How to Start Your Own Meal Worm Farm to Feed Your Chickens (Part 1)

After our 1 Year Challenge to only Eat what we could Catch, Grow, Harvest or Raise, we wanted to continue on our journey of becoming more and more self sufficient.
One of our goal this year is to buy less than 10% of our chicken feed, so we have decided to start our own Meal Worm farm.
In this video we show you how to create your own Meal Worm farm to feed them to your chickens or other pets.
Special thanks to Little House on The Mountain ( / littlehouseonthemountain ) for showing us how it's done.
YOU CAN NOW WATCH OUR 6 MONTH FOLLOW UP VIDEO HERE: • How to Start Your Own ...
Follow along with the next part of our journey on social media:
Instagram - lovinofftheland
Facebook - lovinofftheland

[@LovinofftheLand]

If you are looking to order mealworms and/or beetles for a starter kit, you can contact Christopher here: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100026059613584

[@techmike919]

This is awesome. Thank you for the meal worm videos! With the cost of food rising, and we wanted to be more self sufficient, we wanted to get some chickens going, but also wanted to figure out how to produce our own food for them. We started a large garden last year, so we have plenty of greens. My wife also read that dogs can eat them and enjoy them (we have 2 dogs), since dog food prices have also gone crazy.

[@i.dont.read.replies]

@@techmike919 that's so cool, I didn't know that dogs will also eat mealworms!

[@sallywhitebuffalo5918]

This Facebook profile doesn't reflect any meal worm's looks like.

[@baddog9320]

And if you don't facebook?

[@MysteriaSdrassa]

@@baddog9320 Any pet store sells meal worms for lizards and such

[@archangel20031]

Don't cut the whole bottom out, cut squares out leaving some support, then since the screen is "full of holes" just put it in place and run the hot glue over the screen, it will leak through the holes and glue the perfectly positioned screen in place.

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

im so tempted to do this! I think it would be a great wait to make compost. I also love using the chickens.

[@playstationvr5753]

Thank you for sharing theses beautiful ideas

[@kalenfagre2540]

great starter video...going to try this this summer for sure!

[@christopherrobin8169]

Hey chris...am glad you got your farm together... that looks awesome... you sound quite educated at mealworm farming... they are a real treat to any farm..! Thanks for sharing my info!!.. mealworm guy here..🖐🖐

[@VenomnymouS]

6:09 I started harvesting curly dock that grows around my area and grinding that up for my mealworms eat. They eat it up no problem. A free and clean food source that’s probably better for them than the store bought (non-organic) wheat bran that I was buying.

[@LovinofftheLand]

I'll have to look up curly dock and see if we have it where we are

[@palaksharma6003]

Am so glued to all ur videos

[@ryanleblanc2925]

Good timing, the price of dried mealworms just shot up at the farm supply store I work at.

[@Deej496]

Been raising mealworms for a few years now. [In fact just cleaned out my boxes yesterday!] I find them interesting and fun to raise and love seeing my hens run to me all excited when they see I have the... "BugBag"! Thanks for the video!

[@shantelbryan3660]

How do you keep pantry moths out of them? I freezes all my substrate for at least a week but they still take over.

[@Deej496]

@@shantelbryan3660 I have not had any moths .... Yet. Didn't know it was a thing.. so Thank you for the heads up, and I will, from now on, freeze the substrate. 🐛

[@crystalo3550]

Oh my yes chickens are to funny when they run and especially when one finds a worm and the others chase her I have a 10 pound rooster and let me tell you its about the funniest thing I see when he runs its so hilarious I love they have such big characters

[@Deej496]

@Crystal O a 10# 🐓? Wow! I'll bet he is a very handsome guy!

[@crystalo3550]

@@Deej496 yes he is big and gorgeous but he has red looking eyes looks real crazy an he is I've smacked him one time with a shovel he shook it off an came back aha i only did it because I seen he was going to stand down and he had just got my 5 yr old son he autistic so his flight or fight response is not so great he just stands there crying so I had to do something im so scared to catch him an I think he knows it

[@joycetompkins3680]

This was helpful for me...thanks!

[@reaganreinke937]

I love watching you guys!!! ❤ such a big inspiration!

[@LovinofftheLand]

Thanks Reagan ❤️

[@sharmilabasu4133]

Keep sharing such amazing videos

[@ladyprepper7987]

Just thought about raising my own meal worms this morning when I was feeding my chickens and scooping dried worms out of a $38.00 bag! Perfect timing, and I love your channel! Thank you!

[@thenpheler1]

Same here I am putting my farm together today!

