Mealworm Farm Tour - the first full tour in the new facility

We moved insects into the new facility about 3 months ago, so we're finally starting to get settled. I had a few requests for a tour of the building, so I decided to show you the full operation without any sort of modification or clean up. This is a genuine look at what raising mealworms looks like at Midwest Mealworms.
If you have any questions about the operation, feel free to comment below.
If you want to see what the previous building was like, here's the tour: • Midwest Mealworms Tour
#themealwormguy #mealworms #howtoraisemealworms #geckos #geckobreeder #geckobreeding #leopardgecko #crestedgecko #beardies #beardeddragon #reptiles #feeders #insects #bluebird #bluebirds #chickens #chickenfeed #urbanchickens #backyardchickens

[@mvcorganic]

"He helps us with the insect control of anything that might get out, we appreciate him".. What a brilliant greeting!

[@sivadcmada]

Human water 😂 I cracked up. Nice setup... just started looking into this for my chickens

[@MidwestMealworms]

I just re-listened to that part...😂

[@Sohailali1]

Please record horizontally.

[@MidwestMealworms]

Are you having issues with the video?

[@Sohailali1]

@@MidwestMealworms No issues. Just an opinion that the majority would prefer horizontal (wide) recorded Videos.(unless this is being used for TikTok then no worries)

[@fujijen4925]

Wow. Thanks!

[@elijahrose7913]

You and the frog were so chill.

[@brandy2771]

Great video. Very good information.

[@countrywyfe]

amazing thank you for sharing

[@MidwestMealworms]

My pleasure, thank you for stopping by!

[@urbanmealwormsfarming]

Beautiful

[@MidwestMealworms]

Thank you. The front part is now a dirty disorganized disaster, but I'm working on getting it cleaned so I can do an updated tour video. Check out the recent "Getting organized" series to see what I mean 😁

[@vorvolakas]

nice video nice work. im just proud that u can do all of those test and wish to live in place that i can do that test too. but nice work we rarely see some good video about this new jobs and mealworms farm.

[@whatha47]

I like your setup a lot, your prices are pretty awesome too for such a clean operation! Just purchased some!

[@MidwestMealworms]

Thank you! Aaaahhhhh!!

[@KoiCarpKyle2393]

Iv just set up a little mealworm farm for our koi food 😁😎 still learning but alls good 👍🐟

[@MidwestMealworms]

that's awesome! How do you feed them, just throw them in live into the koi enclosure?

[@jsbmason81]

Awesome set up. Where ya find the blue trays?

[@MidwestMealworms]

Beekenkamp, in the Netherlands

[@nowuz]

Wow! Nice work! How do you sort out all the hatched beetles?

[@MidwestMealworms]

I put the pupae in a tray on their own, about 1-2 pupae thick, no substrate. I place a paper towel over them. The beetles cling to it, I shake them off. I posted a vid recently of me collecting beetles that shows this.

[@josephderosa5402]

As a business cleaning up at the end of the day must be a mandatory task it's is a business and anything can happen and you don't want to be liable for any accidents

[@MidwestMealworms]

Valid point.

[@1337farm]

You could consider getting a package AC unit. They come preloaded with Freon so you could install yourself if you can do the electric. The whole unit sits outside and is ducted inside.

[@MidwestMealworms]

That is very likely what I'm going to have to do, but that is pricey. I'm hoping to make it through the winter and as spring comes, invest in a permanent, less manual heating and cooling system.

[@michaelanderson1947]

I'm pretty sure he is referring to a mini split they start at about 1500 dollars Very cost effective sit outside and use a 1inch hole to pipe inside They also have a heat pump so they do heat and ac

[@MidwestMealworms]

@@michaelanderson1947 I've looked at them a while back, not too bad of a price compared to the large window unit AC i bought, but then I need to pay for installation. It's definitely on the list once the funds are available though 😊

[@sarjonosadikun1608]

​@@MidwestMealwormsɖʀȶɖ𝓎𝕥

[@Q_Channel1]

awesome! How many lbs per week does this produce?

[@MidwestMealworms]

No clue, I don't measure in pounds. I sell them live, I measure by quantities, currently 1.25 million per month average.

[@drisxxx5761]

Nice big place to work! Is it possible to put solar on the roof or windmail? Should be a great branding producing green mealworms x□ ,the goverment in the netherlands pushes us to generate ourself because of the Boeting thing

[@MidwestMealworms]

unfortunately the building isn't angled well for solar, I'm not sure about windmill. That would be an interesting way to try and separate from the competitors.

[@lonniegreen8822]

What type of blue trays do you use,i real like the way you set them up thanks

[@MidwestMealworms]

These are Beekenkamp trays from the Netherlands. I now buy them from Tricycle.eco in Canada.

