How to set up and run a black soldier fly larvae bin

Last year we started in August growing the black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) and by October we were able to reproduce a working stock of larvae. Well we were able to get them to stay alive in our compost rows and now we have new stock much earlier this year and we have much more food for them so we will see how much stock we can produce this year. You can order BSF Larvae on the website northwestredworms.com in the compost products section.

Пікірлер: 107

  • @roscodifini4115
    @roscodifini41153 жыл бұрын

    First of all, thank you - great video. We have had a BSFL bin set up on our homestead for a couple of months now. We designed it in a big, blue plastic barrel. There is a screen of wire mesh in the bottom and a washing machine hose leading up and out of the barrel, down to a plastic bottle on the ground for self-harvesting. There has been a thriving army of larva in there since week three, but we have harvested VERY few of them. The problem seems to be that they are falling through the wire mesh and flowing out the bottom drain with the "leachtea". Last week I scooped all the contents out and added a sheet of plastic mesh fabric to see of it helped retain more larva. The next day there were about 30 in the bottle! I thought the problem was solved, but since that day I have harvested hardly any more larva and there are still lots in the liquid we're collecting. Also, our bin is producing WAY more leachtea than we expected. We're getting more than we can use (a 1.5 L bottle 2x per week)...WTF?! Maybe I should try the wood shavings in the bottom...Any other advice?

  • @richardjunker2825
    @richardjunker28259 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for posting this, although I didn't buy the plans I did manage to throw one together and per your advice I made it with ramps at either end. I've sourced a local brewery that sells 500lb barrels of used grain for $50 a piece. We already have BSF larvae going gang busters in our compost bin so it'll be an easy transition to get them into the one I built. Then we'll be using the harvested larvae to feed our chickens and the fish in our aquaponics system. Thanks again!

  • @markm2302

    @markm2302

    5 жыл бұрын

    Where are you located and how are you doing with the BSFL?

  • @mcdeadsquirrel
    @mcdeadsquirrel11 жыл бұрын

    This is the 2nd vid I have watched by you on this topic......just great!!!! And you did not need nor use a Federal Grant or subsidy!!! Super job doing this....I was thinking of sending to a few friends down in Ithaca, but I suspect they have watched it already....keep up the good work!!!!

  • @fishmut
    @fishmut6 жыл бұрын

    Great job there , looks like a success to me.

  • @NancyLeeDel55
    @NancyLeeDel5510 жыл бұрын

    Love your video TY TY TY for the info as we need to do this between our chickens and fish :D

  • @nativenuggscannabiscultiva5694
    @nativenuggscannabiscultiva56943 жыл бұрын

    Love the sound of the peacock!!!

  • @cheesecakewithsardines4277
    @cheesecakewithsardines42775 жыл бұрын

    Great video

  • @sarcasmo57
    @sarcasmo578 жыл бұрын

    Good one.

  • @indrajatipurba9501
    @indrajatipurba95014 жыл бұрын

    good idea, i like it.

  • @LFOD7491
    @LFOD74913 жыл бұрын

    FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS!

  • @mikeash7428
    @mikeash74286 жыл бұрын

    Nice. Thanks.

  • @snoopylyn9065
    @snoopylyn90653 жыл бұрын

    I have compost bin full of these larvae from bsf I don’t have anything fancy just a used sink, I don’t have anything for them to move them to other dry spot but I saw them inside the soil black hardened also not moving anymore!

  • @nanaverm
    @nanaverm11 жыл бұрын

    Good info! You didn't discuss the harvesting area or show it much. I'll check your other KZread videos to see if you did there.

  • @scott98390
    @scott9839011 жыл бұрын

    Ok, thanks for the comment, and the videos as well.

  • @myfrenchytrader
    @myfrenchytrader3 жыл бұрын

    Great video I like the design of the bin :) could you tell me how much larvae you were able to harvest per day from such setup please?

  • @mr.pissahabatspeaking
    @mr.pissahabatspeaking2 жыл бұрын

    Greaaat...amazing..i need to know more..I am Anto Indonesian. Thank so .much

  • @DanielLofald
    @DanielLofald7 жыл бұрын

    Do I understand correctly that you planted Barley or did you buy Barley and then just made it damp as an attraction for the soldier flies? This is a very useful post, thank you.

