wtman
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A Juvenile Earthworm
| Posts: 33 |   |
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new guy - 2006/07/18 14:51
hello to all first of all. I am in Colorado and it gets quite cold here in the winter. I ordered my worms today and they will be here sometime next week. I ordered 3 lbs of the red wigglers but i need to make them a bin. I have tons of non treated 3/4 in plywood i would like to make my bins with. I have a 17' x 35' garage but its not heated in the winter. How can i keep the box warm on the long weeks of winter we have here in Colorado? Also, wondering about building the box. i am thinking 4' x 8' feet for the bottom and 2' side walls. my question is, when drilling vent holes. Do i drill holes in the bottom and cover the holes with wire, if so, how large of wire, 1/4" or smaller? What will keep them from crawling out the holes? Should i put a divider at 4' length of 8' box?
I am sorry for all the ?'s but would rather ask than not ask as i want to build a nice home for my worms.
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mihardy
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A Hatchling Earthworm
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Re:new guy - 2006/07/18 19:49
if u have the worms off the floor and feed them well they will not go anywhere.insulate thebin in the winter and u will probably be ok. worms are tougher than u might think!
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mihardy
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A Hatchling Earthworm
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Re:new guy - 2006/07/18 20:02
i forgot something . as far as holes just drill some for drainage ; fairly small.
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Krow
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A Hatchling Earthworm
| Posts: 14 | |
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Re:new guy - 2006/07/18 21:41
I used the attached (if I attached it correctly) to build my bin. It's smaller than you wanted but maybe you can get some ideas from it.
As far as insulation I read that you can use bails of straw. Hope this helps.
Deane
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Krow
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A Hatchling Earthworm
| Posts: 14 | |
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Re:new guy - 2006/07/18 21:46
Sorry it didn't work. Here's where I got the plans:
seattletilth.org/resources/compost
Deane
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wtman
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A Juvenile Earthworm
| Posts: 33 | |
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Re:new guy - 2006/07/18 22:13
thanks for the info folks, i am so excited about getting my worms. i will have tons of questions i am sure for all you folk here. matter of fact, here's one already. Is there any reason i could not put canadian night crawlers in this worm box with the reds? or is there something special about them. Not the ENC's i dont think the boxes say canadian night crawlers. We were using them for fish food and i decided what the heck, maybe i could put them in here with them and let them live. 
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redhen
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A Protected Species Earthworm
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Re:new guy - 2006/07/18 22:23
Is there any reason i could not put canadian night crawlers in this worm box with the reds? or is there something special about them.
They (Canadian Nightcrawlers), are not commonly grown in culture, as they require cold temperatures and have different needs than compost worms. ENC's would work well.
Post edited by: redhen, at: 2006/07/18 22:24
Susan Quinby-Honer
redhen@nc.rr.com
Starve the Landfill...Feed the Earth. |
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glowery
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A Protected Species Earthworm
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Re:new guy - 2006/07/19 10:45
Any holes I have in my bins I covered with screening (like for windows) and taped it securely with duct tape on the inside of the bin.
I have the ENC's, which are in bins in a barn. If the winter is not any colder than they have been the last few years I don't think I am going to have to worry too much about how to keep them warm since they like it bit cooler anyway. If this winter happens to be more normal, then I will wrap something around the outside of the bin to hold in some heat or I can move them to one of our other barns which is insulated but not heated. I don't think the temp in that barn has ever been below freezing.
My main concern is keeping them cool in the summer.
Glenda
I always wanted to be somebody; I guess I should have been more specific. |
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wtman
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A Juvenile Earthworm
| Posts: 33 | |
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Re:new guy - 2006/07/19 13:20
where or who is the cheapest to get ENC's or more of the red wigglers from. I built my bin last nite but went with only 12 inch sides. it is off the ground as i had some table legs to support the box with. How close to the top should i fill it with the shredded news paper, i also put some 3 yr old leaves and about a shovel full of dirt in there already.i put shredded news paper about 4 inches deep so far then put the leaves and dirt over that, wasnt much dirt for that big a box i dont think? Also, what about green grass clipping, i assume a few ok, but not many?
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glowery
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A Protected Species Earthworm
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Re:new guy - 2006/07/19 14:09
With temps as high as they are right now all over the country, I would pick a place as close to me as possible so the worms are not in a "HOT" UPS for very long. It would not matter how cheap they were if they were all dead when they got to you.