[@maelynnvelin8937]

Thank you for sharing! Two questions: How much frass do you produce per month? You spray water directly into your bins of newly hatched worms and you don't end up with mold issues? Please explain that process!

[@MidwestMealworms]

Frass production is directly correlated to substrate consumption....generally speaking, every pound of substrate consumed will be half a pound of frass. We're making about 500-750 lbs of frass a month.

[@MidwestMealworms]

I thought I had a video of the spraying, but I can't find it. I'll get one made and posted here.....and, I'll be live at 3 central today if you want to join and I can do it live with you :)

[@allantolentino8231]

Awesome facility! Do you sell those blue trays?

[@MidwestMealworms]

No, I buy them from Tricycle.eco in Canada, they originated from Beekenkamp in the Netherlands.

[@allantolentino8231]

@@MidwestMealworms Thank you. I appreciate!

[@thomastonnessen8056]

That AC should be on an exterior wall for fresh air and for the water to drip out side rather than on the floor or in a bucket.

[@MidwestMealworms]

That would be ideal, yes.

[@sebastianlenartowski5645]

Hola, me interesaría mucho saber algo más de la graja: cúantos m2, instalaciones? Cuanto costaría poner en marcha un proyecto como el suyo?

[@MidwestMealworms]

2100 Sq ft. I don't know what it would cost starting from scratch.

[@scottshields9075]

Question where did you buy your microwave dehidrator at.

[@MidwestMealworms]

It was part of a package deal when I bought my first set of the blue trays. A company in TX was closing down, they sold off all their mealworm rearing equipment.

[@WarGardensForVictory]

How much do you feed at a time and how long before you sift it?

[@MidwestMealworms]

How much varies by whether it's beetles, pupae, or larvae, and how old. Basically your goal should be to feed am amount that the tray can consume in 24 hours. Sifting happens when needed, again this varies based on density, environment, etc. Watch your tray, once the substrate is gone, time to sift.

[@lucaspawloski2324]

Would you happen to still have pupae bridges?

[@MidwestMealworms]

No, too easy to make one by upcycling, didn't make sense to use more plastic to keep printing them.

[@chuckeldridge8498]

Whats your opinion of your MAX Idustries microwave freeze dryer? Does it have vacuum?

[@MidwestMealworms]

I haven't used a freeze dryer. The dehydrator I had was a microwave dehydrator, is that what you're asking about?

[@chuckeldridge8498]

Yes. My mistake.

[@24championkitchen]

May i know what kind of plastic bin or pallet di you used for mealworms?

[@MidwestMealworms]

They are made by Beekenkamp in the Netherlands.

[@24championkitchen]

Thank you @@MidwestMealworms

[@jasonscreativeadventures3900]

Do those beetles fly at all??? I guess not if they stay in those shallow trays! Lol. I found that surprising. I'm considering trying a small operation. Will they get exponentially bigger in numbers quickly??

[@MidwestMealworms]

They mostly just fall with grace, they aren't active flyers. Fast is relative. They take months to go through their life cycle. A single female is capable of laying up to 500 eggs, so they can produce a lot. But I wouldn't say it's quick....

[@jasonscreativeadventures3900]

@@MidwestMealworms ok thanks 👍! I bought two 36 count containers of mealworms from Walmart today. I doubt that there's actually that many! And some quick oats! I lightly ground some oats up and put the mealworms in. All had on hand was some orange slices. I would've rather put something else in, like potato or carrots. The worms seem very dark and big-ish. I wonder if they are either dying or getting ready to turn into the pupa things that become beetles??..

[@MidwestMealworms]

@@jasonscreativeadventures3900 they may turn into pupae, they may also just be growing. Sometimes store mealworms will have a chemical on them to stop pupation, if yours don't pupate it may be nothing you're doing wrong. If they do, all good!

[@jasonscreativeadventures3900]

@@MidwestMealworms yeah I heard about that chemical thing.. I guess it's just a waiting thing lol. 👍 Thanks!

[@jasonscreativeadventures3900]

Are the orange slices ok? I've heard acid things can be bad for some worms...

[@zachorr9412]

How did you start out in this and how long ago?

[@MidwestMealworms]

Started for chickens we had back in 2015ish. Officially started the business in Jan of 2017, did it as a side business until 2 years ago when I left my corporate job and did this full time.

[@dallassmith3297]

Where can I get the blue and white trays

[@MidwestMealworms]

White, www.webstaurantstore.com/ Blue, Beekenkamp in the Netherlands.

[@fujijen4925]

When did you start breeding them?

[@MidwestMealworms]

I started over 7 years ago for personal use, we had chickens at the time. That grew, and then in 2017 I officially started the business.

[@MrsShasta77]

It seems like there are so many meals worm farm out there now. Is there really a need for this many? Not being rude at all but seriously curious about the demand. My daughter just started with meal worms and I’m wondering how big this endeavour is going to get lol

[@MidwestMealworms]

There aren't that many full time small operations....less than 20 is my estimate. Demand for frass will be the biggest push from my perspective, and locally sourced feed for poultry.