  • @Thelegend42381
    @Thelegend4238111 жыл бұрын

    I enjoy watching your BSFL videos thanks for posting them. Please keep making them because I find them very educational. I have watched your other videos and it shows that you get a pickup truck full of produce everyday. I was just wondering how you managed to score all that produce. Do you have to buy it or is it free. Sorry for being nosy I would like to do something similar and was wondering how to get started.

  • @Anwaige-almasawri
    @Anwaige-almasawri9 жыл бұрын

    Very good arkadaş

  • @Anwaige-almasawri

    @Anwaige-almasawri

    8 жыл бұрын

    شن الامور يابوزات ياهايشة

  • @escapefromny2012
    @escapefromny20128 жыл бұрын

    Would a fine mesh screen be okay in the bottom to keep the larvae from falling out the drain holes?

  • @vintageb8
    @vintageb88 жыл бұрын

    How do you control the moisture of the feedstock?

  • @BorealWormer
    @BorealWormer11 жыл бұрын

    Do many larvae escape out of the drainage holes in the bin bottom? Most other designs use a filter of some sort.

  • @alan30189
    @alan3018910 жыл бұрын

    Other than help in the composting process, what are the benefits of black soldier flies?

  • @NWRedworms
    @NWRedworms11 жыл бұрын

    They are very good at not chewing up paper type material. Maybe if you soaked it in strawberries they would chew it up some.

  • @solfeinberg437
    @solfeinberg4376 жыл бұрын

    1:35 - I don't know for sure, but I'm under the impression that they don't crawl out to look for food. They crawl out when they're done eating the compost and they want to pupate - where they lose their mouth parts and get sorta dormant - stop moving - and eventually crawl out as a fly?

  • @richardloch8872
    @richardloch88727 жыл бұрын

    Hi how many chickens can be fed on one bin

  • @scott98390
    @scott9839011 жыл бұрын

    I've heard that BSF don't favor paper or leaves - or any cellulose, really. My question is: If I were to dump my shredded paper from the house into my BSFL bin would they still chew it up, or would they ignore it entirely? It'd be nice if they chewed up into smaller bits for the worms...

  • @scott98390
    @scott9839011 жыл бұрын

    I would like to build a BSFL bin with a screen in the bottom that would allow the castings to fall out while still containing the larvae. Would this work? If so, what screen size would you recommend?

  • @redfoot1958
    @redfoot19589 жыл бұрын

    What are the dimensions of your bins?

  • @NWRedworms
    @NWRedworms11 жыл бұрын

    That is what the shaving do. This is the filter for this system.

  • @deenawilliamson9443
    @deenawilliamson94433 жыл бұрын

    How do u keep them warm when it's cold?

  • @sindisobhuka1433
    @sindisobhuka14338 жыл бұрын

    Hi.I see all you harvest is BSF. How do you keep other flies from laying eggs in the bin? Where I stay we have a large variety of flies and I think controlling them would be very difficult.

  • @NWRedworms

    @NWRedworms

    8 жыл бұрын

    The larva put out a chemical that deters other flies from laying eggs in the compost.

  • @abdulhapis3425
    @abdulhapis34252 жыл бұрын

    YES,,,OKEY,,,IS VERY VERYGOOD🇮🇩♥️👍

  • @roopkiransinghsangha4915
    @roopkiransinghsangha49156 жыл бұрын

    Hi I have made the box and filled with compost and wood chippings. I am not able to make the bsf from the barley. Can anyone guide me in making bsf from barley

  • @sweetheartsmom
    @sweetheartsmom11 жыл бұрын

    did you weigh the larvea that you harvested last year?

  • @TheJq32
    @TheJq329 жыл бұрын

    Do you have to do anything special to the barley to prepare it for the larvae?

  • @NWRedworms

    @NWRedworms

    9 жыл бұрын

    It just needs to be moist.

  • @NWRedworms
    @NWRedworms11 жыл бұрын

    Not all of them, but I did take out more than 30 lbs.

  • @concepto.movimiento
    @concepto.movimiento9 жыл бұрын

    Nice day i want to know how many how many Kg of the fly can be produce on these containers, and which time? Also, i want to know what is the amount of organic matter that u need to use and for which population... Thank you and best regards

  • @NWRedworms

    @NWRedworms

    9 жыл бұрын

    I have not done any measuring food vs. output. If it's warm and there's food there will be a bunch of larva. If we have a cloudy day or week that throws off the ability to gage output.

