Shelf Life of Freeze Dried Crickets & Meal Worms ??

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Hanover Bill
Posts: 657
Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 3:10 pm
Location: Pennsylvania/Hanover Township
Martin Colony History: 2009 & 10 - 0
2011 & 12 - Visitors
2013 - 2 pr. fledged 9
2014 - 3 pr. fledged 13
2015 - 7 pr. fledged 27
2016 - 15 pr. fledged 72

Any thoughts out there on how long freeze dried crickets and meal worms retain their nutritional value? I have a lot of both left from last year and I hate to toss them if they will still be good for this upcoming season.

Thanks;
Hanover Bill.
2009 & 10 - 0
2011 & 12 - Visitors
2013 - 2 pr. fledged 9
2014 - 3 pr. fledged 13
2015 - 7 pr. fledged 27
2016 - 15 pr. fledged 72
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ToyinPA
Posts: 2227
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
Location: PA/Avis
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.

Hanover Bill wrote: ↑
Sat Dec 08, 2018 9:28 am
 Any thoughts out there on how long freeze dried crickets and meal worms retain their nutritional value? I have a lot of both left from last year and I hate to toss them if they will still be good for this upcoming season.

Thanks;
Hanover Bill.
Bill:

I have used them from one year to the next with no problems. I bag mine in freezer Ziploc bags & then put them in a paper bag. The paper helps to prevent freezer burn.

Only 4 months to go before they return :). I just pray we have a better & much dryer season than last season.

Toy in PA
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lynnh
Posts: 391
Joined: Thu Jun 28, 2007 7:07 am
Location: Iowa, New Sharon

Toy are you talking about the cricket you buy live and then put in freezer or The ones that come freeze dried in a package?
2007 2 pair 8 fledged
2008 4 pair 18 fledged
2009 21 pair 87 fledged
2010 44 pair 174 fledged
2011 68 pair 244 fledged
2012 82 pair 364 fledged
2013 82 pair 359 fledged
2014 86 pair 415 fledged
2015 101 pair 427 fledged
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ToyinPA
Posts: 2227
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
Location: PA/Avis
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.

lynnh wrote: ↑
Sun Dec 16, 2018 4:25 pm
 Toy are you talking about the cricket you buy live and then put in freezer or The ones that come freeze dried in a package?
Live crickets.

Toy in PA
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lynnh
Posts: 391
Joined: Thu Jun 28, 2007 7:07 am
Location: Iowa, New Sharon

Thanks
2007 2 pair 8 fledged
2008 4 pair 18 fledged
2009 21 pair 87 fledged
2010 44 pair 174 fledged
2011 68 pair 244 fledged
2012 82 pair 364 fledged
2013 82 pair 359 fledged
2014 86 pair 415 fledged
2015 101 pair 427 fledged
Top
Dave Duit
Posts: 2146
Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2003 2:02 pm
Location: Iowa / Nevada
Martin Colony History: In 2026, 88 pair with 333 fledged youngsters. 110 total cavities available, 82 Troyer Horizontal gourds and a homemade PVC / metal 28 compartment unit, 1 fallout shelter. Hawk and owl guards included. Martin educator and speaker. President and founder of the Iowa Purple Martin Organization. Please visit Iowa Purple Martin Organization on Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1627283871068161 Emails send to daveduit@yahoo.com. Subject line include Iowa Purple Martin.

Hi Lynn,
Just checking on Becky Cricket Farmer. I will post if and when frozen crickets may be available for IPMO members.
ImageMite control, heat venting, predator protection and additional feeding during bad weather add up to success.
ImageIPMO LOGO1.jpg
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JiminPa
Posts: 13
Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2017 2:30 pm
Location: Pa

Toy, where does one buy live crickets?
Thanks Jim B
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ToyinPA
Posts: 2227
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
Location: PA/Avis
Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.

JiminPa wrote: ↑
Tue Dec 18, 2018 7:30 pm
 Toy, where does one buy live crickets?
Thanks Jim B
I prefer to buy live crickets from Fluker's. Set up an account. They do send out e-mail offers now & then. I always post a note "Ship to size, for Purple Martins" when ordering crickets. That way most are all the same size & not a lot of smaller ones. The more you buy the cheaper they are, due to shipping costs. Look around the site & read all the small print before you order. You can check shipping cost by putting the item in the cart & then go to the cart & put in your zip code to get shipping costs before you buy.

https://flukerfarms.com/

Toy in PA
PMCA Member
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lynnh
Posts: 391
Joined: Thu Jun 28, 2007 7:07 am
Location: Iowa, New Sharon

thanks Dave, appreciate that Will keep an eye out for your message.
2007 2 pair 8 fledged
2008 4 pair 18 fledged
2009 21 pair 87 fledged
2010 44 pair 174 fledged
2011 68 pair 244 fledged
2012 82 pair 364 fledged
2013 82 pair 359 fledged
2014 86 pair 415 fledged
2015 101 pair 427 fledged
Top
JiminPa
Posts: 13
Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2017 2:30 pm
Location: Pa

Thanks Toy for the quick reply,
Jim B
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