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

Рет қаралды 193,132

Күн бұрын

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

Пікірлер: 279

@LovinofftheLand 2 жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

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.cant.sleep.anymore Жыл бұрын

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

@sallywhitebuffalo5918 Жыл бұрын

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

@baddog9320 Жыл бұрын

And if you don't facebook?

@MysteriaSdrassa Жыл бұрын

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

@archangel20031 2 жыл бұрын

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.

@ladyprepper4 2 жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

Same here I am putting my farm together today!

@thenpheler1 Жыл бұрын

That’s why I am starting a meal worm farm

@thenpheler1 Жыл бұрын

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

@e.duncan6256 Жыл бұрын

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

@number1enemyoftheuseless985 Жыл бұрын

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.

@Deej496 Жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

@@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 Жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

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

@crystalo3550 Жыл бұрын

@@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

@VenomnymouS 9 ай бұрын

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 9 ай бұрын

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

@ryanleblanc2925 2 жыл бұрын

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

@edscukas9689 2 жыл бұрын

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 2 жыл бұрын

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

@greyhoundmama2062 2 жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

@@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.

@playstationvr5753 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing theses beautiful ideas

@ThatBritishHomestead Жыл бұрын

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

@christopherrobin8169 2 жыл бұрын

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..🖐🖐

@palaksharma6003 2 жыл бұрын

Am so glued to all ur videos

@joycetompkins3680 2 жыл бұрын

This was helpful for me...thanks!

@jameswalters9683 2 жыл бұрын

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

@kalenfagre2540 4 ай бұрын

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

@sharmilabasu4133 2 жыл бұрын

Keep sharing such amazing videos

@reaganreinke937 Жыл бұрын

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

@LovinofftheLand Жыл бұрын

Thanks Reagan ❤️

@michaelboom7704 2 жыл бұрын

Keep up the good work with your lifestyle!!

@patrickelifritz Жыл бұрын

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.

@bilakemrisner 2 жыл бұрын

so much knowledge you give love ya ll channel

@79klkw Жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

Awesome. Let us know how it goes

@user-wk6gb3sg2u 2 жыл бұрын

Love the life you live!

@purplemoon2843 2 жыл бұрын

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

@offgridatliberypoint Жыл бұрын

Great accomplishment... good job.

@MrDee001 4 ай бұрын

Very informative. Thanks.

@jalitzaa.v4725 2 жыл бұрын

Great video!!

@shalinimehta7061 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing such videos

@neelamsingh83 2 жыл бұрын

Ur such an inspiration

@GodiscomingBhappy Жыл бұрын

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

@GoodThingsEtc Жыл бұрын

genius!!! perfect for city drweller!!!

@emmadeli8662 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome advices

@Ty-nq4fh Жыл бұрын

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

@imsophalgeneralknowledge6371 Жыл бұрын

I love your sharing so much brother ❤

@finro2639 2 жыл бұрын

Great video👍🙌

@jerricojane Жыл бұрын

Christopher Walter sent me my beatles! Great job Thanks

@LovinofftheLand Жыл бұрын

Awesome. That's great. Glad that worked out

@priyankabose4214 2 жыл бұрын

Love your channel

@patrickelifritz Жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

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

@patrickelifritz Жыл бұрын

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.

@carolynthomas3223 Жыл бұрын

Can't wait for mine to mature.

@AnneGoggansQHHT 2 жыл бұрын

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

@angelahopson9604 Жыл бұрын

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

@honeybeehillsidehomestead3177 2 жыл бұрын

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.

@spacesix7039 2 жыл бұрын

You are a genius

@ishka3405 2 жыл бұрын

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

@hawksoaring3014 Жыл бұрын

cool thanks

@LovinofftheLand Жыл бұрын

Hope it helps

@honeybeehillsidehomestead3177 2 жыл бұрын

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 2 жыл бұрын

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

@bynumfranks226 Жыл бұрын

Soldier fly larva would be cool to learn to raise

@lesheinen3682 2 жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

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

@HaltWhoGoesThere 3 ай бұрын

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

@rebelrog Жыл бұрын

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?

@lostinspace2780 Жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

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

@lostinspace2780 Жыл бұрын

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

@johnscarboroughregenerativ7240 Жыл бұрын

Can you feed them primarily coffee grounds

@ericag6387 2 ай бұрын

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 ?

@autry9562 Жыл бұрын

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

@SunnieDIY Жыл бұрын

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?

@dperkwoopdwoop Жыл бұрын

Can you use mealworms in your garden?

@TyinAlaska 10 ай бұрын

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.

@sharonreneau6157 Жыл бұрын

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

@cassandrarudolph1307 2 жыл бұрын

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

@firedoorpushkin2341 Жыл бұрын

Good for the birds anyway

@abigailjunkins4291 Жыл бұрын

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.

@Worlddownsideup Жыл бұрын

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.

