com/ Start to finish how to breed meal worms. Using small stackable slide out containers, chicken laying pellets, potatoes, sifter. Easy, cheap and low maintenance.

[@xmchillin]

Good explanation and system. I have 10 chickens and they would eat mealworms until they exploded! A very small bag of dried mealworms at Tractor Supply is over $10.00 so I can see a great savings in raising my own. Also, in lieu of grinding the pellets, Tractor Supply sells the same pellets already ground up and they are called Crumbles. A 50lb bag is about $13.00 and our chickens prefer the Crumbles. I don't know if they are fine enough to pass through a sifter but I am going to try them. We give our chickens about a half cup of the mealworms as a 'treat' every day. Don't know what the difference is but three of our neighbors raise chickens and theirs quit laying during the winter. Our 10 chickens have routinely given 10 eggs a day all winter long.

[@ginakndy]

Thank you. You are very organized and explain the steps clearly.

[@michaelbandeko3519]

That is a very cool system you have. I just happen to have 2 of those drawer sets out in the shed without a job. Look like they have one now :)

[@tinastewart789]

Doing my initial research. Good info... thanks!

[@lauramidd0809]

Thanks for the tips! I have just had too many mite problems with wheat bran.. and those little weevils are so hard to get rid of. I have zero weevils in the chicken pellets Plus, the ground up pellets are a finer and heavier powder and fall easily through the sifter, the wheat bran is light and gets stuck in the sifter.

[@TheLuckydk]

Thanks for the guide. I have a great success with your method.

[@lorenabarros2515]

that was an amazing song man !!!!! I think I laughed a little too hard! I really like your method of moving the worms from one place to another. I like having everything in order and making sure that everyone is in its proper place. Great video man! thanks for sharing your worms with us!!

[@DrDherp]

Thanks for the video, man. This is almost exactly the set up I was envisioning. Glad to see it working for you. Powder/sand sized substrate makes sifting so much easier - good idea. Two things I might try to improve: substrate production and sifting. For substrate production, maybe just a larger blender? Idk. For sifting though, seems real easy to make a sifter the same size as your container, so you could just dump the whole thing in at once - none of this scraping them off the top business, huh?

[@Snakewisperer]

thank you for all the help

[@jermelger]

If the scent is bothering you then it might be a good idea to change out the bedding. My smells too at times and it is mostly because I leave the Frass in longer than I would really like to, but I have alot of stuff on my plate and therefore only a little time to invest in the worms. But they seem to be surviving.

[@roseatdancingearthworms9642]

Very helpful video, thank you! Pretty much answered all the questions I had. :)

[@dogemeat247]

This is awesome. I'll be growing these to supplement food for some crayfish I have setup in a closed loop aquaponics system. Thanks for teaching me how to save a bundle on these little buggers. :)

[@caseygatling6824]

"i just usually have an audience over there watching" *pans over to chickens*.. im fucking crying oh my god hahahaha

[@vidaripollen]

very nice work.

[@NoahMoorebirdraiser]

I'm thinking on a mealworm farm, Helpful video, thanks

[@jermelger]

I use instant oatmeal, I find that the worms and beetles do not eat the rolled oats as easily or as fast. I do not like bran either,and I feel that grinding up chicken food is time consuming and an unnecessary step, but to each his own. I also find that slicing there moist food, potatoes, bananas, apples etc thinner stop the mildew production and they eat more of it since when it dries out they eat less.

[@ChinoysKitchen]

Its nice to hear your explanation, I like to watch those live meal worms moving., I have uploaded video too in my channel, and I cook mealworms though

[@melindalemmon2149]

May be a good system. But can't follow. Needed a comprehensive, step-by-step.

[@mohamedelbasha829]

can i live mealworms in one place for there full live cycle from egg to egg just in one box with enough food or it must to spirit it in every stage

[@SparingChange]

I made the mistake of combining the beetles, mealworms and pupas together a few days ago...now, I have to spend some time seperating them all again. I started with 1000 mealworms and have not yet gone through the first "life cycle." I should really use chicken feed like you do instead of oats because it's impossible to sift through the substrate. Thanks for the video. It was very helpful. Now, please excuse me as I take the next hour and seperate the mealworms, pupas and beetles! :-)

[@drapoler]

Great video, thanks!

[@Chris41279x]

Thank you so much for your response. I think that I left a few baby carrots in too long and they molded. So now I am fighting to de-moisturize my oats and beetles so they dont all die off. Do you have any suggestions? Or should I just change out the bedding again and lose any possible eggs there are currently?

[@torpa15]

hey Lauramidd0809, i went with your suggestion here for my setup as i feel it's the best method after watching hundreds of youtube vids. Only problem with grinded down chicken mash is you can't sift the frass from the bedding. Do you have a method for that, or do you just throw it all out after 1 cycle?