[@thenpheler1]

That’s why I am starting a meal worm farm

[@thenpheler1]

@Crickets I am going to use oatmeal and grind it fine

[@e.duncan6256]

Yeah, I just bought a 5lb bag of tge blavk fly larva. I think I’ll start raising them.

[@number1enemyoftheuseless985]

Oh no this isn't a video for your chickens.... This is what they expect the common human being under their rule will only be able to scrape up and get by on is eating maggots and larvae because Hollywood doesn't want you or meat have anything in life the elites don't want us to have anything because that takes our mind off of worshiping them.

[@jameswalters9683]

Can I make a suggestion on transferring beetles - just an idea - grab a large cup big enough to hold everything in the first container and then sit it in the middle of second container and let them transfer on their own - could add water at end to force the last few out

[@michaelboom7704]

Keep up the good work with your lifestyle!!

[@patrickelifritz]

I found a kitty litter scoop to work well for transferring material and bugs from one drawer to another. GENTLY, so you don't make more mess than you already have.

[@79klkw]

This method is super cool, I may do this before I raise earthworms, as it looks like an intro to bug rearing! I even have a 3 drawer Tupperware thing, like you used, and i was ready to toss it!

[@LovinofftheLand]

Awesome. Let us know how it goes

[@bilakemrisner]

so much knowledge you give love ya ll channel

[@purplemoon2843]

So cool, I'm excited to watch ur new video

[@GodiscomingBhappy]

just found ur channel. liked and subscribed. thanks for sharing. Greetings from Europe.

[@user-wk6gb3sg2u]

Love the life you live!

[@offgridatliberypoint]

Great accomplishment... good job.

[@MrDee001]

Very informative. Thanks.

[@Ty-nq4fh]

Mites in our food. YUM. There is usually an allowable amount of insect "parts" in most food products.

[@jerricojane]

Christopher Walter sent me my beatles! Great job Thanks

[@LovinofftheLand]

Awesome. That's great. Glad that worked out

[@shalinimehta7061]

Thanks for sharing such videos

[@angelahopson9604]

I have a gecko. I'm going to make a set up like this to feed him. Thank you for a great video

[@GoodThingsEtc]

genius!!! perfect for city drweller!!!

[@edscukas9689]

Black soldier fly larvae are also very good for chickens. they can be fed an assortment of things from coffee grounds to even manure. May be a little harder to setup for reproduction though as the flies are well flies lol.

[@cebtropico]

Wow I just put coffee ☕️ grounds without anyone telling me. Thanks 🙏

[@greyhoundmama2062]

BSF are for summertime. The Chooks LOVE them and they are much higher in calcium than mealworms. However, they like rotten veges and have to be kept wet but not drowning. They are messy and are an outdoor project, loving extremely warm weather. During the winter, you should switch to MW and go indoors.

[@Livingwomanonarkansas1]

They set up camp in my composter with zero work from me. I just use a pitch fork to do one stir. Then scoop a mound of compost with hundreds of the larvae at different stages. My chickens always get excited when they see me with a shovel heading their way. Lol.

[@lcgcamrrms9]

Just read a comment from a gentleman in another video that said he takes meat scraps and wraps it in an old mesh onion bag and hangs it in the coop high enough that the chickens can't reach it. Flies are attracted and lay on it. As the larvae grows, it falls off into the coop so the chickens have a fresh supply of protein. Sounds like a logical solution just don't know how the smell would go over in a neighborhood..lol

[@79klkw]

@@Livingwomanonarkansas1 you lucky son of a gun! I wish this would happen in my compost! I seem to only get freakish bugs that seem to be solitary, or things that fly, so my chickens do not make out with any treats, unless the vermin make the trip to my coop on their own.

[@neelamsingh83]

Ur such an inspiration

[@imsophalgeneralknowledge6371]

I love your sharing so much brother ❤

[@jalitzaa.v4725]

Great video!!

[@honeybeehillsidehomestead3177]

I love that this is an option you can get started on before getting chickens since it takes a bit to get the colony established.

[@finro2639]

Great video👍🙌

[@priyankabose4214]

Love your channel

[@emmadeli8662]

Awesome advices

[@carolynthomas3223]

Can't wait for mine to mature.

[@honeybeehillsidehomestead3177]

This is great! Thank you for the idea. I cannot wait to get chickens & I am definitely doing to make a meal worm farm! I am wondering if there are any good non-plastic alternatives for the drawers? Would there be any issues using wood? Like many hippies, I have a distaste for plastic 😅 you know how it is lol.

[@hannahgendron7094]

I've heard they can chew through wood, glass or metal would work though

[@ishka3405]

Thank you for the video. What is the size for the mesh please?

