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Lights - 2005/11/08 21:06Hey Yall- I have built my worm bins 4'w x 16'L. My question is do I have to have lights over these beds to keep the worms from migrating or is there another way to keep them from leaving? Right now we have had no problems with them leaving but I have been told if there is no lights they will leave? From pics from the internet it appears there is some bins with no light systems. Thanks for the help and God Bless. In His Service, James
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Jerry
Visitor A Hatchling Earthworm
Posts: 22
Re:Lights - 2005/11/08 21:21James,
I have not had lights on in years. If the worms are content in their beds, they will not crawl. Try turning the lights of for a little while and then check them to see if they are trying to crawl.
THE SIGNIFIGANT PROBLEMS WE FACE CANNOT BE SOLVED AT THE LEVEL OF THINKING WE WERE AT WHEN WE CREATED THEM.
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redhen
User A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 686
Re:Lights - 2005/11/08 21:57I agree with Jerry. If the worm's environment is correct, then they have nowhere else they would rather be. It is like a worm resort.. If you have not had problems, then it would seem they are settled in and happy.Susan Quinby-Honer redhen@nc.rr.com Starve the Landfill...Feed the Earth.
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billyW
User A Hatchling Earthworm
Posts: 13
Re:Lights - 2005/11/09 13:45I had EF's for years with no crawls. When I first got my ENC's from Bob, they wanted to crawl. He suggested the light "just long enough" to settle them.
Once they had settled/acclimated, the light came off and they've been content ever since. Even Rita didn't shake 'em up too bad.
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Bob Ingram
Visitor A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 156
Re:Lights - 2005/11/09 17:07I think Kelly Slocum said it best....the only way to keep worms in is by creatimg Worm 'Heaven' rather tham Worm 'Hell'.......Seeya, Bobwww.trinity-ranch.com
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Kuznles
User A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 59
Re:Lights - 2005/11/10 00:14I keeps lights on over my African Nightcrawlers all the time. After rebedding my euros, I leave a light on for about 2 or 3 nights and never on my wigglers with the exception that when we are having a heavy thunderstorm, I put the lights on over all of them.
I have not had problems with crawling, except for one time during a heavy thunderstorm but with the lights on I haven't had any problems even during storms, so the lights are my insurance. In a 30 foot by 12 foot wormhouse it only takes 3 60 watt bulbs, by using the new flourecent bulbs, they only draw 13 watts each, pretty cheap insurance.
Because of the low cost for 13 watts of power, I now leave 1 light on in each house all night every night. Many times I will go out there for some reason or another and it saves me from tripping and falling. At my age(retired 9 years ago)that is also a consideration.KuznLes
Kountrykuznworms.com
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Bob Ingram
Visitor A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 156
Re:Lights - 2005/11/10 06:27Retired?. Lol...you mean you just changed jobs, Les. Three worm houses will sure nuf keep you busy....Seeyawww.trinity-ranch.com
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Kuznles
User A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 59
Re:Lights - 2005/11/12 00:02You've got that right Bob, but it keeps me out from under my wifes feet so I don't drive her up the wall. I started this as a hobby but somwhere down the line I made a wrong turn and now I spend my days with the worms instead of fishing. I do enjoy the worms, working with them keeps me physicaly in pretty god shape and I am not setting around worrying about getting old. Besides, I've got 18 greatgrandchildren to teach all about worms.KuznLes
Kountrykuznworms.com
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Bob Ingram
Visitor A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 156
Re:Lights - 2005/11/12 06:26Well, Sir, spending time with worms and kids is time well spent...18 great grand kids? Les, that puts a whole new meaning to spreading the word about worms and what they mean to the world, Seeya, Bobwww.trinity-ranch.com
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loonyhiker
User A Hatchling Earthworm
Posts: 15
Re:Lights - 2005/12/11 16:10When I started in August 2004, I built a plywood bin 2'x2'x4' which sat on cinder blocks in my backyard. I put new bedding of newspaper in the bin but Hubby insisted that I put a light in to make worms stay. There was no compost in it yet and so I feel the light would encourage them to stay in the darkness. I dragged this huge orange extension cord from my house to the back yard and put a small clip on reading lamp with a low wattage bulb on it in the bin. This stayed on all winter long. Then summer came along and my bulb burned out. I put away the cord and the light for the summer and now that winter is here, I haven't put the lamp back in. I live in SC but it gets down to freezing here. The worms seem happy and warm in the compost that is there so I will probably not add the light this year. I hope they don't miss their light.
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Kuznles
User A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 59
Re:Lights - 2005/12/17 00:28I have one outdoor bin, ( an old cold drink box) I heat it in the winter by putting a 25 watt light bulb in an empty 3 pound coffee can and bury the can in the bedding.it will dry out the bedding around the can, but it will keep a large area of the bedding from freezing and I find lots of worms around the can when I open the lids. I usualy just dampen the bedding a little when I feed them (about once each week. If the temp is going to be above 35?F at night, I turn it off otherwise I just leave it on all the time.KuznLes
Kountrykuznworms.com
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