Use some dry tissue paper to remove any moisture from the walls of the bin. Worms like to explore moist surfaces.

Add more moist bedding to the bin. You might not have enough bedding for the number of worms you have.

""after babysitting the bin for 6 hours I can't take it anymore"" . You mean wormsitting? This is real funny, lol. I don't remember anybody else described it like this, especially "I can't take it anymore". Reminds me of something, but don't remember what exactly.

Try to put the light lower (like 2ft?) if that's possible. You're sure the bedding is damp? How was the bedding they came in? The worms could be dehydrated. You could try to mist directly onto the worms; would help if you have some rain water. If not, tap water that has sat in a bucket for about 24 hrs. Poor worms, they must be soo confused.

Please give us updates. Thanks.

Try getting the light a little closer as mentioned above and stop worrying ......the worms will settle in and be fine. I saw your bin set-up in a different post and it looks great. If I was a worm, I'd like those digs just fine!

Just give the boys (and girls?) a chance to adjust to their new home. Good luck.

Harry

OK, to clarify, are they just wiggling up the wall INSIDE the bin, or are they actually LEAVING the bin and heading out to become floor crispies?

Because if they are just walking around on the moist plastic wall inside the bin, that is totally normal and will always happen, to some extent, in a plastic bin. No action on your part is required unless they are LEAVING the bin.

I would add, as a reminder, they are very dry when they are shipped, so they are definitely looking to roll around in moisture wherever they can. Spraying the bedding with a bit more water might be a nice thing to do, but if they are wandering through condensation on the inner plastic walls of the bin, that means they are taking a nice bath. Like kids, "they'll come back inside when they get hungry."

At first they were just crawling up the plastic wall inside the bin (because I had misted them and the walls were moist). Then they were going up after that instead of down into the bedding. They came from Uncle Jim so in dry peat moss (my 1,000 worms + peat moss weighed about 12 ounces, is that normal?).

Last night right when I posted this I found this link http://www.redwormcomposting.com/general-questions/why-are-my-worms-trying-to-escape/ - VERY HELPFUL HINT FOR ANYONE WHO MIGHT COME ACROSS THIS IN THE FUTURE - HEAP ON DRY NEWSPAPER!

I put the light closer and a pile of dry newspaper and this morning I only found about 4 or 5 crispies outside the bin (all small ones too, it seemed like the majority of the worms I received were not mature worms, small with no band).

I was literally exhausted from standing over the bin for hours and hours, I had other things to do and was running around like the worms in/out my bin (was going to say chicken with, ya know...).

I am going to let it sit for 2-3 days like it is and then remove the newspaper and see where I am after that.

One more question, I have 3 or 3.5 square feet with about 4-5 inches of bedding. How many worms can live comfortably in that space?

I should clarify, it was never a mass exodus, the vast majority were in the bin. It was just a constant stream of about 10-20 climbing up to exit position (air holes or the top of the bin) and I am not sure but I think some of them might have been multiple time repeat offenders.

I also kind of made zones in the bin with one area where I sprinkled come calcium carbonate(tums), one area with shredded newspaper, one with just peat moss, one sprinkled with a bit of DIY worm chow (Ground eggshells, corn meal, and oats). So I figured really that all of the bin would be good but if not at least they could find 1 area they liked, but they didn't seem to be avoiding any particular area.

It sounds like they are settling down already. 4 or 5 floor crispies, although sad to see, is not a big deal out of 1,000 worms. And it shouldn't happen much at all after this first day or two.

My worms came from Uncle Jim's also and were similar on arrival - small worms mostly without bands, in dry peat moss, very dehydrated (they are actually lighter and skinnier when they are dehydrated) but very active and wiggly when opened. Uncle Jim's explains many, many times in their literature that the worms actually survive shipping better when they are shipped in this dry condition, but that they need to be rehydrated right away when received.

I checked just a bit ago, about 8 hours since my first check and it looks like no more have escaped.

Just so I know I am not being cruel, 3.5 square foot 18 gallon tote is enough space for 1,000 worms? I saw MIgardener put 5,000 worms in one so I thought surely that it would be plenty of room.

I kind of want to check on them but from what I have read on here it is best to leave them undisturbed and common sense tells me if they survived 3 days in that super dry peat moss being beaten around by USPS (my package was partially crushed) that they will survive 3 days in a perfectly moistened mixed material bed, even if it dries out some?

From what I have read so far, the rule of thumb being 1 - 2 lbs/sq.ft., your bin has more than enough room for your worms, for now. Hence my suggestion in your other thread to divide the bin for now, easier to find a partner and start producing cocoons once they've matured.

Oh, I don't think the worms have to be actively bumping into each other in order to find mates. When they're ready, they'll find each other.

Just wondering, did you scoop out a hole in the bin to put the peat into or jump put them on the top of the bedding?

I scooped out a bit of a "hole" to put them into. I moved some of the bedding so one side had slightly more bedding than the other but I planned on putting a feed in once they settled and smoothing it back out. They didn't settle as quickly as I hoped so its mostly level now. But when I added them in they had about 3 inches of bedding underneath where I added them.

Wondering, should I be concerned about the bedding becoming too dry with the lid off for 3 days? Thats how long I was planning on leaving it off before I take out the dry paper shreds and screen to see if they had settled in and if they have I planned on putting a feed in.

I have landscape fabric glued to a BIG hole on the lids of my bins because these little/big wrigglers can go through any screen coarser than that. I have the bins outside now that the weather has been warmer and I just mist the top of the shredded paper bedding. People said (I believe them) when the moisture on top evaporated, it will draw air current from underneath creating some air movement (minute, I think but movement none the less). So when I checked and the top was dry I misted (not drenching) just the top so as not to make the water drip further down. I have found that shredded newspaper is great for this, if it didn't get to wet. I put an old t-shirt on top of one of the bins and sprayed that, this works too.

