MEALWORM FARMING FOR BEGINNERS - How to Maintain a Healthy Mealworm Farm

[@suprandom]

KZbin recommended - hey wanna know how to farm mealworms? Me- sure

[@Lmfaocj]

same

[@calvin1176]

yup

[@Excalibur5567]

Me to, I sure hope his meal worm farming goes well

[@civicboy227]

i only came to read comments

[@danii8168]

Maissimoottori Sadly I need to get rid of my bug phobia to be able to keep a healthy Leo gecko

[@darchandarchan7036]

i see this whole system more organized and effective than political system in my country

[@natachalajara8928]

Puerto Rico obviously 😂

[@louisfeyt4188]

worms are smarter than politicians and their policies don't kill people

[@ManufacturedCrises]

skankhunt42 I think you’re doing a great job. Your English is better than a lot of Americans lol

[@WillbeSingin]

Are you American?🤣🤣 politics suck. This is a great video

[@s_wozzzie]

@@TheRealRancherMike do the beetles fly a lot?

[@fureveryoungfarm3752]

That was so cool when you dumped the worms back in the pan and they spread themselves out like a liquid. (Yes, I'm easily to entertained) lol

[@dibbledabble4405]

Yes you are very "easily to entertained"

[@FusionDeveloper]

They do that every time. It's quite satisfying to watch.

[@FortuneTruong]

Hi there, I watched your videos and very impressed with the set up. Just a small recommendation here, if you try to get rid of the small beetles just for a few generations, and the remaining traits are only create big head pupa. Eventually you don’t have to worry about the small head pupa any more and that tedious step does not need to be committed anymore.

[@semperfiblackjack6062]

BTW: Your "sifters" are actually gold panning classifies hence their inventory number begins with "GP". They are a good choice for your purpose also. You can also get them from any mining supply store and can only buy the size you want.

[@beebob1279]

I think sportsman's warehouse which just opened has something similar. Who needs the 1/2 inch . Just need the smallest they have. I guess a sieve would work as long as it's very tight woven.

[@seri7890]

I talked with a friend about starting my own small mealworm farm to feed my geckos and now I have this recommended.

[@PeterMaddison2483]

The all seeing Google knows, you know ;-)

[@DavidsMedialv]

Your friend must be a snitch! :D Telling Google everything

[@voqwev5658]

@@izabellat.s4683 keep em in a cold environment.. it slows them down

[@mpk6664]

@@izabellat.s4683 You could freeze them. I recommend staying away from super mealworms. They might last longer in worm form, but they're less nutritious and have more chitin which depending on your gecko can cause some problems. Leopard geckos(fat tails/cave/etc) and New Caledonian species especially, as they have slower metabolisms and don't bask.

[@jeromephelan8882]

Can you farm mealworms in the garage over the winter? Also please provide a list of all your equipment and where you buy the beetles.

[@amandapittar9398]

I love the way you say the word “ frass” - you said it just enough for me. Love your accent. Zero waste mealy worms. No waste at all. Got to love them. Also quite tough. Vacuumed. Sieved. Sifted. Shaken. Genetically screened. Tough little buggers.

[@argonianaccount1876]

If you're having problems with "small" mealies being produced, add more depth to your substrate. I had this problem then moved them in to much deeper tubes with the substrate about 1/2-3 inches deep, now I've got Dune sized worms and the leopard geckos and hens are loving it!!!

[@privatecaller1418]

Thanks Need to feed worms winter, hen food has doubled at feed store

[@patsyblanton363]

What substrate do you use

[@argonianaccount1876]

@@patsyblanton363 that wheat bran bedding that you can find anywhere. I’ve actually got WAY TOO many atm. Hens are happy!!!

[@craigmartin7179]

I work in the food industry and that's considered a 4" FULL pan.

[@fritzwilhelm8258]

Thanks for the tip. Saves me some time searching. Nobody lives forever...

[@Nenezilla]

Appeared in my recommended, and I have no idea why, as I have no reptiles or animals that would eat these, and haven't a clue what else they are used for. But I watched your video and it was informative

[@psychiatry-is-eugenics]

Ne Ne Zilla - wild bird feed ?

[@Nenezilla]

@@psychiatry-is-eugenics -- oh I had no idea, thanks!

