Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi
I recently complained about nearing bankruptcy due to the amount of mealworms I was purchasing for one single parent blackbird. Well, they're fledged, she bought them over to the allotment and was still feeding them but not on quite the same high alert level. Sadly since the first time I saw them, one baby has gone, leaving just the one.
Anyway following advice and suggested links have now installed a mealworm breeding unit (aka plastic box) I've got them bedded in wheatbran and given them half an apple to eat.
As I've nowhere on the allotment to keep them out of the range of foxes, cats etc and that doesn't get too hot or cold have got to keep them in the kitchen, they are on a high shelf, the one place in my entire flat the cats can't reach.
Will let you know how I get on!
Sue

do cats eat mealworms then?

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

Cats will 'play' with anything that moves - mealworms wriggle!

I'm growing mealworms for quails (and turkeys) .. all mine at the beetle/laying eggs stage..
Squeamishness is not a virtue with them:-))

Madasfish
Tell me, what are the beetles like then, how long does it take from egg to mealworm to beetle etc, dying to know.
And Georgie won't eat the mealworms, she will just want to "have a look" and I had visions of them being knocked down, beatles and mealworms everywhere...
Sue

>Sue
They look like cockroaches .. but about 0.5cm long.. don't fly, hardly move, brown.black.
About 2 months from worm to beetle in summer , much longer in cold weather..
3 weeks or so to lay eggs and die (No expert - just wot I red...edikashon!)

Right. That's something that I won't be doing then.

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Hazel
www.hazelandjanesallotment.blogspot.com
update Tues 02/12/2008......End of year report!.....

Gulp, look like cockroaches, omg, I'm checking the lid on their box right now.
Sue