Where do you buy cheap meal worms?

[JerseyChicks]

I have 5 hens and it is getting expensive to buy them meal worms as snacks at the local pet store ($5 for 100). Does anyone have any suggestions on where to order meal worms at a good price? I would probably order anywhere from 1,000-2,000 at a time. Thanks for your help

 

[Roccomanchickens]

There's a person on the meal worm thread that breeds them and sends them out pretty cheap. Just a sec and I will check my PM's for his name.

 

[True Grit]

Fleet Farm if you have one. They sell Kay-tee bags of 17 oz , about 12,500 mealworms for about 15 bucks.

 

[JerseyChicks]

Quote:
I have never bought dried mealworms... Do they like them as much as live ones? They are much cheaper this way.

 

[Roccomanchickens]

Sorry, I can't find the guys email address. Check out the thread: Mealworm Farming

 

[JerseyChicks]

Quote:
Thank you! I will!

 

[jennh]

Here is my thread:

05/15/2011 2:05 pm
jennh
Chicken Obsessed

Start with a clear plastic container, about 2 ft x 1 ft, or thereabouts. Doesn't need to be exact. Cut a hole in the lid, longer than wide, about 1 ft long x 6 in. wide, you get the idea. The purpose of the hole is to let air flow in and out. Next cover the hole with screening material, not landscape fabric. Tape it to the underside of the lid with duct tape. If you don't tape it from the underside, the mealworms and bugs can get in underneath the screen, between the lid, get caught, and die.
Now, put about 3 " of chicken scratch in the bottom, place a half of a cut apple, cut side up, and cover with 4 layers of paper bags. That's it! If you have lots of mealworms, you might want to use the whole apple. Check the apple occasionally to make sure it doesn't rot. If it does, replace with a fresh apple. I have used potates before, as some suggest, but the apple works MUCH better. I have also put in slices of stale bread.
Now, in case you don't know very much about mealworms, they go through three stages. I'm not sure which stage comes first, kinda like the egg or the chicken ;o) There is a black bug stage (hence the lid. You don't want them crawling out.) Then there is a stage where they look kinda like a larvae. The mealworms crawl between the paper bags and turn into this. Then the larvae turns into the black bugs, then the bugs lay eggs, then mealworms, etc. It's a cycle.
I suggest you don't use your mealworms for a while, so they can go through their cycle to replenish themselves.
I just keep mine in my basement. The coolness keeps them from changing so fast, but you might want to keep them warmer to start out, so they multiply faster.
I have 2 "farms" going. They go through them fast!

Good luck!
Jen

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Mother to 1 son, 1 cat 19 1/2, two kittens, Barnevelder, Welsummer, Lt Brahma, BO, SSussex, Dominique, BC Marans, White Rock, BR, Americauna, Cochin, RIRs, and BJGs
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. II Chronicles 7: 14

 

[True Grit]

Quote:
I have never bought dried mealworms... Do they like them as much as live ones? They are much cheaper this way.

They are my chickens favorite treat but if yours are used to live, I wonder if they are spoiled for the dried. Mine eat live things in the yard but they still love the dried.

 

[speedy2020]

You can get from Petco local store and raise them yourself. 500 medium $6.99 and 1000 large $12.99.

 

[hannakat]

Three different sources for buying live meal worms in no particular order:

speedyworm.com
BYC member crazy huhn : [email protected]
exoticnutrition.com
southernbaitworms.com

btw....my chickens go nuts over them alive and dried!!