How to Breed Crickets: How I Build My Incubators for Hatching Baby Crickets | Fungus Gnat Help

Comprehensive look at how I construct my incubators for hatching baby crickets. Incubation can make or break your breeding of crickets.
Check out how I dealt with my latest pest problem.

[@Scotspict]

this is great to know. Thank you for doing your video's . Very educational and fun to watch. Hope your cricket supplies are on the raise and things are rolling forward with building a new barn. Thanks again , kind regards

[@BuildingInASmallTown]

Thank you! Expansion has been pushed to 2024, but things are still going well!

[@sharif.ahmed40]

Educational video. Thank you

[@BuildingInASmallTown]

Thank you for watching!

[@chriswkbrd]

You are awesome, thank you!

[@BuildingInASmallTown]

Thank you!

[@littleshopintheshed]

Thanks for the videos. Really learning lots. Have you tried hydrogen peroxide to control the gnats?

[@BuildingInASmallTown]

Thanks so much for watching! I haven't tried that. Interestingly, they've all but died out at this point. (I probably shouldn't even say that...I feel like I will jinx it)

[@TheTimi4444]

1. How many crickets can you fit in the 50 gallon bins you use? And
2. How do you keep the humidity high without it causing the frass to smell?
And 3. How long do you have the pinheads in the incubator after hatching before you move them to a 50 gallon container?

[@BuildingInASmallTown]

1. Depends on the time of year. During the summer, up to 10,000. During the winter, more like 5,000.
2. I have a dehumidifier that runs to keep it at around 55%. Seems to be a pretty good sweet spot, though with higher populations, occasionally it’s not enough.
3. The goal is to get the pinheads out ASAP. If they’re hatching really heavy, I will address them twice a day, but usually only once a day will take care of it.
Hope that helps!

[@headshotdave]

After you pull out the breeding trays to put into incubator bin, do you put new breeding trays back in the adult bin, or is that it for those guys?

[@BuildingInASmallTown]

It depends on how many baby crickets I need! I usually run 2 rounds of breeding trays in each of the bins, but can do up to 4 if needed.

[@birsingh1893]

Hi how stop cricket cramping please make a vedio

[@BuildingInASmallTown]

I'm not sure what you mean!

[@Xion6]

Hey! Really great videos! I like your system, it doesnt seem overwhelming and well synchronized. Is this a profitable operation? Do you suggest it as an investment?

[@BuildingInASmallTown]

It is profitable! “Worth it” is hard to say. That would differ from person to person depending on your situation. Selling to the live market is a much quicker path to profitability than selling them for food, that’s for sure.

[@Xion6]

@@BuildingInASmallTown I appreciate your reply tremendously!! I was considering using them to feed my chickens, and also figuring out a way to dehydrate / roast them and sell them for other people to feed what ever they want to feed.

[@Scotspict]

I do have a question. only if you get chance to answer when your not busy. Is there a fine mesh you use for the pinhead bins and/or do you have problems with a certain size ventilation mesh for pin heads?
Thank you greatly for your video's

[@BuildingInASmallTown]

Hi!! Sorry I missed this. I use a combination of regular aluminum window screen and landscaping blanket for the ventilation holes. The landscaping blanket is a cheap alternative to really fine mesh screens. Hope that helps!

[@Scotspict]

@@BuildingInASmallTown Hi! Yes greatly.. thank you for the explanation.
I know exactly what you mean. I have cut up an old fire guard and also the mesh off the side of my PC.. your method will shine for me. Thanks so much!

[@QNICORN79]

What temperature and humidity do you recommend? I've been waiting on pinheads for a week now. 😩

[@BuildingInASmallTown]

Just working my way back through comments that fell through the cracks. Did you ever get them to hatch?!

[@gregboshell977]

Do you have to add more water after you do the sand

[@BuildingInASmallTown]

Nope! It seems to insulate the peat moss below nicely.

[@TheTimi4444]

Oh one more, how do you count out how many crickets are in your containers. You you weight them or messure volume? I cant imagion your counting them out one by one 😅

[@BuildingInASmallTown]

I don’t individually count them 🤣 I split them by with assuming 1,000 pinheads or gram. Volume is more accurate. Estimate 10,000 crickets/30 ml (you can scale that to whatever you need)

[@TheTimi4444]

Thanks I'd love to see a video of you measuring them out too if you need any ideas for more videos 😊

[@MurderousMorphs]

@@BuildingInASmallTown so 1g pinheads = about 1k?

[@BuildingInASmallTown]

That’s a pretty good rule of thumb, yes.