Breeding mealworms

[bunyip1]

Hi, just wondering if anyone breeds them, and how do you do it? I have tried, had them in a plastic tub in the safety area of the aviary, with holes in the lid for air but most of them ended up dying. We obvioulsy aren't doing it right.

[Diane]

There are a few topics on breeding mealworms, Ive put the links in for you

viewtopic.php?f=42&t=5041&p=35553&hilit ... rms#p35553" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
viewtopic.php?f=42&t=5598&hilit=mealworms" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jusdeb]

Welcome Bunyip .... I never had any luck with them either .

[VR1Ton]

Using lids with holes in, in the long term doesen't allow enough airflow, as they eat the bottom layer of bran/pollard(or what ever medium you are using) turns into castings, wich give off ammonia, eventually the ammonia gets to strong & kills the worms. I still use lids with holes for short term, but long term you are better to cut out a large section in the lid & replace it with metal flyscreen (Micromesh or similar) this allows better airflow & the ammonia to escape.

[bunyip1]

Hi All,

Someone who breeds finches gives mealworms daily, along with fresh high grain/whole meal bread chopped up. I saw birds tucking into the bread.

Is is okay to provide bread for birds, as people also give Arrowroot biscuits and cake?

Also, do people cut up meal worms for the birds or feed them whole?

Just queries, as I have found our Gouldians are not into meal worms at all and did try bread, but only quails seem to eat most of it.

Thanx folks,

Bunyip1.

[Diane]

Gouldians are not one for live food, sometimes you can barely get them to try boiled egg!
There are loads of different foods you can try them with, maderia cake seems to be used along with eggs and veggies by a lot of breeders, but again some Gouldians are reluctant to try anything new.
Ive found its trial and error, but the young Ive had in the past will try new food and once they get the idea its good when they go on to breed they will eat almost anything.

[Fincho162]

Wouldn't waste mealies on Gouldians.

The trick to mealworm production is the humidity........~65% humidity gives you lots more of everything - mealworms turning and eggs produced and hatched.
Unfortunately that leads to a few "water problems" as you'll soon discover.............but that's the key - humidity.

For the record humidity is also the killer of crickets colonies............essential for mealies......very, very bad for crickets!!!

There u go!!