[@cortan1686]

i bet they use em as a human food

[@Nenezilla]

@@cortan1686 they may, either way it was very informative.

[@jemberlou]

You could keep the lil beetles as pets. They’re harmless and such sweethearts

[@rogerwilson6950]

Dang this is so much work😂. I just have a bin with everything together, I give them carrots and they all thrive. Every once in a while I sift out the poop and put new wheat bran, and I'll ad a few new worms to keep the gene pool varied. It works for feeding my two lizards

[@wecas9596]

What kind of lizards do you keep? Are they fun as pets? I'm just curious, because I've don't known anyone who keeps a lizard. Actually the people around me hate and fear lizards. I love them. I find them beautiful. Even the common house lizards.

[@kaitlynredetzke9031]

@@wecas9596 I recommend getting a gecko for your first reptile. Research is key. I promise you. There is so many people with wrong care but if you research and join groups they will help you

[@karencudaback985]

This was very enjoyable. I like that fact that you gave us all of the information without a lot of extra details. Your farm is very efficient and clean. Thank you.

[@tristanbartolome2840]

this is one of the most detailed mealworm farming I have ever seen

[@MahNameTook]

I feel the start of a youtube spiral coming on.

[@vociferonheraldofthewinter2284]

I really appreciate this video. It's good to know how ot recover when things get out of hand. Even when we do our best, life can interfere.

[@vociferonheraldofthewinter2284]

@@livinfarmseducation4783 I'll do that. And I appreciate your response. Right now I'm still learning and I'll take all the guidance I can get. (Does that 'I'm still learning' phase ever end? lol!)

[@MyDustyHouse]

I watched 20 of these mealworm demonstrations and your is the most informative.

[@TheRealRancherMike]

Thank you, Britney!

[@occipitalneuralgia2339]

Great tips in separating the pupae from adult beetles. I never did this, but I did keep plenty of moisture for them in the way of cut veggies, and apples.

[@chewycherry2203]

every video on reptile feeder colonies are similar, but this video genuinely helped. Thank you :)

[@chiseler151]

i dont need mealworms right now, but one day i might. so just in case i watched this video

[@jeanenmonteleone5484]

Shed Skins: Blowing off the shed skins from the trays is my least favorite part. I've found I can use my Ryobi leaf blower with variable speed. I place a tray on the patio, gently press the trigger on the leaf blower so it barely blows, move it over the tray and clean off the shed skins. Works like a charm! I tried your vacuum method, but it didn't work well with my vacuum. But if I'm very gentle with the leaf blower it eliminates shed skins in my face. Thanks for all your help!

[@chrisinedison]

Great video...DEFINITELY WEAR A MASK while sifting these.

[@ireneb3433]

better still, 'put a 'mask' over the pan (a round strip of fine - preferably stretchy - fabric perhaps with an elasticised edge ... perhaps something like a very fine hairnet / pantyhose gusset) to keep the fine dust out of the air that you (and others) may still be breathing an hour or so later ... just a thought

[@mindfortress105]

I farm them small scale, for my tarantulas. As a beginner you don't need to do all this, it's way more simple. Get a plastic box, fill it with a some grain products, oatmeal, flower, corn flower, dry pet food, whatever, add a carrot once in a while for them to get water out of, add your worms, and you are done. I've been doing this for half a year, didn't change the substrate yet or anything, they are alive and reproducing well, have more than enough for tarantula feeding

[@SimplifyTelevision]

I'm the furthest thing from a farmer but good lord this was interesting

[@Thundra74]

6:53 In Europe we have GASTRONORM classification system so all box related had GN fraction size. ES. GN 1/1 have a size of 530x325mm, GN 2/1 is sized 530x650mm, GN 1/2 is sized 265x325mm

[@simonzehr5273]

Hey my name is Simon! I use water crystals. They work amazingly well.I just started my own farm. It is so much fun! I use oatmeal.

[@mrsgriza]

I love how specific and thoughtful you were with all these custom designs. SO smart!!

[@TheRealRancherMike]

Thank you for your kind words, Laura! It’s my sincere hope that others will benefit from my videos, so it means a lot when I receive such positive feedback. Thank you!

[@xyzsame4081]

@@TheRealRancherMike Hi, when I read through the comment section I noticed that many people seem to answer to your comments, thanking you etc. - but your original comment is missing. There are threads where your comment is visible and others where it is not. - Likely a youtube bug and cannot be changed anymore but I thought I let you know. (In case you changed a setting that suppresses your own comments).