I ordered my ENC's from Trinity Ranch
http://mypeoplepc.com/members/arbra/trinity/index.html
Bob, the owner is a member of this forum, although I have not seen him post for a bit.
My worms were shipped one day and delivered the next because we don't live but maybe 150 miles apart. My worms were packaged well and in great condition when I got them.
Glenda
I always wanted to be somebody; I guess I should have been more specific. |
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mikel
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A Juvenile Earthworm
| Posts: 42 | |
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Re:new guy - 2006/07/19 19:42
I get my worms from acme worm farm out of Arizona. They may not be the cheapest but they do a great job. I have been the cheap route and it didn't work very well for me. acmewormfarm.com
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Grimlock
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A Juvenile Earthworm
| Posts: 40 | |
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Re:new guy - 2006/07/20 08:05
Bob, the owner is a member of this forum, although I have not seen him post for a bit.
Maybe he doesn't know that the forums are still open? I didn't for a few days. I would just click my shortcut and see that the site is under construction then check back another day. It was a few days of that till I tried clicking the forum topics to see they were still open. Maybe they could put something like Forums are still open on the page that shows it's being upgraded?
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wtman
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A Juvenile Earthworm
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Re:new guy - 2006/07/26 20:17
well, i got my worms today. Yaaayyyyy. One problem though, when i opened the bag, i see hundreds of these little, spider or mite, redish looking critters, everywhere in this stuff. what are they and how or do i need to get rid of them? Hard to believe if they are a bad thing that they would send them to me full of these things. Also i notice lots of little cocoons i think in the dirt. Little tiny brownish looking things. I am worried about these mites or whatever they are though. not sure if i can capture a picture of them, theres lots of them though. If i can get a picture and figure out how to upload it here i will so you folks can look and tell what they are.
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wtman
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A Juvenile Earthworm
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Re:new guy - 2006/07/26 22:53
well, these little bugs are too small and way too fast for me to get a picture with my 5megpixel camera. i am thinking they arent mites but more like pseudoscorpions?
when i tell you they are everywhere, i cant believe how many there are, they are now crawling all over my wood worm bin. i hope they arent some type of bad guy.
By the way, these worms are incredibly small i think. no way to use for fish bait if i ever wanted to. do you think they are juveniles or are they full grown and this size. i thought by the pictures i have seen, they were larger? Guess i have a lot to learn.
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mikel
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A Juvenile Earthworm
| Posts: 42 | |
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Re:new guy - 2006/07/27 14:58
Sounds like mites to me, some of the mites look like really small spiders and are fast. For more info. on mites and other worm bin critters go to happydranch.com and go under invertabrates.
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wtman
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A Juvenile Earthworm
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Re:new guy - 2006/07/27 15:02
mikel,
I did goto that site, but these things look different than those, i guess they arent eating the worms that i can tell so i will leave them be i guess. i will keep an eye on them and make sure they dont start killing the worms. if they do , i will have to figure something else out i reckon.
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UncleBubba
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A Juvenile Earthworm
| Posts: 61 | |
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Re:new guy - 2006/07/27 16:18
I would suggest talking to your supplier. Most of the sellers around the forum's are extremely knowledgable and helpful. They go overboard to answer questions. If these creatures were in the worms you received your supplier should know what they were. Good luck.
Freddie - fj8181@hotmail.com
Deep in the "Heart of Dixie" |
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wtman
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A Juvenile Earthworm
| Posts: 33 | |
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Re:new guy - 2006/07/27 17:04
well, i got a hold of topline-2000 where i ordered my worms. He said they came from california and i got one of the last batches for a few weeks. Said the heat out there has ravaged the supplier and he has tons of dead worms so that is where these came from. Now i am worried sick over these things and i put them in my fresh new bed and have thousands of them roaming around in there. He said i should try and salvage the worms and start with a fresh bed all over again. Heck of a way to start out my new worms. Any other idea besides doing all of that changing out and stressing out my worms even more. They seem very happy and content and have started flocking to some grass clippings i threw in there. These bugs i notice dont like it wet, when i put some water on the bed , they flock to the sides and up on the top rail of the bed. Maybe i should try to torch them off with a butane torch but i am scared i might get my worms too wet doing this. I am so diss-appointed right now. All my prep work i did to get this bed nice and comfy for my new worms and probably gonna have to start all over and havent had them for 1 day.
