Is this normal or precursor to a problem

12 years ago

My worm bin is going to be 4 weeks old tomorrow, so new worm composter.

I usually check my bin once in the morning and once evening to make sure things look ok. I am disturbing worms? While checking the bin, I like to move top bedding and check the food consumption and replace the bedding again in original position. First question is, is this too much.

I also check the bottom drainage bin where leachate is supposed to be collected to see if it has any strays and amount of water in that box..

Normally I will found couple of worms in the bottom collector box, but since leachate level just enough to wet the surface I was not concerned.

Today when I checked the bottom bin, there were lots of worms in the collector pan. I also saw lot of activity in the main bin. Lot of worms were busy eating the food deposited on Sunday. It does not look like worms are trying to leave unless they are trying escape through bottom bin. The bin has big holes for handles on the side and worms, if they want, they can certainly venture out. So far 2 have done that based on bodies I have found so far.

The bin looks just right. Its moist but not wet. No odours of any kind. Only thing that looks different is today was much warmer and must have been getting lot warmer in the garage. So some worms might have gone down to cool while others enjoy the food. I have spread a full sheet of newspaper on top of bedding which retains the moisture and keeps bedding moist.

Is this assumption right or worms are trying to tell me something about environment?

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Comments (5)

Niivek
12 years ago
Sounds about normal to me. YouÃ¢ÂÂll learn to ignore them and in a few months youÃ¢ÂÂll only wind up checking on them once a week or so.
I usually have a good pile of worms that hang out in the slime in the catch bin. I find that harvesting from the catch bin is easier than sifting through bedding and partially rotten food. If you let them stay down there for a few months, it will be just worms and castings. When you want to harvest you just pluck out the worms and put them back in the top bin. TheyÃ¢ÂÂll find their way back to where they want to be.
I wouldnÃ¢ÂÂt worry about them drowning. In March I put some castings that had a few worms at the bottom of my sweet potato slip jar full of water. ItÃ¢ÂÂs May and yesterday I saw live worms swimming in the sweet potato water.
I might be a bit worried about the heat though. Add more bedding and if thereÃ¢ÂÂs a cooler spot in the garage or basement (if you have one) maybe move the bin if it gets too warm (I would say too warm is above 85ish F?)
sdelafuente
12 years ago
How should leachate smell? Mine smells pretty bad. Mine bin is about a month old too. And like nhrdls, I check my bin daily. I usually empty out the liquid into my plants (of course I water it down). This past weekend I was out of town and when I return thats when the smell started. There were able 5 worms in the catch bucket. I just washed it out with worms. But the smell is still there.
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Niivek
12 years ago
Hmm. Mine doesn't smell bad, but then again, I smoke and am a slob so my house probably smells like dirty gym socks and stale dish water with just a hint of poo to the rest of world. Probably cut back on feeding, add more bedding and let it dry out a little.
sdelafuente
12 years ago
Well actually before I left for the weekend I just added more bedding like 2 ounces of water. My guess would be that was too moist. The bucket where the worms and food are in doesnt smell like the catch bucket.

Yeah my house isnt that clean either but that leachate smell is pretty bad. Smells like a dead animal.
nhrdls
Original Author
12 years ago
Just a follow up, when I checked this morning, the meeting downstairs is over and almost everyone had moved upstairs again where food is. No bodies outside of the box, either alive or dead.

I even saw a couple in the act of, well, coupling

Guess its party time.

I was concerned because normally I will see around 10 worms , 2-3 in the bottom bin and few hiding in the bedding when I poke around. Yesterday, I saw what I believe the highest number after putting the worms into the bin. May be, that they just like the warmth or warmth triggered some instincts to look more food and fun.