Almost full grown silkworms devouring mulberry leaves
Silk is easy to raise in your home, whether it be in the country or the city. All you need is access to plenty of mulberry leaves (the silkworms don't eat anything else) and a willingness to devote about two weeks to intensive feeding of many baby silkworms.
Silk raising begins with tiny silkworm eggs. Once they arrive place them in an open container like a wooden bowl or cardboard box. Keep in a warm place, but not in direct sun. They prefer the air to be about 85 degrees, well-ventilated, and moist rather than dry. They'll hatch in about two weeks.
The eggs hatch into very tiny furry black worms. They begin to eat immediately, and eat continuously except during molting periods, where they pause to shed their old, outgrown skin. There are four molts, at about two, three, and four weeks of age.
At first, their food needs are small. But in the last two weeks as caterpillars, they consume enormous amounts of leaves. It is crucial to have plenty of mulberry for them. The amount they eat directly transforms into the amount of silk they produce. Thus, these last two weeks of their caterpillar life are the most labor intensive for you.
Silk caterpillars are very responsive. They look up when you enter the room because they anticipate you feeding them. After the final molt, when they grow to about three inches in length and a half inch in diameter, they enjoy crawling on your hands and exploring.
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