[@AnneGoggansQHHT]

My mom stored all of our grains in the deep freeze with a bay leaf.

[@spacesix7039]

You are a genius

[@patrickelifritz]

I've just learned that if you don't leave 3-4" on the front side of your bottom you will dump stuff all over the floor beneath it. Leave the back half + for screening to give yourself shaker room.

[@LovinofftheLand]

Haha. We have definitely done that, too. The top drawer doesn't get opened without the middle one being opened

[@patrickelifritz]

Absolutely! that was Mistake #1 he talked me into. Also, I learned to not cut the full bottom out. I left ribs for stability and am much happier for it.

[@aaab1414]

First one to comment :) good luck guys

[@autry9562]

Hi! Does the farm have to live in the house? Love your channel!

[@rebelrog2870]

So could you put the bran in water and boil it to kill the mites while at the same time adding moisture to the bran in addition or instead of the vegetables? Not boiling it for an extended time, just bring it to a good solid boil and then removing the heat? I'm thinking two birds in one stone?

[@bynumfranks226]

Soldier fly larva would be cool to learn to raise

[@lesheinen3682]

Please, I don't understand the need for 3 bins. The top bin is for adults and the eggs drop thru to the second bin where they hatch into the mealworms and pupate. So what is the third bin used for? Are the pupae moved down there to turn into adults which then get moved to the top bin? I can see where once the cycles have been established the mealworms can be taken out for feed but how many would be too many? Is the goal to maintain a specified number of beetles in the top? I can see a problem with the balance of the system if too many mealworms are taken off for feed. Thanks!!

[@colourful64able]

In that container.. 30,000 mealworms would fit. Counting them us the worae

[@HaltWhoGoesThere]

I am confused by this as well. I don't understand the point of the 3rd bottom drawer. Are we supposed to physically grab the mealworms and put them in the bottom drawer? And Every video I've watched on this doesn't explain what to do once you have all this set up. ugh

[@ericag6387]

I understand the first and second tier drawers, how does the third drawer play in? Is it space to grow beetles and move them up to the first tier ?

[@karenvanmeeteren5097]

Hi! Thank you for your informative video. Just one question left for me: what is the size of the holes in the mesh?

[@rhianlewis6774]

This was my only question too please?

[@sheilamclaughlin963]

Probably window screen

[@jeromephelan8882]

Can this farm survive through the winter?

[@hawksoaring3014]

cool thanks

[@LovinofftheLand]

Hope it helps

[@SunnieDIY]

Can they eat whole oat groats there is a good price for that here its like 10 bucks for 50lbs which is cheaper than my wheat bran source. Are whole uncut oats too much for them?

[@truthforall1303]

Please can you tell me what the sieve sizes are? Cheers Mandy Uk

[@johnscarboroughregenerativ7240]

Can you feed them primarily coffee grounds

[@cassandrarudolph1307]

I have the chickens in a camper with a closet could I do this and put them in that closet as well It does get cold in there tho

[@lostinspace2780]

I noticed that the meal worms (or beetles) ate a few holes in the plastic screen mesh so that some beetles escaped into the egg/baby mealworm drawer underneath. I have since upgraded my 'screen' to a thicker material to see if it can withstand the gnawing action of the worms! To be determined!

[@LovinofftheLand]

That's great. We have had the same issue. Let us know how it goes

[@lostinspace2780]

@@LovinofftheLand I am trying the plastic canvas that I got from Hobby Lobby. It is very thick, very cheap, and easy to work with.

[@sharonreneau6157]

What kinda mesh did you use that's big enough n not too big. We d like it to be right.

[@teresapisanello5464]

Hi Chris, great video thank you! Just recently found you guys and i can't wait to watch your journey! I am in the process of starting up my own mealworm Farm and all I need now are the mealworms. There would be a link at the bottom of the video but I don't see it. Could you please put it in here so I can have a reputable place to buy the mealworms from? Thank you so much!! 😊

[@threeowls369]

Can you use aluminum screening or does it have to be mesh? Thanks 😊

[@debfergeson8460]

Late to the party, but I used aluminum screening

[@abigailjunkins4291]

I want to know how many mealworms and beetles are in your large bins? I have the bigger version and I want to make sure I’m not over crowding.

[@TyinAlaska]

Energy is lost from grain to beatles to larvae to fowl, so how does this cost less than feeding the grain and food scraps directly to the birds? I can certainly understand raising meal worms as a protein supplement for chickens, but as a food source, aren't they more expensive? Thanks.