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CarolV
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A Juvenile Earthworm
| Posts: 44 | |
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Re:new guy - 2006/07/27 18:09
Wtman - Mites are round with legs sticking out. Think extremly small, rounder ticks. They do not harm worms, but indicate that conditions of the bin is not great for the worms, and better for the mites. Acid and too wet are the general things that help mites expand in numbers. Mites will collect on bread, cardboard and other things that can then be taken out to be disposed of.
If you can see them under a magnifying glass to see better what they look like, then you can check against the pics in web sites. Maybe you have already done that.
I remember on one of the threads that talked about getting rid of unwanted critters in bins, they did suggest flooding the bins for brief times (worms can withstand some very wet if not to long) and then when the pests come to the surface they blow torched them. If what you have do not like water, then that might work, but you will need to be able to get the extra water out of the bin before it drowns the worms.
I hope that some of the people that have worked with worms longer than I have see this and give you some help.
I got a "bad batch" of worms when I first started and it is confusing and discouraging to have to deal with any problem at the start of a new venture. A little over a year later, and I now have different kinds of worms that are thriving, so don't give up. The problem will be solved and you will be on your way with this new venture.
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CarolV
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A Juvenile Earthworm
| Posts: 44 | |
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Re:new guy - 2006/07/27 18:23
My comment on the size of the worms. I have ENCs and a variety of red worms. The ENCs are bigger than the reds. I went fishing with some of the larger medium sized worms and by carefully putting them on smaller hooks was able to fish with them. And they did quickly catch bass and perch.
All of the above worms are not nearly as big as the native nightcrawlers that a lot of people are used to digging out of their back yards or buying in the bait stores. But for the appropriate sized fish and hooks they are great. Your worms should get bigger when they have better conditions to grow in than what sounds like very stressfull conditions they have been in.
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Worm Police
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A Mature Breeder Earthworm
| Posts: 96 | |
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Re:new guy - 2006/07/27 18:29
Hi wtman,
If your worms seem happy, with the exception of mites, I wouldn't change them to a new bin, or bedding. I have had mite problems, but I kept them in check by sprinkling dry sifted soft wood, wood ashes on the surface, then covered them with damp newspaper, that seem to kill off the mites, and it didn't seem to bother the worms, as they could escape under and into the bedding, where as mites like the surface. If you don't have ashes, you can try sprinkling with sifted dry peat moss to see if that helps.
I have observed wild birds, and tame birds alike taking dirt baths in my ash pile to get rid of their skin bugs, either lice or mites.
I haven't had a reoccurrence of mites in my worm bins, and this occurred 2 years ago.
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mikel
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A Juvenile Earthworm
| Posts: 42 | |
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Re:new guy - 2006/07/27 18:50
Another thing that would also cause mite problems is overfeeding.(carolV had the other two and on the acid it is the ph) You said that they told you that tons of worms were dead from the company you bought them from. This is probably where the mites thrived at, do to all the dead worms.I would not worry alot about the mites. Were their any dead worms in your package?
Post edited by: mikel, at: 2006/07/27 19:00
Post edited by: mikel, at: 2006/07/27 19:12
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wtman
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A Juvenile Earthworm
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Re:new guy - 2006/07/28 12:05
thanks guys for the tips, i appreciate the replies. I did NOT have any dead worms at all, they were a little sluggish when i first put them in but since are really going to town on the paper and a few grass clippings. These "mites" dont seem too happy in the bin, they are really starting to crawl out all over the sides of the wood bin the last 2 days now. I am really hoping they all leave, i started torching them off the sides of the box today, hopefully i can get them under control. I have not started feeding my worms yet because they are flocking to the grass clippings. They are definatley scattered throughout the bed and not really congregating to one location which i think is a good sign. They really do move fast now compared to barely moving at all when i first dumped them in the bin. Even the canadian nite crawlers i bought from walmart are thriving it seems. I cant believe how many castings and what not is already starting to appear in the bed. other than the mites being a problem for me, the worms seem really happy.
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mikel
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A Juvenile Earthworm
| Posts: 42 | |
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Re:new guy - 2006/07/28 15:42
Sounds like your worms are doing fine. Just be careful with the torch. Have Fun!!
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