If your chickens are anything like ours, then they love to eat mealworms.

Mealworms are a healthy, nutritious snack that are full of protein which helps your hens lay lots of eggs.

We’ve previously discussed our favorite healthy chicken treats and mealworms were in the top 3 of that list!

There is one catch though. Feeding your chickens mealworms all day can get expensive… very expensive. Fortunately you can grow your own mealworms for a fraction of the cost and provide your girls with healthy snacks all year round.

Today we’re going to take a look at what exactly mealworms are and also how you too can grow your own mealworm farm.

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What Are Mealworms?

Mealworms (also known as Tenebrio molitor) are in fact insects. They are scavengers that can be found in grain stores, feed sacks and occasionally household items such as cereal and flour. They like dark, dry places that store grain or other edibles such as flour or chicken feed.

All the nutrition and water they need for surviving and thriving can be extracted from the grain which they have infested.

Note: An adult mealworm is known as the Darkling beetle.

Nutritional Benefits of Mealworms for Chickens

Mealworms aren’t just fun to feed your chickens, who doesn’t love the chaos that comes from tossing your chooks some delectable treats? But mealworms are also very good for your chickens…in moderation of course.

Chickens need protein, and more of it when they are sick, growing, molting, or laying eggs. Mealworms and black soldier fly larva pack a protein punch for chickens who need it.

Stressed-out chickens (due to moving, molting, or the addition of a new flockmate) need a little extra protein to get through the low points and emerge on the other side, happy and healthy.

Lifespan of a Mealworm

A female beetle will lay up to five hundred eggs during her short lifetime of a couple of months. After a couple of weeks, the eggs will hatch and become larvae – which we know as a mealworm. Its’ proper title is the yellow mealworm. Mealworms molt their exo-skeleton several times before they reach the pupa stage after approximately 3 months.

The pupa basically looks like a dead mealworm but it is busy transforming itself into a Darkling beetle. The only movement you will see is an occasional twitch if the pupa is disturbed. It does not eat or take nutrition during this period. It will remain a pupa for about 2-3 weeks before hatching into a brown beetle that over a period of days will turn a black color. The complete lifecycle can be done in as little as 5-6 months in ideal circumstances.

How to Make a Mealworm Farm

It is possible to buy mealworm farm kits online, but it’s much cheaper and more fun to make your own! So here we go – have some fun and become a mealworm farmer.

This is an excellent project for the kids – it’s easy, doesn’t require any high maintenance and isn’t labor intensive. It’s also a natural, self- replicating food source for your flock.

Step 1: Find a Container

Before you start your mealworm farm you will need to find a container which you will use to grow them in.

For the container itself any of the following will do: an old aquarium, plastic storage tote or similar item. If you use a fish tank, or glass sided container, you can watch your insects at work! It is oddly fascinating watching them go about their business. Between beetle watching and chicken watching, I can waste hours each day!

Whichever container you choose make sure it is approximately: 12 inches x 24 inches and 12 inches deep.

The chosen container will also need a lid or screen mesh to put over the top. The lid needs to allow for some air circulation through the container.

I use an aquarium so that I can see what’s going on inside and get a feel for how quickly they are developing.

Step 2: Prepare Your Container

Now you have found an ideal container you need to make sure it is thoroughly clean and dry.

At this point you also need to find an ideal location for your container.

My mealworms are kept upstairs in the barn which is dark and gloomy.

Any location you do choose needs to be a warm (the ideal temperature is 80F), low light/ dark environment. If you aren’t squeamish, the closet would be fine.

As winter nears, I will be investing in a heat mat specifically made for reptiles. It has a programmable thermostat and comes pre-wired. This will keep my mealworm farm at 80F all winter long!

If you are lucky enough to live in a warm climate year round, you probably would not need this. However, do remember to keep them in a dark place.

Step 3: Add Your Substrate

Once you have your container and it’s in an ideal location you need to fill it up with feed (substrate) for the mealworms.

The exact amount you will need depends on the size of your container; it needs to be about 2-3 inches deep.