[@TheRealRancherMike]

The issue is that I had the "bright" idea of creating separate channels a while back, and when I migrated my videos over to one of those channels, all of my prior comments got erased. I migrated everything back, but those comments are gone forever, unfortunately.

[@jamesremde9548]

Love your setup. A couple of questions, how and how often do you move your beetles to a new tray when they have laid enough eggs and how often you sieve the frass/pupae/beetles out of the older larvae draws?

[@countrieboyz2009]

I LOVE Wen tools, looking for that bucket vacuum now!

[@michelleportell3650]

This is hands down the best video I have watched yet!! I do have questions about the screens on the containers! They are awesome. Also will you be manufacturing the screening and housing items you had made!? I would like to get into this for my ducks and chicken and to be able to sell a few to cover the cost of growning the meal worms for my birds! Thanks again for an amazing video!! Have a great day!! Michelle

[@shellygriffith6260]

Would like to know about those screens too

[@ruthspillman546]

Grear info!!! Ivdid not know there was so much to do. I ordered 1000 and just received them Tuesday. Been feeding them. Now I may just feed them a little at a time to my chickens. I will soon be very busy with gardening. Tks so much for explaining the many things needed to raising mealworms. I was buying dried ones.

[@gwenloughman3775]

Very informative and educational!! Beginner mealworm breeder - for a pair of robins in my garden -so this was very helpful and it answered all of my questions.

[@victoriaalexander6223]

Very impressive! I have to admit, I am blown away. Well done!

[@TheRealRancherMike]

Thanks!

[@hoadao712]

So smart, your work is so well-organized, please make more videos like this

[@97musicaddict]

this was SO informative! I love how passionate you are.

[@TheRealRancherMike]

Thanks, Sophia! 👍🏻

[@bryanb5413]

Love the setup. Great information.

[@ZyanZik]

I have a Little Production of mealworm and i separate in the same way the poop (Gray stuff) and the Carcass but with hands and a metal filter for fruits jams, just not with vaccum. My mealworm are top quality . I think The vaccum Is a Nice idea for Bigger set up. I dump all in compost.

[@FougereFamilyAdventures]

Thanks for the information. We are just starting our our mealworm farm. I love that pupae sifter and tray you have. I need one. I subscribed!

[@letsRegulateSociopaths]

love the pupae platform for emerging beetles, so smart!

[@pedambr199]

very interesting video i will heat treat my dry food in the future thanks for the tip

[@Sean-bp6xb]

I never knew. Had no idea. Very informed now. Thx. Watching from Ontario Canada 🎉

[@FknNefFy]

Attach a strawberry basket to the end (upside down) as a spacer for your vacuum

[@susanbertrand445]

Wow, I have been farming mealworms for 7 years now, and this guy, Mike, has got it super organized, AND, he taught ME something! Great job Mike!❤️

[@TheRealRancherMike]

Thanks, Susan!

[@susanbertrand445]

@@TheRealRancherMike I do a LOT of the same techniques as you do, with the vacuuming of shells, spread of frass in my yard, and garden... so I am going to get 1 of the sifters now due to you🌻. Thx, I appreciate learning❤️🌴

[@TheRealRancherMike]

Glad to hear it!

[@bigchieftomato]

great video! i wonder how big you can make them over successive generations separating larger mealworms early and breeding them

[@jennifervest1587]

thank you rancher mike the videos did help me out alot

[@SupremeGecko]

Outstanding video Mike. Thanks for sharing. Love the vacuum head. Clicked on a lot of links because I will be trying to replicate this for my geckos. Thanks again!

[@oneperson5760]

thanks for the tip of heating the wheat to 275! The first time I tried raising mealworms, it got infested and killed by mites or some tiny bug and it all died. When/if I try again, I'll heat the food first.

[@AFowkingPanda]

careful, people have developed severe allergies to mealworms handeling like you do, dont breath in anything that comes off those suckers...

[@tobyngenn8537]

I snort lines of mealworms

[@potatopoii2720]

Tobyn Genn me too

[@laurafragoso2165]

Tobyn Genn 😂😂😂

[@tobyngenn8537]

@@potatopoii2720 Thank god i'm not alone

[@PinkBlue_Spood]

Is there a good way to do this even with allergies?