[@MrKevyrev]

How long does it take for the beetles to lay? I've noticed they are brown then turn black. Also after I have black beetles how long before i can find baby mealworms?

[@ricdd1733]

ok,so, what do you do when you get an abundance of beatles? Do you just keep adding more containers to keep moving them?

[@panscentralexpresspresents4733]

How do you obtain an abundance of Beatles, two are already dead?

[@ismaeltapia34]

wow nice work alot of info thanks

[@ingdia]

I also use sifted bedding, but formost so I can sift the beatles out to go to their new bedding. I return the used bedding to the drawer so the eggs can develop. Job done in 5 minutes. :)

[@haraldcoppoolse4149]

Question: how many containers do you have, and after what time you transfer it to the next stage? I guess ne container with puppae and newly born beatles. One container with a lot of beatles laying eggs (so separated from the puppae), several containers with mealworms of different age, for example 0 weeks, 2 werks, 4 weeks? Or 0/1/2/3/.. weeks. After how many weeks there will be puppae? Is that the same container with the mealworms that you use to feed the chickens, or do you feed younger mealworms? When do you decide to use new grinded food?

[@Chris41279x]

I dont really have access to chicken pellets and i didnt realize wheat bran gives weevils or other bugs. So would you say regular oatmeal is fine and should it be ground up or just leave it whole?

[@TheFunkytrapper]

it works well interesting video thanks for sharing

[@kevinatwater6338]

Right next to his cheerios box =D

[@wyattsmith8808]

He's feeding them to the mealworms

[@OliviaAlexandra27]

It’s good for them.

[@Drewskimac1]

Good video man. Anybody please answer this: I just started my first colony, and the first few beetles that have hatched from pupae are really slow and sluggish... is this normal?

[@jovosedlar]

the only thing in question is how long do you keeps Beatles before you move them to another box as I guess they layed enough eggs for the next round. but I just couldn't wait anymore due to the irritating music... thank you though

[@CherryKissies]

AWESOME..I SAW THIS AND THINK OF ALL THE BEETLES I FED TO MY FISH, AND ALL THE SUBSTRATE I'VE THROWN OUT..NOW I CAN START BREEDING THE MEAL WORMS I NEED FOR MY DRAGONS...THANK YOU... :)

[@garrybrpwine3073]

Do the beetle climb out of the container ? Were do you get your starter herd ?

[@DivinityIsPurity]

why dont you use a bigger sifter for the beetles? also what do you do with dead beetles?

[@tammyschroen9822]

I have had my beetles for about 4 weeks. I transferred them to a new bin 2 weeks ago. How long before I should start seeing mealworms?

[@robertjeglum2314]

Hey laura, have you ever tried one of the self sifting versions on youtube for the beetles to be in that allows the eggs to drop into a lower container to make separating easier?

[@billyjoe238]

very good . thank

[@lauramidd0809]

Thanks for the compliment! Yes I hand pick the pupa. Super easy and fast, just a couple minutes every few days. Not sure how many it would take to feed a chicken... My chickens will easily eat 100 at a time if I let them. Sometimes, my chickens will eat the beetles... but beetles are more valuable producing eggs than feeding them to my chickens!

[@lginpdx]

Is there a reason you didn't use the strainer to separate the beetles from the substrate from the beginning? Seems a lot faster that picking the beatles out by hand, yes?

[@PhillistheGecko]

Do you absolutely HAVE to remove the beatles because i have had my beatles for a little over a month and not even a sign of a baby mealworm

[@ranielcruz4527]

I got my first beetle and the ground has very small white worms, are they the babies ?

[@julieclark5023]

What do u start with beetles or meal worms to grow into beetles? I'm a new bird owner and I'm going through lots of meal worms my birds already have me trained after 6 weeks so I thought I might try raising my own worms. If you start with beetles where do u get them, if you start with worms how long does it take to get worms to turn in pupa then to beetles then they lay eggs that turn into meal worms, right? Then do u just take out some worms to feed your pets and let others start all over?

[@honnoand0001]

So running it through the strainer doesn't hurt the eggs?

[@POWARENJA]

I think the filter way is more productive, that way you dont have to do any moving of the containers, you might want to try wheat bran for bedding too, and carrots for food. Potatoes will mold after awhile and you can get mites. Carrots and lettuce work great because they wont mold, I dont know how much chicken laying pellets are but wheat bran is like 70 cents a lb at my nearest fred meyer, cheap and easy. :) Thanks for the video.