  • @scott98390
    @scott9839011 жыл бұрын

    Out of curiosity, what are the dimensions on this bin?

  • @yjfoo23
    @yjfoo2310 жыл бұрын

    how many pounds of larvae do you get in a day on average?

  • @arshadahmad1635
    @arshadahmad16356 жыл бұрын

    What are the ingredients for the production of these to use,,,,bangladesh

  • @colene77
    @colene777 жыл бұрын

    Will black soldier flys live in mn ? Will they make it through the mn winters...

  • @clarencesiason8349

    @clarencesiason8349

    6 жыл бұрын

    C Vigness Lenhart I put mine indoor

  • @JenkemDungeon
    @JenkemDungeon10 жыл бұрын

    How do the larvae fare as fishing bait?

  • @NWRedworms

    @NWRedworms

    10 жыл бұрын

    I have not tried, but I have heard they are great for bait.

  • @smcnutt95
    @smcnutt9510 жыл бұрын

    U have vitilego too! I have the same! Lol

  • @honeyislandoutfitters9887
    @honeyislandoutfitters98879 жыл бұрын

    At what angle do you have your ramps?

  • @FrugalFarmerChannel

    @FrugalFarmerChannel

    6 жыл бұрын

    The ramp angle can be 30 to 35 degrees. Just not too steep but tall enough to go over your catch bucket. Hope that helps.

  • @pn3940

    @pn3940

    6 жыл бұрын

    Honey Island Outfitters - I know they can crawl up vertically. I didn’t plan to grow them but I found I have a lot growing inside my bin, which is just a big trash can. They grow vertically out to the lid.

  • @realhandsomekid
    @realhandsomekid6 жыл бұрын

    Don't they have to be ventilated?

  • @NWRedworms
    @NWRedworms11 жыл бұрын

    I can collect it if I wanted to and there would be value. I don't have a use for it at this time.

  • @lalboithaokip8709
    @lalboithaokip87096 жыл бұрын

    Will kitchen waste be possible to raise worms apart from barley you are using

  • @chubittos
    @chubittos11 жыл бұрын

    how many grubs or pounds of grubs do you collect from a bin that size?????

  • @Sofiarivassculptor
    @Sofiarivassculptor9 жыл бұрын

    Where did you get the larvae?

  • @NWRedworms

    @NWRedworms

    9 жыл бұрын

    came in on the fruit.

  • @vincentchristanto3921
    @vincentchristanto39219 жыл бұрын

    is there a way to breed this fly in indonesia

  • @mammaia65
    @mammaia6510 жыл бұрын

    Hi NWRedWorms. I am from Brazil. Let me know what you are using into the bin at the time 2:25. I saw some fruits like watermelon. Is that a kind of leaves? I will be wating for your answer. Best Regards.

  • @NWRedworms

    @NWRedworms

    10 жыл бұрын

    The larvae are in a batch of spent barley from a brewery.

  • @mammaia65

    @mammaia65

    10 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for answer. Best Regards.

  • @Eubones
    @Eubones7 жыл бұрын

    Is the compost good for a garden after this?

  • @NWRedworms

    @NWRedworms

    7 жыл бұрын

    yes

  • @FrugalFarmerChannel

    @FrugalFarmerChannel

    6 жыл бұрын

    Yes

  • @pn3940

    @pn3940

    6 жыл бұрын

    Eubones - it will be still your compost but it will get to finished product much faster. The flies are harmless.

  • @NWRedworms
    @NWRedworms11 жыл бұрын

    It is a long process to get these produce contracts due to the possible liabilities.

  • @blackhorsetamarindo
    @blackhorsetamarindo10 жыл бұрын

    Hola from Costa Rica, I have over 150 free range chickens and 200 ducks. My feed bills are outrageous here. Do you feed other feed besides the larvae? This is my next project. Thanks so much.

  • @joanbarnes5732

    @joanbarnes5732

    6 жыл бұрын

    Jessa York you can feed chickens only off of the compost pile... it's true!!!

  • @isaacminiard635
    @isaacminiard63510 жыл бұрын

    Do you let your larvae reproduce at all? Or do you only get larvae from wild flys?

  • @jengleheimerschmitt7941

    @jengleheimerschmitt7941

    5 жыл бұрын

    Isaac Miniard The larvae turn into flies.

