Every time I read a post detailing escapees, I wonder what it is I'm doing/not doing that causes my worms to stay in the bin. With the exception of that one time this summer I fried a bin in the back of my van, I've never had a problem with herd stampede.

I monitor moisture and heat VERY carefully including leaving the lid off the bins at times. I don't use a light to keep them in.

Although I pipe in nature sounds of birds chirping and chickens clucking, and have pictures of fish propped in full view on all sides of the bin, I'm not sure of any deterrent factor, but.....

As a matter of fact, I believe allowing the worms the opportunity to leave is a bin-monitoring tool itself, although I understand your dilemma and would do the same thing in the same situation.

Your description of the stinky, wet condition of the bin might indicate too much moisture, however, I've had some pretty stinky, icky bins and the worms didn't seem to mind (although I suspect they don't perform maximally in those conditions). Do your bins produce leachate? It is my personal opinion that worms don't need as much water as everyone thinks. I base that on observations of healthy, surviving worms in 35 gal plastic trash cans I use to store "finished" vermicompost in. After 6 months, moderate numbers of worms of all stages of maturity, and cocoons, are present in those moisture-deprived conditions. (Probably just enough moisture to enable the compost to "clump up" when squeezed)

On last thing, recently I had a BSF larva infected bin I was maintaining, and experimenting with, and because of the larva escape probs, I placed the 18 gal bin into a 30 gal one with only the 4 vent holes underneath the upper rim of the bin (which I covered with window screen wire). The BSF would crawl out of the inner bin into the outer one. I would retrieve and remove them to the great outdoors. All creatures inside the inner bin did fine, and the bin contents didn't exhibit significant anaerobic symptoms, with less than maximum, "free-flow" type, ventilation.

So, go figure. There's a whole lot of art in this science of vermiculture.

Chuckiebtoo

"There's a whole lot of art in this science of vermiculture.

Amen to that, Brother!!

KellyS

Hi Chuckiebtoo!!
You said "As a matter of fact, I believe allowing the worms the opportunity to leave is a bin-monitoring tool itself..."

Yep that it is! That is why when I noticed more and more adults trying to "escape" from the old bin that it was time to switch it out ahead of sceduele. But then when I put them in the new bin...off they go to so I dunno what is up with that either. Maybe a drastic change in pH or maybe even the bin and bedding smell different to them...or taste different. I'm just glad to have found a solution around that problem. It's one I have had since I started. I purchased a moisture meter once...but it was a piece of crap. I just recently purcased a remote thermeter(sp?) that just happens to have a digital humidity gauage too (That is what RH stands for right?). Most of the time the temp in the winter has stayed around 70-68 degrees while the humity stays between 37-30% most days. The probe is IN the bedding in a corner without food in the new bin. The max has been 77 degrees and 57% humidity at some point in the game.

You asked "Do your bins produce leachate?" I'm not sure what you are asking. I don't know what leachate is. Is that the technical term for worm tea?

I've had a problem with over abundant mold mites that seemed to attack the worms when they crawled on the sites, but now that it is in a cooler environment, they seem to have died off some. I know they are a sign of too much moisture but it didn't seem to matter how long the lid was off, it was always still to wet.

You might want to try adding some dry bedding material every time you add new foodstock. I keep a bag of torn up corrugated cardboard near the bin and throw some in most times I feed -- it takes up less room than shredded paper and absorbs a lot of liquid. Also, instead of the black plastic on top, try several sheets of newspaper stapled together. This will absorb a lot of condensation raining down from the lid. You can make two coverings, letting one dry out while the other is in use, then switch 'em. The worms will like it as much or more than the plastic.

Whether it's temperature, moisture, ph or food stock my theory on mass exodus is that conditions became intolerable. In this case, I think it may simply have been the shock of the change between the old, nearly foul bedding and the new, fresh bedding. If we project ourselves into the life of the worm, we slowly adapt to our changing world in the bin. As bedding turns into castings...as moisture levels increase and leachate backs up...as the Ph goes from neutral to slightly acidic (or more)...as temperatures settle to some point. Then suddenly,
BAM
The world is turned upside down...my friends and family in our huddle have all gone missing...I'm tossed end over end into a strange place and everything is different...I'm cold...I'm afraid...I don't know what to do...I look for comfort but my world is gone...I run.

Okay, I embellish, but don't you just wonder sometimes.

HI, novemberguest!

That is an excellant idea! Thanks for sharing it!