[@Chris41279x]

Well, I left 3 carrots in there for nearly 3 days the one time. When I picked up one of the carrots to toss them it had mold on the bottom and now my container has a weird scent to it. Even though since that day I have been vigilant on not leaving ANY food in there for longer than 24 hours. I use baby carrots, white potatoes and slices of Gala Apples. The carrots are what caused the mildew/mold. I am just wondering (since I keep finding dead beetles and it hasnt even been 2 months) (cont'd)

[@sheilainmexico]

Wonderful video ! I have a small farm with about 00 chickens and ducks. Feed is terribly expensive - thinking if I could give mealworms as supplements would spend less overall. Do you have to hand pick the Pupa ? How many mealworms would a chicken need a day for 50% ration ? Do you feed anything the beetles ? Thank you.

[@dtharge4082]

So using the chicken bedding prevents any infestation of any bugs? And moths?

[@richwin831]

by the way? does these beetles lay egg? how did you separate eggs from the beetles?

[@CatchingtheCraze]

what did you say you fed the mealworms, ground up chicken pellets?

[@matthewtaylor6751]

Do you use them for feed if you do i have a few questions

[@brucestraw9948]

How long do beetles live for? why use layer pellet or oats? why not use sawdust? Will all of your trays eventually turn into beetles?

[@wilceaubisrette1065]

How long it takes for a beetles to start laying eggs?

[@lauramidd0809]

I use mainly potato. When I move the beetles I use apple... its like a treat for them and it attracts all of them to it. Then when they all grab on, I pick up the apple slice and move them to their new clean container. Mealworms are hard to kill! Just make sure you give them something to eat and a source of water.

[@jacquileech1687]

Does it matter if the beetles are not moved until they all die?

[@jermelger]

It takes about a week for the Pupa to completely mutate depending on your humidity and temperature. relatively normal humidity and warmer temps (around 80 degrees) they turn faster.

[@rohans3447]

What should be container size for 2000 beetles

[@TheWanderingHeather]

Love this video. Just wondering if the chickens would also eat the beetles. because then You could just maintain the perfect ratio by feeding the beetles to the hens too :)

[@adamfoxx25]

I have just started cultivating my own meal worms. How long does it take the eggs to reach full size mealworms?

[@jermelger]

I keep all sifted stuff (poop and all) for several months, this way I KNOW! there are no more eggs. Just keep food in these bins, I have four bins just for old poop, once three months has gone by and I have sifted out more worms, I am sure there are no more eggs to hatch. Then I toss out all the poop in my garden to feed my garden. :-)

[@jermelger]

Beetles and worms will eat the smaller worms and the eggs and the Pupa, is best to separate the pupa from all, and I keep about a 2 inch depth of oatmeal since the baby larvae will burrow to the bottom for safety. BUT, you will get worms either way, they will not eat all of their family. lol

[@bugzziee]

. my cycle consist of beetles and pupa. I never see eggs and I never get mealworms. what am I doing wrong?

[@alexisgalinato7674]

How many days/weeks will the pupa become beetle?...

[@rosemize343]

How long after you get beetles will you see baby mealworms

[@SierraUecker]

My dad wants me to raise meal worms because I am scared of beetles, so he wants me to raise them until they turn into a beetle, so then I won't be scared of beetles any more. That was really cool!

[@dontshootmydik]

I would laugh if he dropped the container full of beetles xD lol

[@TaoEmenka]

How do you get rid of the dead beetles?

[@kellygrace-banner1809]

How long does it take for the eggs hatch into worms? Then approximately how long until they’re big enough to feed?

[@xReptileLover]

Is There A Tempeter.?? Or Its Just Dye-Hidratian

[@hazmawson9441]

do they need heat

[@saritakulkarni1006]

what was ur initial cost for holding tank and the other set up have...how many do u produce now and hw many chooks can u feed. in oz. where u based....

[@TheRainHarvester]

It seems like this just converts chicken feed to mealworm (still chicken feed). Is there any cost advantage ?

[@Chris41279x]

(cont'd) if the damage is already done. Thats why I was wondering if I should start fresh or not.

[@classyctavares1243]

can you use sand?

[@joemug4079]

What about the dead Beatles? And I’ve been hearing about the poop, what do you do?

[@macmacaisa3444]

nice one

[@jjowersfamily]

put a toilet paper tube or 2 in and it collects them a lot quicker

[@kino22_22]

hi, i have a problem with my worms... this problem is: 1º i got the worms and they grown up perfectly 2º i move the beetles to an other box the problem comes now.. when i have to clean this box ... i dont know where are the eggs.. and sometimes i see little worns but not to much... so... if i started with 5kg of worns the process finish with 1/2 kg ... :(

[@godcandoallthings691]

Do they fly? I want to know what measures should be in place to prevent them from flying away.?

