How long has your bin been established, and have there been any changes recently to their environment? Can you tell us anything more about your setup or foodstock?

If this is an established bin, strain your brain about any changes...

It's been going for about two weeks now. There haven't been any changes. I noticed two days ago that the bedding seem overly wet so I left the lid off for a couple hours to dry out the top layer of shredded paper bedding. Then I fluffled it some to get more air to the bottom of the bin. I added a pound and eight ounces of food Monday afternoon and have not added any since. There have been no changes other than those events.

They are just having a hard time adjusting to their new environment. It's common. Don't mess with them. The worms will settle down as they get used to their new home.

Leaving the lid off for a few hours isn't going to dry the bin out much. If mine gets too wet, I leave the lid off for days at a time.

It sounds like you have been messing with them quite a bit (drilling new air holes, fluffing the bedding). They'd probably be better off if you left them alone for awhile.

That'd be me, smoother them in love! LMAO Even if they are only worms.

How many dead, dying, rotting? What percentage of the total worms is that? If LOTS of them are dead and rotting, you will hardly be able to tolerate the stink of the bin. Is it that bad? If so, there has to be a huge problem...probably excess heat if the moisture content is OK.

If this is a sudden, and potentially disastrous problem, I would evacuate the remaining worms from the bin and start over.

Chuckiebtoo

hmm.. I am thinking 1 and 1/2 lbs of food, one day, in a 2 week old bin, could very well heat things up in the interior of your bin, to send new worms looking for cooler pastures. How many worms are you starting with? Don't worry..all is not lost. We just need some facts to consider. Also, do you have drainage holes in the bottom of your bin?