I think that worms seek moisture (they breath through their skin). So, in another bin, I found worms congregating underneath an old cotton glove (wet, but not sopping wet). Maybe, if we provide them with a rather wet spot, they will stay put. I have found worm trails along the walls whenever there is/was condensation.

Thirstypotato, I had the same issue when I first started my bin. Every time I checked, I would see a bunch of worms crawling up the sides and under the lip of the lid. I suspect, but I'm not sure, that it may have been off-gassing from the plastic in the new tote. I just removed the lid and now I have no problems with escapees. I use a doubled piece of brown butcher paper cut-to-size that I lay across the top of the bedding. The moisture from the veggie scraps I feed them keeps the bedding moist enough and for the most part I don't have to bother misting them.

11otis, that reminds me, I have drainage holes in the bottom that I covered with window screen. *edit* None escaped into the bottom bin, not sure if it was the screen or just no desire to leave *edit*

jnavarro31(6a), my tote was rather old, so I don't think that was it. How long was it before you stopped having them escape? When I remove the window screen&newspaper that is on top now I will put a pretty wet bit of peat moss/paper to cover the feed so ill see if that makes them happy.

For anyone that had this problem, how long was it before your worms completely stopped making an escape?


I added worm castings but I really wonder if they actually had any benefit/beneficial bacteria because they were store bought in a sealed bag and were very finely sifted and dry.

Well I just took out the screen/dry newspaper that was on top. None had escaped since I employed this method and when I took it all off the worms seemed to be all down in the bedding with a few on top where I had sprinkled a bit DIY of worm chow and covered with newspaper (but they retreated when I lifted the newspaper).

I raked back a hole to put the food (1/2lb kitchen scraps) in and noticed there were worms crawling in that area which is the opposite side of the bin from where I had put them (so I assume they have spread all around the bin).

Next to the feed I added some compost and put a very wet bit of shredded newspaper on top to moisten it. I also put a teaspoon of finely ground coffee grounds near the food. Lastly, I sprinkled some DIY worm chow over the entire bin (since it looked like they had eaten all of it I put in before) and covered it with whole sheets of wet newspaper.

I am praying they decide to stay down in their bedding and I don't have to add the screen and dry newspaper shreds back. I checked the bedding and when squeezed hard I get several drops of water so it is still plenty moist. I still have the light directly over their bin, is it okay to leave it like that for a few more days?

Approximately how long should I wait to check on the feed? 1/2lb for 1,000 worms should easily be gone through in a few days right? Or will it take a few days for the food to start to grow bacteria then a few days for them to eat it? (it was lettuce, sweet peppers, and carrots that were frozen, thawed out and blended, then re-frozen and thawed before I added it into the bin).

Here's to hoping that after I post this I don't go find them trying to escape.

Thanks for all the help everyone!

Here are pictures of the worm compost I bought, my gut feelings is to avoid if you want some starter material for your worms. I couldn't really tell you if it was worm castings or coffee grounds. I would like to know the species of beneficial microbes because it seems they wouldn't survive a dry/vacuum sealed bag?

OH! You used WORM compost as the soil part of your bedding?? That, and/or the moisture on the walls of your bin could be why they were "running". When you make up a bin, the compost used is just ordinary cow compost, or mushroom compost, or garden compost, something like that..... Worm compost is already processed, it's 100% (or close to it) worm droppings... worm poop. YOU could add a little just as a microbe boost, but worms don't like to LIVE in worm poop-- anymore than you would like to live in yours-- much less anybody else's!! We get worms to MAKE their own worm poop for our gardens, FROM materials that are NOT worm compost... like shredded paper/cardboard, food scraps, leaves, garden debris, etc.. So could be your worms were running from the (stranger) worm compost. The moist walls just contributed, enabling them a nice moist escape path. I have noticed that if the humidity around here gets too high, and the walls of certain of my bins get too moist as a result, I can get some runners too.

I agree with dott. The vermicompost you bought is meant to be used by plants, not earthworms. It's probably too high in salts (plant nutrients, etc which accumulate during vermicomposting) to serve as a good bedding for worms.

I bet it was just the shock of the whole journey those suckers had - some couldn't handle the mental (if one could call it that) strain, and sought the light.

I only added a tablespoon or two for potential microbe boost. Very very little finished worm compost was added.

I just think it was normal adjustment to a new bin. They're probably settling in by now. Apart from those few who will always walk around on the walls and roof. I always have a few "ceiling worms" on the underside of my bin lid, no matter when I lift it up. It doesn't mean they're going anywhere.

"Inoculating" a new bin with microorganisms won't hurt, but I don't think it's really much needed either. The microorganisms will show up regardless; they're already ubiquitous in the environment. As the bin conditions stabilize, the favorable microorganisms will flourish.

I just checked (still lid off and light just above container) and none have left in the past 2 or 3 days.

Also, it doesn't appear any have left since I removed the screen & heap of dry shredded paper out. The dry shredded newspaper left some paper dust that is on the walls now, hopefully keeping them dry. I am now toying with the idea of putting the lid on or moving the light back up to the ceiling. But I am questioning the need for doing either of those things for another few days just to make sure they are good and settled.

Approximately how long should I wait to check on the feed I gave them? Can they start eating it immediately or does it have to grow bacteria on it?

I have one last question ( for this hour :D ), has anyone every had a problem with their worm bin attracting roaches?

I never see roaches here (maybe once a year you see one that wandered in or something) but there were 2 dead ones near the worm bin (I am pretty sure I have covered all the entries to my basement with cypermethrin so they probably had to walk through it and died possibly just coincidentally near the bin). But; I am just curious because it seems like food scraps could attract them?