[@nirmal6362]

Thanks for showing ur research and hardwork - in the video, thanks for making one for us

[@michaelhadjiconstantis7664]

Hello. Maybe you can use the Mealworm Frass as food for your Red Wigglers. I remember that an earthworm breeder was feeding them with a flour mix to grow faster. So Frass may have important nutrients for them and they will quickly transform it to compost. A problem that you may have is the increase of decomposing bacteria in your compost soil. Is not really a problem. I think it worth the experimentation.

[@ireneb3433]

perhaps frass *mixed in with* other organics for the vermicompost worms, but remember that, essentially, the frass has had a lot of the 'goodness' sucked out of it by the mealworms, leaving largely the unwanted, 'not-beneficial' and perhaps even toxic (in large quantities) elements; vermicomposting worms, left in their own frass and expected to feed off it end up unhealthy and can potentially lead to your worm population dying off. Perhaps just add the mealworm frass (poop/waste/faeces) to the hot compost pile / composting trench or even garden by just *sprinkling* (vs 'dumping' a pile) over the ground in very thin layers? Or, as I think someone else mentioned, make compost 'tea bags' out of them; just wrap a cup-full of the frass powder in fine muslin with a string attached!

[@BossOfAllTrades]

@@ireneb3433 yea probably just small quantities of ammonia and iron phosphates, Which are inorganic and your plants will likely benefit more from it.

[@sugarbabie1681]

Thanks a bunch I pick them out every morning any none good Bettles get feed to the Oscars I have a drawer system bettels on top on fine mess eggs fall threw hatch and mealworms in the second drawer 3rd drawer goes pup until beetles then tossed back into the top. The vacuum thing is brilliant!

[@winnietrinh1656]

This is my gecko's heaven

[@guymontag2948]

Brilliant system. Thanks for all the information.

[@TheRealRancherMike]

Thanks, Guy!

Great stuff Mike! Love this content, subbed!

[@bluescreen243]

Meal worms love potato peelings as a moisture source

[@borneoislandfishing9691]

Thanks for sharing the video

[@jaicimurcia9271]

This is incredible! Thanks for the tips on cleaning, separating, and feeding! Super helpful.

[@PlusMate77]

4:41 Mike: And I bought this off of......um...... Me: Amazon! Amazon!

[@TheRainHarvester]

How much do they cost?

[@TheRainHarvester]

@@TheRealRancherMike oh, I meant how much do the bags of food cost for the worms? I can't figure out how to buy 60lbs of meal worm food for cheaper than 60lbs of chicken feed for $15.

[@xyzsame4081]

@@TheRainHarvester the meal worms are (hopefully) organic and non GMO. The bran should be super cheap, it is a waste product.

[@bigchieftomato]

feed the sheds to a compost tea brewer and report back :)

[@MrMaefiu]

are you talking about the lowest(liquid) layer of a worm compost?

[@water654]

@@MrMaefiu that is Leche, worm tea is different.

[@dawnlark629]

Ok 1. Love ur channel soo much. But i have 2 questions... Do u feed them in the dark cause I heard they like it. And 2. Do you put a lot of bran in the container or a little so they wont burrow and they will find food? because mine just burrows in the oats and never comes out. Thanks and keep up the great work!

[@dawnlark629]

Thanks Man. But it turns out I got giant mealwroms and not regular. I saw that they have hormones in them so they don't pupate. Gotta buy regular mealworms but thanks for the tips!

[@sarahbear649]

So you said you put the shedded skin in your garden, so what do you do with the frass? Can that go in the garden also?

[@thenameofYeshua]

@@TheRealRancherMike I'm considering raising mealworms to feed my chickens and I have to say that I thuroughly enjoyed your video! It was done exactly like I teach things, so it was perfect for me. I need all the details...that's how my brain works, and I feel like when it's time to get started, I can move forward with confidence in the things I've seen here. I also love how you explained in the comment above just how to use the frass and exoskeletons in the garden! Thank you so much for the wonderfully done video! So, I suppose I need to find a friend who welds now...

[@JosephDewey]

This is one of the best things I've ever seen on KZbin.

[@TheRealRancherMike]

Thanks, Joseph!