[@thisguy916]

what size screen did you use? i have some from an earlier project but i want to make sure the mesh is large enough to allow the eggs to fall through

[@LovinofftheLand]

We just used regular screen door mesh that you would get from a hardware store

[@Worlddownsideup]

Trying to figure out what we’re doing wrong. We’ve had our beetle farm for probably going on two months now and don’t have any larva.

[@dperkwoopdwoop]

Can you use mealworms in your garden?

[@mrrexy4151]

Mmm I'm hungry...

[@georgettehillard9390]

Can I buy the mealworms used as fishing bait here in Florida to get started?

[@mrs.garcia6978]

As long as they aren’t the jumbo ones, those are sterile

[@riss6647]

How many do you recommend starting with?

[@Aurora3242]

Does anybody know how this wonderful idea will work in the Arizona desert? 🏜

[@krissifaith6709]

My mom used apple slices. ^^

[@LovinofftheLand]

Perfect. Any fruit or vegetable with a water content will do. You just don't want something with too much moisture that will rot

[@amandaanderson8647]

What kind of screen are you using at the bottom of your containers

[@iamcat281]

I used to raise hissing roaches. Cucumbers are a neurotoxin to those bugs. I hope the same is not true for meal worms. Just a heads up. Just in case.

[@LovinofftheLand]

Good to know. I will have to look in to that. Thanks for the heads up

[@rosied9098]

Sounded like the NFL but it's Congress! 😯

[@firedoorpushkin2341]

Good for the birds anyway

[@deniseandrews7121]

Hi, I have the same setup as yours, and I change the fresh veggies and fruit everyday otherwise they go mouldy. But my beetles are dying. I find about 4 dead beetles daily. Not knowing why. We live up in far north qld and temps are 28 to 36 degrees during the day. I have a pillow case over the drawers to keep the fruit flies out. Any thoughts.

[@LovinofftheLand]

How old are your beetles? We often have dead ones as well, and sometimes they just die at the end of your life cycle. I would say if your veggies are going moldy, then you are putting in too much. Ours devour them. Try putting in less and only feeding them every 3 days. They will be fine in between. We also find potato to be the best veggie to use as we find it doesn't go moldy as easily as fruits and other veggies. Hope this helps and let us know how it goes

[@deniseandrews7121]

The beetles are fresh to 3 wks old.

[@johnd.5346]

I am not sure if you still monitor this thread, but do you know if a system like a filing cabinet might work? It is metal and would be more durable but I am not certain if the beetles or their larva require any sunlight?

[@LovinofftheLand]

Great question. I love the idea of the filing cabinet idea. I'm not totally sure about the light part though. I would have to look into that more

[@reneebrown2968]

I wonder if it would be much cleaner to use #8 hardware cloth on the top box and screen on the middle box and a solid bottom in the bottom box. Seems to me if you have larger holes in the top the frags and eggs will drop then every few days to a week(depending on the amount of worms) you can sift it thru to the bottom. Leaving only frass in the bottom box. Seems to me it may be easier. Add only oatmeal to the top box with a little germ at the top and add the most of the germ in the middle box. All you would need to do is give the tower a bump and it should sift out the frass. Does this make sense to you???

[@hannahgendron7094]

I think that if the frass can fall through so will the eggs meaning the eggs would get thrown out with the frass

[@colourful64able]

You dont ever throw out the frass

[@pamelaeifert7760]

Does it matter if the screen is on the inside or outside

[@MrScott426]

Can and do you feed the beetles to the chickens?

[@cindypope4238]

Yes, they like beetles too but save some to lay the eggs.

[@tributetotributes8743]

what temps do they need to keep them alive (all stages)....thanks in advance

[@LovinofftheLand]

They are pretty durable. We make sure they are kept above 0 degrees Celsius. The issue isn't so much them dying, but how much their life cycle slows down when it's cooler. If kept at 20 degrees they produce much quicker

[@amiedesjardin6690]

where do you pay the beetles ?

[@jayman6608]

I've heard you can also freeze it and kill the mites

[@bethkemp7515]

🙌

[@baddog9320]

I understand how the egg drop into the 2nd drawer and become the meal worms. But what is the reason for the 3rd drawer. And how does anything get into the 3rd drawer. Seems like you only need 2 drawers. Take out the meal worms you wish to use as feed. Then take out the beetles for new colony. BTW how long do the beetles in the top last? Do the produce for years, months, weeks or days? It would seem in a high arid place like I live. That putting the vegetables for a day. Rotating with new vegetables. Soak old vegetables in water for a day. on day 3 put 1st vegetables in. day 4 2nd vegetables. repeat Then when gone do again. I didn't know meal worms were beatles.

