A couple of weeks ago, on a Saturday, way early for a Saturday morning, I got a call from the post office that my mealworms were there. The sender had placed a note on the box for them to call me to come pick them up but the lady at the post office said they would be happy to deliver them.
Mealworms
The worms were so neatly packaged in a little drawstring muslin type bag with crumpled paper and a few slices of potato for them to feed upon. There are many sources online for ordering the live worms.
Mealworm
This is what size they are. He was looking for a dark, safe spot and trying to crawl between my fingers.
Mealworms
I put them in their bedding, which is a mixture of chick starter (feed) and wheat bran. I gave them a couple of chunks of celery, which they seem to love.
Mealworms’ Home
Vince cut sections out of the lid to a plastic tote, and then covered it with fine mesh screen. They will live inside the well house until our nights are above 40º.
Treats!
A few of the unlucky worms have already become chicken treats.
What happens next is . . the worms will begin to turn into pupa, which I will take out and put into a separate container. Then the pupa will hatch into beetles, which I will take out and put into a separate container. Then the beetles will lay eggs, which will turn into more mealworms and the cycle continues. The chickens will also get the beetles for snacks.
I read that each female beetle can lay 500 eggs. I am going to have some happy chickens!
Karen says
just remind him that the yarn and fabric stash are cheaper now to build then when he retires and the income might be less – you will have plenty to work with 🙂 works for me – I have a fabric stash now and it will last me a long time with only adding fabric pieces now and then on sale for backings and background — your yarn will all be used 😉 one day
Vivian Oaks says
Darn! Foiled again! These mail deliverers need to be taught about hiding boxes from husbands! It should be part of their training for their P.O. job! 🙂 Maybe we should send the suggestion to the P.O. and see what happens! Enjoy your mealworms.
shirley says
I love this. Fun and saving money in the long run. If they hatch you will have to get more tubs.
How did your mulch in the barrel turn out?
Sherrill says
Oh my gosh, GROSS!! I can’t believe you had one in your hand!! UGHHHH
Susan says
Enjoy that cycle of life!
Linda says
Oh boy! Just don’t let any of those beetles get out there and join the grasshoppers in gnawing on your crops! Then again, maybe they eat grasshoppers! ;D
Peg H says
I’m laughing again – I’d forgotten you’d ordered those mealworms. When I saw “The Mealworms Have Arrived” I thought, “uh oh” … “but that’s life in the country”. And then I realized you WANTED those little buggers. Have fun with them. I’m relieved to know the “treats” are for the chickens, not y’all. I saw that and thought Vince was trying out for a spot on “Survivor” or “Fear Factor”. 😀
Amy (NW WI) says
LOL. As usual, I had a good giggle reading your post.
I’ll be certain to share this post with Paul later tonight; not because of the yarn (although, he’ll understand Vince’s reaction completely!), but no… he’ll enjoy hearing about the mealworms. I bet he’ll be interested and will toy with the idea of starting our own mealworm farm. THANKS for sharing!!!!
Frankie says
You’re such a good chicken mama! Now I’m sitting here thinking maybe I should order some mealworms to raise for my “girls” . . . . The things we’ll do for our critters!