  • @SuperNilo1972
    @SuperNilo19729 жыл бұрын

    do you send some bsf eggs here in manila philippines, ty.

  • @NWRedworms
    @NWRedworms11 жыл бұрын

    up to 6 lbs. per day.

  • @WILPY007
    @WILPY0078 жыл бұрын

    Greetings, harvest you got in this video, is of few days ?, thanks

  • @NWRedworms

    @NWRedworms

    8 жыл бұрын

    I think it was one or two days.

  • @Gillian708
    @Gillian7084 жыл бұрын

    Is that cat okay?

  • @joecitizen6755
    @joecitizen67555 жыл бұрын

    Thinking about putting one of these in my chicken house ... then I will let the worms crawl out into a container of some sort.

  • @ivonerocha8063
    @ivonerocha806310 жыл бұрын

    N intende mais depois.o marquinho tradução para min legau,

  • @NWRedworms
    @NWRedworms11 жыл бұрын

    cedar shavings

  • @pn3940
    @pn39406 жыл бұрын

    Bare hand?

  • @user-og2tm2so4t
    @user-og2tm2so4t5 жыл бұрын

    Здравствуйте , я с удовольствием послушала вас на русском языке. Молодец !

  • @zhohayoug3321
    @zhohayoug33212 жыл бұрын

    о чем он говорит?

  • @richardbritt2281
    @richardbritt228110 жыл бұрын

    Never heard of growing larvae before, must be for chickens or maybe extra fish food. I read one post from a Joseluis chong p that asked if you could send him some larvae. Possible problem there is that it could be illegal to transport or mail this larvae to their country if it is not already there. Don't introduce non-native species to another country. That's how we got those stupid fish that attack motor boats when they go down river.

  • @olensoifer9901

    @olensoifer9901

    10 жыл бұрын

    These are quite common and quite beneficial: They adults don't, bite or sting, fly very much, carry disease and they are not attracted to us, our food or our homes. The adults don't even have functional mouth parts. They only breed and die within a few days.The larvae displace house flies and rapidly breakdown compost & manure and, while doing so, reduce the levels of E. Coli & Salmonella. They contain over 40% protein themselves, and 1 gram of BSF eggs will create over 5 pounds of protein in under 10 days. They are, in fact, edible by humans...but the big potential is as chicken or fish feed when dried. Cost, with a profit, is less than half that of current fish feed prices. Plus, much of what they eat is garbage that people would pay for the producer to take off their hands! All around, a pretty beneficial insect.

  • @richardbritt2281

    @richardbritt2281

    10 жыл бұрын

    Then the next question is, Where or how do I get a start on these flies? Who sells starter kits :)

  • @richardschoonover3675

    @richardschoonover3675

    10 жыл бұрын

    Richard Britt BSF's are native to most of the US. You can probably attract some with some spoiled corn. Once the BSF take hold they will out compete house flies.

  • @skynyrdnemoy2418

    @skynyrdnemoy2418

    8 жыл бұрын

    +Richard Britt And stink bugs...

  • @tricillagirl7915
    @tricillagirl79158 жыл бұрын

    Eww I'm not sure if I like eggs anymore :0 don't you think those larva maybe growing in your belly?

  • @ballesmcgee4358

    @ballesmcgee4358

    7 жыл бұрын

    What the hell kind of nonsense is that?

  • @tricillagirl7915

    @tricillagirl7915

    7 жыл бұрын

    Balles McGee Well you are what you eat I always thought..... sorry freaks me out.

  • @tricillagirl7915

    @tricillagirl7915

    7 жыл бұрын

    Balles McGee I did a study years ago when the tribes had to flee they changed there names. Any name with Mc is a sign they are from the Macabee tribe so I checked the Macabee tribe out pretty cool people I would say. :)

  • @ballesmcgee4358

    @ballesmcgee4358

    7 жыл бұрын

    A surname with "Mc" or "Mac" as a prefix just means "son" in Irish or Scottish culture.

  • @vsgP7117

    @vsgP7117

    7 жыл бұрын

    ha ha can't stop laughing! Will those people with big belly have lots of larvae or in the chicken belly?

  • @NWRedworms
    @NWRedworms11 жыл бұрын

    I would not recommend it.

  • @MultiWhoswho
    @MultiWhoswho Жыл бұрын

    Peacocks are annoying