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Julie, I only have one fridge, also, and do not have any trouble with odor. If there is a really bad smell it is probably because there are some dead worms (black) but it usually takes quite a few to do this. Also, When I feed my worms (take them out of fridge) about every 10-14 days, I always put in fresh bedding and take out any dead worms (I find using disposable plastic forks & spoons are great for this) before putting them back in fridge. A sifter of some sort works great for sifting out the old bedding. This is not one of the joys of life, but if you want to feed the worms to our previous bluebirds, it is a necessary task. Okay? Of course, I am talking about when you have to keep worms over a period of time – if somebody just buys a very small amount, like in a 100 or 500 cup, you probably would not to do this, but if you have lots of worms (probably over 1,000) you need to keep their bedding clean & take out any dead ones. I know some people do not do this, but then they probably have a small refrigerator JUST for worms!! (Ha,Ha)
Carol, you are so funny! I love your system with the picnic plastic silverware!! That’s the kind of tip you can only get from someone who does it. I’ll have to read up on this (i haven’t at all yet). It took me a year to be able to work up to dealing with HOSP with the DRST, so I’ll just learn, learn, learn and then take the plunge for mealworms! I’ll check out the old link you shared where you gathered all the info. I was already thinking my husband could get me a feeder for Christmas! ha ha. So I’m halfway there! But I was imagining the smell of a pet store in my fridge, which I don’t think I could stomach. This is exciting to have a new project on the horizon.
I ordered my latest (3,000) from Grubco as noted here. Normally I use Exotic Nutrition. Grubco ones seemed a little bigger, fatter and livelier! I will definitely be ordering from Grubco moving forward.
Glad to hear your worms from Grubco were nice, as I may be ordering from them in about a month. I was not able to get my usual 10,000 from Nature’s Way so may try Grubco again next time. But that is a way off yet. I know my family of blues are devouring what I put out (which is quite a few) in less than 5 minutes.
Rich, have you got pupae in your breeders yet. I have been sorting mine every other day. Yesterday, just for the heck of it I counted the pupae that I had collected and found that I had 300+. If 50% turn out to be females and they lay 100 eggs I am looking at another 15,000 additional mealworms in a couple of months. And the pupae keep coming. That total could be way higher if they produce eggs like the literature says of 300 to 500 eggs per female. I plan to refrigerate some of them to slow down the growth and metamorphose time. That is the one thing that I did not consider going into the breeding.
I do have some friends at church that have bluebirds in their yards that may need some mealworms this winter.David
Stafford, VAUpdate…..I’m very happy with how it is going. Used to be after they fledged I would not see them return to my yard. Now it is total different……they come shortly after they hear the clicker (it’s a clicker I used for dog training). Mom, pop and at least 2 fledglings come and the fledglings help feed the 5 new fledglings. I’m hoping they like it here so well maybe I will get a 3rd nesting. That would be a first, but they started nesting much earlier this season than in the past. Feeding mealworms in the morning and evening.
Also have a pair nesting in the backyard box. I started them on mealworms too‼️ They picked up on it really fast. For them I use a bicycle bell to call them. I have 2 mealworm feeders, so I feed out front and watch them then I do the same thing over in the backyard. Mama is incubating 4 eggs.
It’s great fun…..the birds are happy and so am I 😁
Judy-Michigan
That’s exactly the kind of info I wanted to know, Judy! You are a mindreader. It sounds like so much fun!! One last question: What kind(s) of mealworm feeder are you using?
I purchased the Stan Schemahorn feeder…..if you search his name on Facebook you will see a picture of his feeders. I kept seeing these feeders come up on my bluebird Facebook feed with tons of bluebirds enjoying them. Made from recycled plastic…..I chose bluebird blue for my feeder color (of course). I also have the BBF1 cage feeder that I keep suet in for the smaller birds. I like them both.
Judy-Michigan
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