For the feed you want to use wheat bran. If you can’t use wheat bran then rolled oats, chicken mash or cereal crumbs will also work.

Note: If you use chicken feed make sure it doesn’t container diatomaceous earth as this will kill the mealworms.

You should be able to buy the wheat bran for less than $1 per lb.

Whichever feed you decide to use make sure you sterilize it prior to using- this will ensure that no pests are present. To sterilize, spread it out on a cookie tray and bake in the oven for 20 minutes at 130-150F.

After you have sterilized your feed put 3 inches of it into your container.

Note: Don’t get your substrate (bran etc.) wet; you don’t want a moldy environment.

Step 4: Add Mealworms to Your Farm

You now need to add mealworms into your container, the more the better! You should aim to start with at least 500.

It is important to know what the mealworms have been fed since they can indirectly impact your chickens’ health and by extension – yours.

Also the possibility of zoonotic disease such as salmonella cannot be ruled out since the exact diet of the insect is unknown and the conditions in which the beetles are kept may be less than clean.

So for this reason I would only buy my mealworms from a reputable local source that I trust. Don’t import them cheap online- you don’t know what they’ve been fed.

Note: Do not buy giant mealworms. It is possible they have been treated with a growth hormone that will inhibit pupation and produce sterile beetles.

Once you have purchased your mealworms, gently poor them out into your container and apply your cover to the container – the cover is to keep things out rather than the insects in. Mealworms are a favorite food of reptiles and amphibians, so you really don’t want your pet iguana eating all your worms!

Step 5: Feed Them and Let Them Grow

You now just need to keep your mealworms fed and let them grow and multiply.

You can feed them as much as you like, remember: more food means the more they multiply.

If you want a hands off approach just make sure you feed them every couple of weeks to maintain the feed depth of around 3 inches.

Now you just need to wait and let them flourish!

Step 6: Collect Your Mealworms

Depending on the conditions you have provided for your insects, it will take a few months before you can start feeding the larvae to your hens. You should only feed the worms to your hens, the pupae and beetles should be left in the farm to reproduce.

Don’t worry about removing dead beetles, the larvae will do that for you. Do, however, remove any bits of moldy food and discard it.

I find the easiest way to collect the worms is to add new food to the farm.

You can use a vegetable such as a carrot and place it into your container and leave it for 5 minutes or so.

The worms (larvae) will latch onto the carrot, pull the carrot out and shake it over another empty container and you will have lots of mealworms to feed your chickens with!

If you are lucky and happen to suffer from an overabundance of mealworms they can be stored in the freezer in plastic bags.

Note: Remember to use gloves to handle the mealworm farm and a few people use masks when working with the tank because of the dust. Some people become allergic to the fine dust created by the beetles, so if you already have a medical issue with your breathing, please err on the side of caution and wear a mask or respirator.

Mealworm Farm Growing Overview

Step 1: Find a Container

An old aquarium, plastic storage tote or similar item will do. Make sure it is approximately: 12 inches x 24 inches and 12 inches deep.

Step 2: Prepare Your Container

Thoroughly clean and dry your container. I use an aquarium so that I can see what’s going on inside. Also make sure to keep your farm in a warm, low light/ dark environment.

Step 3: Add Your Substrate

Add your substrate – wheat bran, rolled oats, whatever you have chosen. Spread to a depth of 2-3 inches.

Step 4: Add Mealworms to Your Farm

Add mealworms, dump them in gently. You can buy mealworms either online or at a local pet store.

Step 5: Feed Them and Let Them Grow

The substrate will need to be topped up once in a while to maintain a depth of 2-3 inches. Don’t worry about removing dead beetles, the larvae will do that for you.

Step 6: Collect Your Mealworms

Now it’s time to reap the rewards. Collect your mealworms and feed your chickens!

Enjoy your project! The satisfaction of raising your own chicken treats will add to the satisfaction of saving money and knowing where your hens’ treats come from!

Are you going to try and grow your own mealworm farm? Let us know how you get on in the comments below.