[@LovinofftheLand]

We just do that so that we can move mealworms down to the bottom bin to go through the pupae stage and turn into Beetles that then go back into the top bin. We find our beetles live for about 6 months. We haven't tried rehydration for the vegetables, but if you are in a super hot place, that might be good. They usually get through most of it where we are. Let us know if you try it and how it works

[@TheWaffle777]

Was it supposed to say Meal Worm Farm or Form? Chris Hall??

[@jacobherrera381]

Where can I buy screen mesh?

[@jonestr57]

I could rule the world with a 4,1/2 grinder

[@williamrobinettejr4976]

What size mesh did you use? I have a smaller kit but it’s getting over full and need a bigger one

[@LovinofftheLand]

We just used screen door mesh :)

[@williamrobinettejr4976]

@@LovinofftheLand there is different types I just went with the pet screen mesh the holes are a little bigger but not a huge difference I figured the eggs would fall through a little better that way

[@hoppas77]

Hi, can you please provide the link where to buy the worms :) Thank you

[@LovinofftheLand]

Yes, you can reach Christopher here. He was very helpful facebook.com/profile.php?id=100026059613584

[@hoppas77]

@@LovinofftheLand Awesome, Thanks so much!

[@nodigBKMiche]

Looks Great! Is the plastic PVC? Or food grade? I am sure that will have a not so good effect on the worms...maybe Stainless Steel? Sorry love what you are accomplishing, but am not liking the plastic..

[@LovinofftheLand]

Hey Michelle, no offense taken. We generally try not to use plastic as well. The reason we use it is that the beetles aren't able to climb up it and escape. I haven't seen any stacking bins like this that are stainless steel. They are just PVC

[@marlaallen1631]

Any other kind of worms they can eat?

[@HostageDK]

what size mesh?

[@cassandrarudolph1307]

If I live in New Hampshire and I also live in a small space what do I do with this setup and meal worms in the winter ?

[@hannahgendron7094]

They'd have to live indoors, but if you got a set of drawers that weren't see through it could blend in with regular furniture

[@cassandrarudolph1307]

@@hannahgendron7094 hell no I’m not having that lol no worms in my house I’m good

[@cassandrarudolph1307]

@@hannahgendron7094 I will buy them here and there for them Chickens

[@hannahgendron7094]

@@cassandrarudolph1307 nothing wrong with just buying a bag of dried mealworms instead lol

[@cassandrarudolph1307]

@@hannahgendron7094 I did I found a place I have 500 mealworms coming soon for $14

[@_Riko_44]

Would this work with PetsMart mealworms?

[@josephvita8943]

Yes

[@_Riko_44]

@@josephvita8943 alr ty!

[@kristinebutcher4819]

hi there. any chance of helping me find a reputable place to purchase the worms & beetles? the FB link person does not answer requests :) tia!!!

[@LovinofftheLand]

Hey Kristine. Where are you located?

[@rottweilerventuresregister4598]

Is there a particular temperature they need to be kept at

[@mrs.garcia6978]

70-80*

[@baddog9320]

Well that temp is ridiculous. At that rate I can just grow nightcrawlers. Surely the range is much bigger..I've seen meal worms survive in much higher Temps then nightcrawers. I'm sure 120 out of the sun will be fine. But no idea about low Temps. As I've only used meal worms in above 50 degrees.

[@farmerfieldmouse3098]

Sorry if I missed it, but can you share the link where you got the meal worms from?:)

[@LovinofftheLand]

Yes, sorry.... You can contact Christopher here. He was great to deal with facebook.com/profile.php?id=100026059613584

[@kristinebutcher4819]

@@LovinofftheLand he does not respond… any chance there is another place to get the beetles & worms? I’d really like to grow my own! Thank you!

[@mantisclips1324]

@@kristinebutcher4819 I know this is late but any pet store that sells reptiles should also sell mealworms I feed my leopard gecko them and I get them from petco

[@BloodyKnives66]

@@kristinebutcher4819 Amazon actually sells live meal worms now. Of course Ebay is also a great place to buy live almost anything.

[@Aurora3242]

​@@mantisclips1324 pet store meal worms will not pupate, they have been treated!

[@ladyhannahs3245]

How often do you give them fresh veggies and fruit? Thx ❤

[@LovinofftheLand]

About once a week 👌

[@bridgetwebb1006]

Did the eggs drop?

[@lisaalford9636]

I can't find the next video where you show how to clean the containers

[@LovinofftheLand]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXinYaGbo7l0g8U Hope this helps

[@godsdaughtercindy5174]

Do they escape from that type of container?

[@SylviYah0507]

No

[@RuhulAmin-uu9fh]

You can send some pupa to me in Bangladesh, brother