[@ajfrye2395]

Love this video. It has been very helpful to my wife and I since we are very new to farming mealworms. One question I have is, once the beetles are separated in to their own tray, how do you go about separating the beetles from their eggs/baby mealworm?

[@TheRealRancherMike]

Hi Aj. You don’t really separate the eggs from the beetles. Instead, you separate the beetles from the eggs that they lay every 2-3 weeks. The food substrate left behind will have the eggs on/in it. Those eggs will eventually hatch into tiny mealworms. Hope that helps, and thanks for watching!

[@aychirouchiwa8791]

Thank you from Sudbury, Ontario, Canada :)

[@TheRealRancherMike]

🫶🏼

[@goddessofcode]

It was hilarious the first time the mealworms for my tarantula molted. The hubby thought it looked like they all died...like massacre style. Had to tell him they all molted. :P

[@eugeneson0108]

Vacuuming exoskeleton seems pretty genius. Thanks man.

[@yourcheapdate4564]

This is really helpful man. I'm just about to get back into having a couple of 55 gallon tanks with oscars and want a self-replenishing food source. I used meal worms in college for my oscars, so this was great to help me set up again. Is there a good reason to use your substrate vs cornmeal or oatmeal. I"d love your input.

[@TheRealRancherMike]

I use wheat bran because it is easier to separate when I have to sift out pupae or beetles. Some folks use oat bran, but the flakes are so large, it makes it hard to separate using the green sifters I bought on Amazon (you can use the link at the bottom of ny videos to find my Amazon store where all these products are listed). Hope that helps, and best of luck with your oscars!

[@kailx631]

This is very good for a starter insect farmer thank you very much

[@michaelc9311]

Cool. I've been considering farming chickens._.And bugs to keep them happy.

[@ReptilesGeniales]

Thanks for sharing your information!! I have grown mealworms but eventually I forget about them and exactly THAT happens… everything in a mix..

[@TheRealRancherMike]

You are so welcome!

[@KidMangaX]

You might do well to wrap a fine, mesh screen around that hose. It'll keep mealworms from getting sucked in, and you can take the hose down lower to get more skins. Also: Watching this because of Coronavirus.

[@4Dionna4]

The skins won't go thug the fine mesh if it's TOO fine.

[@nancyavila9768]

Do you beetles get out of the pans?

[@bradleymiller437]

@@nancyavila9768 no, we beetles don’t get out of the pans.

[@totallyfrozen]

LOL! You felt the need to share that? What does coronavirus have to do with mealworm farming?

[@davidsdjurochtradgard1305]

This info was Gold! A well earned subscription btw 🙂

[@TheRealRancherMike]

Thanks!!

[@bobbiscrittercave2348]

You should patent and sell your sifting tray!

[@AS-dz1ww]

Wow this was extremely well explained, and organized video and farm probably one of the best I’ve seen!! I’ll subscribe immediately!

[@TheRealRancherMike]

Thank you!!

[@anofritz]

i wish i have a buddy who can do awesome things like you do. hahaha

[@secondhandchoppers2175]

You're a Beast!!! Amazing work and design. Keep posting more information. You could sell that sifter you made easily

[@MSalmanAlvi]

brilliant job you re inspiration for me alot of love from pakistan. thanks mate.

[@TheRealRancherMike]

Thank you!!

[@drendraleigh4722]

I'll start keeping reptile soon so that's why this is in my recommendation(i feel like i'll have a pet mealworm more than a pet gecko now, lol. But taking care of any living things is fun to me anyway) and i have to say that your dedication deserve my sub. It would be nice if you can raise the money to put your design out to the market, I'm sure there'll be a lot of people that want to help(maybe you already did). I don't even know what your other content will be but i'll stick around. Q : so I can just put wheat bran(i don't know how to spell this word, i don't know what's the translation in my language is so I can't look it up 😅) in as a bedding?

[@xkilarge178]

10:08 that worm on the left be vibennn

[@Raven-so4tz]

I need help, it got out of control, how do I put it on fire without burning my house as well?

[@artistfun1]

Raven 😭😭😭😭

[@nothanksyoutube]

Nice set up. I use mealworms for processing styrofoam. So I don't raise them for production as much as they are a composting system. However, you've got some clever tools for it. Thanks for sharing the tips.