[@coles_produce]

how do you contain the beetles so they dont fly?

[@MidwestMealworms]

Even though they have wings and can 'deploy' them, they don't actively fly up. They do more of a 'fall with grace', so they aren't able to escape via flight.

[@user-ky6bk5rd2h]

How much weight in mealworms can you harvest per week with that set up

[@MidwestMealworms]

weight will vary based on what you're producing/harvesting. I dont have recent data for the expansion, but I was producing 1 million 3/4" average larvae per month in 1000 sq ft. I've expanded and should be able to double that, ideally triple it, with the added space.

[@CoralMan24]

what are them blue trays called and where you get them I could use them for another use lol?

[@MidwestMealworms]

They are from Beekenkamp in the Netherlands. I currently buy them from Tricycle.eco in Canada.

[@CoralMan24]

@@MidwestMealworms thank you :)

[@OzkAltBldgCo-bv8tt]

Do you know if yellow trout will eat the beetals? What about crawdads, mud crabs, and catfish?

[@MidwestMealworms]

I doubt it, they have an off-putting odor. But maybe that would attract them?

[@OzkAltBldgCo-bv8tt]

@@MidwestMealworms if I get into raising mealworms I need to figure out a way to get rid of The Beatles I'm not sure if chickens would eat them but it would be worth a try worst case scenario would just be to humanely get rid of The Beatles by smashing them and then composting them. I can imagine raising African giant snails that would eat them or possibly have like a terrarium that has loaded with ants and different things inside it.

[@FuadsThoughtsAndDesires]

Doesn't your beetle climb out or fly out

[@MidwestMealworms]

They don't fly, and they can't climb clean plastic.

[@GameMovieStudios2000]

why dont you just use big ventilators for cooling?

[@MidwestMealworms]

I have an exhaust fan that ventilates throughout the day now.

[@m.h.moeeni1973]

What is the temperature for breeding mealworm?

[@MidwestMealworms]

I aim for 78F, they can go higher but I like a bit of wiggle room. 😉

[@kevinrousan5852]

Where can I get a bag of wheat bran?

[@MidwestMealworms]

Feed store, feed supply, MFA, some places will need to order it in for you if they don't carry it.

[@mealwormsfarmingrawalpindi]

Hi how are you doing brother can you tell me from where I can buy those mealworms trys send me link if you don't mind?

[@MidwestMealworms]

I ship to the Continental US : midwestmealworms.com

[@seanroberts7695]

Um um um

[@Kimmeiminnis]

Is it very profitable? Or make any money enough to pay your bills? My thing is to make enough to buy my toilet paper.

[@MidwestMealworms]

You can definitely sell enough mealworms to buy the tp you need.

[@larrybethrowden2149]

I am wanting to start my own so what would you charge me.. would like to talk to you on phone or email somehow

[@MidwestMealworms]

My direct email is [e-mail], if you'd like to talk I have some options here midwestmealworms.com/collections/consult/products/one-on-one-consultation

[@niz76]

Have you heard of the Ebner Effect? It's fascinating science that's been buried. I did a long experiment raising mealworms under high energy field "ebner effect" and had decent results with bigger worms- no chemicals. Might be worth a look into if you like doing experiments. search "Ebner Effect Mealworms" if you want to see the vid.

[@MidwestMealworms]

I haven't heard of that, thank you for the info!

[@cfbwarzone]

Nice video! Question, where did you find those blue containers? They look super efficient and space saving for sure.

[@MidwestMealworms]

They are made by Beekenkamp in The Netherlands.

[@robbielitt9232]

@@MidwestMealwormshow’d you get them here ? Is there a distributor ? They look amazing . Great video

[@MidwestMealworms]

@@robbielitt9232 I picked out with my original lot, got them from a TX company that closed. Then found a supplier in CA, Tricycle.eco

[@cfbwarzone]

Nice video! Question, where did you find those blue containers? They look super efficient and space saving for sure.

[@MidwestMealworms]

They are made by Beekenkamp in The Netherlands.

[@charlottebrown3665]

@@MidwestMealworms do they slide in and out or do you have to unstack them Thanks

[@MidwestMealworms]

@@charlottebrown3665 they don't slide. I built a tower for my previous white trays, they slid on and out. Huge waste of time and energy. When we have a tray that needs to be removed (very rare) it is quick to unstack and restack. The efficiency gained from these trays offsets the downside of having to unstack.

[@charlottebrown3665]

@@MidwestMealworms thanks so much for your reply.

[@northeasternguy1010]

No issues with worms/Beatles crawling out of the blue trays? Started this project for our chickens, beardies, and koi. Always looking for ways to improve and save space.