I'm officially a micro-farmer!! ([WARNING:] creepy crawly factor) - Page 2

HollyHamster · 03-13-2014, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrKMcK

Escapees??? Escapees??? I hadn't even thought of that! OMG.

Holly, you are a brave soul.

Like I said, they can't fly, or crawl up the sides of the drawers, and if the odd one does get out, it won't be alive for long, as they need the bran and a moisture source to survive. Its not like I am inviting in a potential infestation or anything.

SinNyx · 03-13-2014, 02:29 PM

You are very brave

...I am not really one for the creepy crawlies myself...I had a friend who kept some to feed the other animals they had and I wasn't so fussed on being that close to them!

I do think it's cool though

Good luck!

HollyHamster · 03-13-2014, 02:32 PM

I guess what gives others the heebee geebees doesn't even make me bat an eyelash, insect wise. When I was a small girl I wasn't at all a fan of bugs, and would run screaming into the house if so much as an ant crawled up my leg. I've come a long way since then.

Hamsters4eva x · 03-13-2014, 02:33 PM

Nope! Lol, im really squeamish and I can't stand anything like that! Im sure the hamsters will love them though!

HollyHamster · 03-13-2014, 02:37 PM

You want to know what the really cool part about the whole setup is? I can use the waste (called frass) as a soil amendment in my garden. Its really great for that as its full of nutrients and stuff.

The frass is actually a dry powder like material and not gross at all.

**kyrilliondaemon** · 03-13-2014, 02:41 PM

This is awesome, good luck with it!

Munchalot · 03-13-2014, 03:29 PM

It's funny, I'm not squeamish with most things - except when it comes to bugs! I don't mind some, but if I'm at college and I'm asked to handle a hissing cockroach or a spider I am out the door!

I don't mind waxworms or crickets or things.
Other gross things like blood and gory stuff don't bother me, or dealing with particularly messy animals. It winds me up when people are like "eeew poop!!"

Don't have an animal then??

Anyway. It's a good idea, hope it goes well!

That's neat that you can use it to benefit your garden too!
And I consider myself well-educated after that.

BrainGirl · 03-13-2014, 04:26 PM

Wow, nice setup! It looks very much like my friend's unit though I think his drawers might be a little wider. I've never heard of them eating their own eggs though. He doesn't have any holes in his drawers, he just leaves them all to it and they keep breeding

BTW, I have eaten mealworms. They were fried and nacho flavoured

KoPi · 03-13-2014, 05:47 PM

That might be a problem for me... I am scared of ants and even little micro-things that move! I'm not really disgusted by videos of micro-things, but if I saw one in real life... (?Speechless) I look up to you, brave one (j.k) XD

HollyHamster · 03-13-2014, 08:18 PM

I wish I could have a pet ant colony, but that takes a lot of space, and special equipment. Its far more complex than those ant farms for kids that you can buy. I find that ant society is very fascinating, with different kinds of ants within the colony doing different things (soldier ants, worker ants, new queens and new male ants to mate with the queens).

Did you know that all the worker and soldier ants in any given colony are sterile female ants? They are made sterile by the Queen's chemical commands and signals. Its very fascinating.

Anyways, I digress. I think I'll just stick with mealworms. I don't want any more ants in my house right now (I find a few small black/brown ants on my counter tops during the warmer months, usually attracted by something containing sugar).