[@nothanksyoutube]

@@TheRealRancherMike my set up is a Rubbermaid storage tote, a little larger than a shoe box. Probably 3 gallons. I have packing peanuts, the trays you get with meat, and some larger pieces of styrofoam broken into chunks that fit inside the container. I supplement with occasional sprinkles of wheat bran, and weekly food scraps like apple, carrot, potato or whatever other scraps from the veg we cook with. It does take a while for foam to be completely broken down, but they will turn it into Swiss cheese in no short order. Packing peanuts and small pieces go pretty quickly but larger stuff will take several months. Although, that's incredibly faster than just throwing it into a landfill and waiting for it to break down.

[@choosinghope]

Thank you so much Mike, this was super helpful. I'm just starting out and I'm surprised at how many pupae and beetles don't survive. If I toss them in the beetle bin by hand as I see them, they often lie feet up and wriggle on the wheat bran. Can't they turn over by themselves?? I feel like I have to be so careful with them now.

[@dudo_the_dude9948]

Great video, very useful. I'd like every KZbinr would explain their themes like you did. Thumbs up, keep up the good work!

[@TheRealRancherMike]

Thanks for the compliment!

[@OwenPrescott]

I have an allergy from the frass stuff and break out with spots, it's horrible to see you touching the stuff ha

[@ColorMyWorld]

This was fantastic! My little farm is just getting started. I have a few lizards, birds and fish that all eat mealworms so breeding them seemed the smartest thing to do. I have a handfull of beatles , larve and baby worms. I started with 500 worms. I was keeping them all together but I am going to do a setup like yours. Thank you so much for this info.

[@Burakismus]

18:27 i thought this was a Human Finger xd

[@ZyanZik]

😅

[@jerometruitt2731]

Best separating system Ive seen

[@TheRealRancherMike]

Thanks, Jerome!

[@oliver7416]

"about one thirtieth of an inch", welcome to america

[@barlow2976]

Agreed, archaic, isn't it. Even NASA get confused.

[@MotesTV]

@@barlow2976 Wasn't It good enough for Egypt?

[@barlow2976]

@@MotesTV Eh????

[@mrsm6153]

Learned so much from this video! You’re an excellent teacher!

[@TheRealRancherMike]

Thanks, Mrs M!!

[@RobinCould]

16:26 Joker (2019) We live in a society

[@deem163]

Great video..thank you so much!

[@cmanuel723]

Details for the black tray sir. Thanks!

[@lilianmillay6956]

What! Are you races or something

[@roku_5469]

Lilian Millay ??? What-

[@roku_5469]

C Manuel I think it's written in the description

[@lptvboy]

They are salad bar trays made for a cold food on salad bar. The one is a full size pan 6 or 8 inches deep

[@awakenedanarchism4202]

Interesting and informative video. I'm thinking about do something like this. mealworms for my Cichlids

[@maupolud5910]

epic video make more of this

[@rdoes6696]

smart designs. thanks for the info. I'm considering bug-farming for human consumption as a "back-up/emergency" protein source. I didn't consider the other bi-products to use for gardening or resell. smart stuff.

[@TheRealRancherMike]

Thanks!

[@tribex11]

This is fantastic, thanks for the great info. I love how everything is so well organised, labeled and thought out 👏 Now I just have to figure out how to get someone to weld me those cool seperaters 🤔

[@emariaenterprises]

Gravel separators.

[@sivisionCEO]

Bear: dat there is some protein.

[@shanemiller285]

Wow what a set up buddy iv been thanking about getting into this for a while now be nice to have a friend in the trade love your setup very nicely done bud

[@TheRealRancherMike]

Thanks, Shane. And best of luck with starting your own mealworm farm!

[@MrAwesome10171]

“I don’t like those genetics” 😂😂😂

[@LorIsntHere]

MrAwesome10171 I laughed at that too

[@ShotokhanDragon]

Mike, you are a frickin' genius, I love your idea on vacuuming out the exoskeletons. Oh, and just an FYI, if you live near a Tractor Supply Company Store, they sell wheat bran and also rice bran as a live stock feed. I thought that might save you some money on shipping cost for the bran. I have decided to build a tray frame like yours, but I will have to do it with wood. Excellent video. Thank you for posting, Mike P.S. Since we have the same name, I knew you would have to be a genius. 😂

[@okeoke8701]

18:27 I thought it was a finger