You could buy more worms to jump start your bin OR you could moisten it and wait for the eggs to hatch. Keep the bedding just moist enough that when you squeeze a handful only a drop or two escapes thru your fingers.

The worm eggs will be viable for quite awhile but won't hatch unless conditions are right. Add a little food to keep the bacteria alive and see what happens.

The young will be more able to tolerate your specific bin conditions but not drought!!

Hope this helps

bruce

It probably would be a good idea to dig into that bin. There are probably worms in there as well as eggs, and the experience and knowledge you get out of it is invaluable.

After you get into it, it won't be as bad as you think.

Also, when your bins get too wet, leave the top off them for awhile...the worms won't go anywhere. When you moisten bins, take it easy. There shouldn't be hardly any leachette from them.

Thanks guys, I appreciate your answers.

I just burrowed in, a little ways. The newspapers are very dry, but there are "clumps" of semi-moistened stuff. I saw a bunch of little white "dots"--eggs? I poured in a little bit of water on newspapers & clumps. Didn't see any worms, but I'll check again in a few minutes. I also put in yesterday's coffee grounds as new food.

How long does it take the worm eggs to hatch?

I was glad to hear I can re-wet the bin, and I'll TRY not to get them too wet! I did leave the top not quite closed, so there's some air movement. I think I've had occassional flying things in there, so I don't want those things out, or my Great Dane looking in!

Susi.

take a sheet, or tarp, or plastic table cloth, or shower curtain and dump the content of your bin.

Now, you will be able to see if there is anything alive.

put it all back in, moisten it, put damp newspaper on top, and wait for eggs to hatch.

Good luck

Moni

Also it helps to know what worm eggs look like. Have a look on this website

www.happydranch.com

and look under worm birth. Shows really great photos of a worm emerging from its cocoon.

Sure you can remoisten!

My fiance had the worms outside (2 bins, havent figured everything out yet) for the winter, and they got too warm because they got some sun during the day. They were also too wet, and we hadnt sieved them (WOW! thanks Vleachman! great ideas on that website)

I sifted out the living ones (probably 1-2 good handfulls in 2 bins!) and made this bedding: shredder cut newspaper, hand-torn toilet paper rolls, half-rotted straw (last years), half-rotted leaves, and some coir that I shredded.

Ive got about 3-4xs as many worms already. Dont over feed them, and check the moisture every 3-4 days. what kind of bin are you using? wood can dry out faster, and plastic can stay too moist, each has their advantages.

I do also throw foodscraps into the leaf/compost pile. Thats a decent use for them too. and better than over-feeding the worms.

good luck and if I can start again, so can you!