@karenvanmeeteren5097 2 жыл бұрын

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

@rhianlewis6774 2 жыл бұрын

This was my only question too please?

@sheilamclaughlin963 2 жыл бұрын

Probably window screen

@jeromephelan8882 Жыл бұрын

Can this farm survive through the winter?

@riss6647 Жыл бұрын

How many do you recommend starting with?

@krissifaith6709 Жыл бұрын

My mom used apple slices. ^^

@LovinofftheLand Жыл бұрын

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

@Aurora3242 Жыл бұрын

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

@bethkemp7515 Жыл бұрын

🙌

@truthforall1303 Жыл бұрын

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

@mrrexy4151 10 ай бұрын

Mmm I'm hungry...

@threeowls369 2 жыл бұрын

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

@debfergeson8460 Жыл бұрын

Late to the party, but I used aluminum screening

@iamcat281 2 жыл бұрын

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 2 жыл бұрын

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

@jayman6608 Жыл бұрын

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

@amandaanderson8647 3 ай бұрын

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

@pamelaeifert7760 Жыл бұрын

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

@georgettehillard9390 2 жыл бұрын

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

@mrs.garcia6978 Жыл бұрын

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

@thisguy916 Жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

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

@jonestr57 Жыл бұрын

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

@johnd.5346 7 ай бұрын

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 7 ай бұрын

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

@marlaallen1631 Жыл бұрын

Any other kind of worms they can eat?

@ladyhannahs3245 3 ай бұрын

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

@LovinofftheLand 3 ай бұрын

About once a week 👌

@tributetotributes8743 Жыл бұрын

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

@LovinofftheLand Жыл бұрын

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

@MrScott426 2 жыл бұрын

Can and do you feed the beetles to the chickens?

@cindypope4238 7 ай бұрын

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

@HostageDK Ай бұрын

what size mesh?

@amiedesjardin6690 Жыл бұрын

where do you pay the beetles ?

@deniseandrews7121 Жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

The beetles are fresh to 3 wks old.

@TheWaffle777 2 жыл бұрын

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

@reneebrown2968 2 жыл бұрын

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 2 жыл бұрын

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

@colourful64able Жыл бұрын

You dont ever throw out the frass

@rosied9098 Жыл бұрын

Sounded like the NFL but it's Congress! 😯

@jacobherrera381 Жыл бұрын

Where can I buy screen mesh?

@jerridmichels4289 27 күн бұрын

Do they escape?

@baddog9320 Жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

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

@jodivaniderstine9889 3 ай бұрын

How do you keep the beetles from escaping?

@LovinofftheLand 3 ай бұрын

They can't climb up the walls of the plastic. Don't think we've ever had one escape 👌

@bridgetwebb1006 3 ай бұрын

Did the eggs drop?

@reboot530 5 ай бұрын

So how do you clean them so you don't have moldy substrate

@LovinofftheLand 5 ай бұрын

We keep them inside in a dry area to help try avoid mold. At the end of the cycle when the meal worms get fed to the chickens, that substrate all goes to the compost. Same with the beetles. At some point in the top drawer the beetles will start to die. Once they start dying, we feed them to the chickens, and the top drawer gets emptied out and cleaned. New substrate gets added with new mealworms/pupae to start the cycle again

@lisaalford9636 Жыл бұрын

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

@LovinofftheLand Жыл бұрын

kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ga10Y9GW07qlfZc.html Hope this helps

@sherirottweilersforever7772 Жыл бұрын

Mites in the grain is one more reason for me to not eat grains.

@aaab1414 2 жыл бұрын

First one to comment :) good luck guys

@-RubbingAlcohol- Жыл бұрын

Would this work with PetsMart mealworms?

@josephvita8943 Жыл бұрын

Yes

@-RubbingAlcohol- Жыл бұрын

@@josephvita8943 alr ty!

@williamrobinettejr4976 Жыл бұрын

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

@LovinofftheLand Жыл бұрын

We just used screen door mesh :)

@williamrobinettejr4976 Жыл бұрын

@@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 2 жыл бұрын

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

@LovinofftheLand 2 жыл бұрын

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

@hoppas77 2 жыл бұрын

@@LovinofftheLand Awesome, Thanks so much!

@bestcallbrad Жыл бұрын

So start a meal worm farm from your existing meal worm farm???

@godsdaughtercindy5174 Жыл бұрын

Do they escape from that type of container?

@SylviYah0507 Жыл бұрын

@rottweilerventuresregister4598 Жыл бұрын

Is there a particular temperature they need to be kept at

@mrs.garcia6978 Жыл бұрын

70-80*

@baddog9320 Жыл бұрын

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.

@cassandrarudolph1307 2 жыл бұрын

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 2 жыл бұрын

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 2 жыл бұрын

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

@cassandrarudolph1307 2 жыл бұрын

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

@hannahgendron7094 2 жыл бұрын

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

@cassandrarudolph1307 2 жыл бұрын

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