A bin will attract decomposition critters. Yes, you can cover the bin completely, but somewhere you will need to provide air via air holes. You can cover the holes with window screen, but this won't keep everything out.

if that's happened on day 1, then it's because the critters were already there and you provided them an attraction - too wet most likely, and with exposed food

what you are seing are either "compost gnats", which are a normal part of the decomposer community, or fruit flies, likely if you have a lot of fruit scraps included - to reduce the crowd, keep a deep cover of material like shredded paper or leaves on the bin contents [wet against the bedding, drier on top] - adding a cover might help a bit, but, as mentioned, you need air holes and the gnats are small enough to get past any screen

Bill

i got no fruit at this point just compost/newspaper/and wheat bran (because I didn't have cornmeal, which was what the capecod worm form suggested to start em off)

don't need purchased stuff for worm food, decomposing kitchen scraps are gourmet food for worms, and recycling the kitchen waste is why most folks want worm bins - the wet organics alone are enough to interest compost gnats as well

Bill

k this maggie pipkins (lol) lady from the capecod worm farm in her brochure says to put cornmeal ontop for the first week or so so i figure id sprinkle a little wheat bran bc it's all i had. the worms seem to be doing well. they should like the half-a-handful of applesauce i blended from old apples, as well (didnt wanna put too much on there)

can worms starve to death very fast? im not sure how to know when they're in need of more food. its kinda hard to checkup on mushed up apples mixed with a layer of compost and i dont wanna add too much food

Monkeyman,

I am just new at this too but I haven't read anywhere that worms have starved to death. The biggest problems come from feeding too much. I am sure that if your worms get hungry between meals they will eat their bedding which is normal.

Mine didn't seem to eat much when I first got them but they are eating a lot faster now.

Regards,
Marshall

Monkeyman, I think you need to go through the postings and do some catch up reading. We have all, or at least most of us, had some of the problems you are seeing. Most of them are not problems but just need a little tweeking to get things right. There is always a little stress in starting something new. Use the search function and look up information on flies and other pests. Look up how and when to feed and how much. There are many references in the postings to good worming material such as Mary Appleoff's book. Slow down a little and do your research and you will have answered most if not all the wuestions you have posted. By the way it would be very hard to starve your worms with the way you set your bin up. Good luck and good worming.

Are you suggesting that Mary Appleoff's boook is good material to read about worms or to feed to worms?