[@luck069]

My beetles fly if I dont cover their box with mesh screen

[@jermelger]

I have never really had a problem with mildew causing tragedies in my worms. As a matter of fact when i am feeling "lazy" I use a spray bottle of water and spray the oats in a few places to give the worms moisture, also makes it easier for them to eat the oats.I do not do this often, but it does not seem to hurt them. Also when I clean my worms no oats are EVER discarded. I use a huge screen type colanderto eliminate all the Frass (worm poop) and then I pick as much of the whole (continued)

[@johnvsbev]

what did you use for the bedding? it sounded like Chicken Lane pellets

[@ryankwin]

He did use layer pellets. You can use any type of grains such as wheat bran, oatmeal, etc. If you want it to be naturalistic, soft soil will work and will make it feel fresh.

[@thoughtcriminal7653]

How many mealworms and beetles did you have to start, and for how long had you been keeping a mealworm colony when you made this video?

[@lauramidd0809]

No, It does not hurt the eggs from what I can tell. They fall through the mesh of the strainer.

[@reptilekeeper864]

mine are at room temp and they are fine.. i herd the warmer the faster they grow but idk

[@rohans3447]

What is your container size

[@gomotime]

when will the beattles die ?

[@1kinut800]

The beetles don't walk out of the drawers?

[@Electrasound]

I had beetles in a container two weeks ago. After a week I transferred the beetles to a different container and kept them away from the eggs. It's now two weeks and I have not seen any signs of the eggs hatching and worms appearing. I understand that I cannot see the meal worm eggs because they are too small. How long does it take before I start seeing the actual baby meal worms without having to use a magnifying glass or microscope?

[@rolflmaoweeee]

can you raise them in the dark?

[@Gesundheit888]

I seems to me that worms or beetles both like the fruit the best. Can't they be feed on kitchen waste?

[@WhimsyLuna1up]

Carrots, potatoes,apples and banana peels are common. You're really only giving them scraps . They don't eat alot. Just cut small thin slices

[@hodonkain]

ok so to clear things up, because I'm confused.... the beatles are the mealworms? They are the same species just in different stages of their life cycle?

[@jovosedlar]

I was wondering the same

[@jovosedlar]

and in that case they are breeding stock?

[@dirtycxnt3235]

Hodon Kain the Beatles are the adult version of mealworms, they cocoon/pupate and turn into beatles

[@karinaramirez5331]

Wow I thought the beetles were there to clean the area ..like eat the mealworm poop! Like those fish people get to clean the tanks in aquariums..I was wayyyy off 😅

[@jcmexicohomestead]

This says a "Complete guide" and I can appreciate that you were thorough through the process of the moving them around, the drawer system etc. However, for a "Complete guide" you'll need to explain the beetle thing, the stages of life, some of the terminology, and start with basics. Why do we raise the meal worms? What do you use them for, sell them for, etc. What benefits are there for raising them vs buying them? etc. This video is good for someone who is already somewhat equipped with the basics. Need to crayola it a bit tho for those of us just getting into it to be a True "Complete Guide". I appreciate the system walk through tho. Just need to find another video first to give me the basic run down first.

[@parismykitty]

i've started mine but the beetles keep dying.... also to feed them, i fed them the left over oatmeal baby food from my son.

[@mistydwilson52]

Did you start off with meal worms bought from a pet store?

[@MrJaman0083]

Dude, I Get 50lbs of rolled oats from my local feed store for like $12 and carrots are a lot cheaper then apples. They turn it into some good fert for the compost.

[@jermelger]

garbage out of my worms, (carcasses, shed skins, old food etc). Obviously if you are leaving old food in there that is mildewy you do not want to leave too much in there, if you are experiencing you bedding getting mildewy then I would just scoop out the stuff that is bothering you and leave the rest. If you do happen to choose to start all over with new bedding I would continue working the old bedding in a different container just in case there are more baby larvae and eggs left.

[@Lily-vi5cy]

raw potatoes or cooked potatoes?

[@robine7296]

Okay so I'm kinda confused do you just feed some mealworms to your reptile and then leave some to turn into Beatles?

[@michaelgarners9780]

Becca Ava You leave very few to turn into Beatles. A single mealworm female lays 70-100 eggs per cycle. About 500 for a 2-3 month lifetime.

[@invaderzim1265]

@@michaelgarners9780 PERFECT INFORMATION!! I NEEDED THAT!!

[@tammyschroen9822]

Is it true that you are not supposed to remove old potatoes. They lay eggs in them?

[@stevenlauj725]

tammy if u used potatoe, i suggest u put a plastic lid under it so it won't mold......

[@lauramidd0809]

Look in the description, there is a link to where you can find everything you need to get started, thanks!