Larry C
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A Mature Breeder Earthworm
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Worms escaping? .....Try this - 2008/11/20 00:08
Just discovered a way to prevent my reds from crawling out of their bin. I experimented with some copper tape that gardening centers sell which serves as a barrier for slugs. (the copper supposedly acts like an electric fence to the slugs and they don't like to cross it)
On the inside wall of my 3' x 8' bin, I made an outline of a rectangle about 6" x 18" with the 1" wide adhesive copper tape. After 24 hours, the worms crawled all over the sides everywhere like they have been doing,except not one ventured to the inside of the rectangle.
As soon as I locate some more tape, I'll make a line around the inside perimeter of my bed.
I like to keep an insulated lid on my bins to conserve heat, but being in the dark they like to climb the walls. I bet this will put a stop to it. 
Larry
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timnbama
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Re:Worms escaping? .....Try this - 2008/11/20 04:41
Larry, you might want to look at FindTape.com's site. I've seen the tape at stores and around here it would be much cheaper to order a 36 yd. roll compared to the 15 ft rolls hanging up on the racks.
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lkittle
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Re:Worms escaping? .....Try this - 2008/11/20 08:49
Hi Guys; A tv twin leed antenna wire glued to the perimeter hooked to a door bell x former will do the job also. You have to expose the copper wire of the side away from the bin wall works great and if bins are close can hook up in series. Like electric worm fence!
larry
Holley,New York |
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Kori
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Re:Worms escaping? .....Try this - 2008/11/20 10:24
so are you saying that it is the copper alone that keeps them from passing over?
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Larry C
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Re:Worms escaping? .....Try this - 2008/11/20 12:21
Yes, the tape must conduct a little electricity just on it's own using this tape. Tim, this might work good to prevent your stacked bins from mixing worm types. Thanks for the website. I'll have to check it out.
Larry
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lkittle
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Re:Worms escaping? .....Try this - 2008/11/20 17:59
Hi Guys the tape is acting like a chemical barrier more than electrical hysterisis currents. Unless the tape has two disimlar metals to create a battery of sorts. Using the moisture on the worm with its chemical makeup to form a battery.
larry
Holley,New York |
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timnbama
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Re:Worms escaping? .....Try this - 2008/11/21 01:56
Larry C wrote:
Yes, the tape must conduct a little electricity just on it's own using this tape. Tim, this might work good to prevent your stacked bins from mixing worm types. Thanks for the website. I'll have to check it out.Larry
They may mix a little over time but now it's mainly me unmixing worm types as some of the ones that I've got in would have a few wiggler types mixed in with say African nightcrawler, etc. As I'm turning the beds I always seperate the wigglers out to their beds. It's really not that big of a problem with me as they work different levels of the beds. Other than trying mainly to increase the stock in the wiggler beds I wouldn't even bother with it now as they are easily seperated while cupping.
With 22 bins now I can play in worms every day. It's a challenge to keep them all at the proper moisture level with the heater and exhaust fan running. I had to turn the variable speed fan on to draw out excess moisture to prevent mold from growing in the barn. The fan and a good wipe down with mild vinegar water solution took care of the mold. I have room for 26 more bins in that barn so I may have to increase the fan speed a little more to prevent that problem in the future.
This weekend I need to split some bins as the Africans don't seem to want to slow down. With my work schedule which often requires double shifting and working some on my normal off days it can get hectic at times just trying to find time to keep them watered and fed. The little things keep making me spend time building more bed space in the one barn while at the same time working on additional larger beds in another barn that hopefully will get filled this spring. Hopefully even though it is going to be cold all weekend I'll find a little time to go test some of the worms myself as a friend and I have planned a trip to the river. That should prove interesting with 5 types of worms on hand to see what Mr. Cat prefers for lunch. Reckon I could claim the trip as "market research" and make it a tax deduction?
It's just after midnight and I just finished relining the reels with new line after I had gone back over to the barn and put up some storage shelves, built another 8' bed, put peat moss in the barrel to soak, shredded some cardboard and paper. Gee, insomnia is nice at times, hehe.
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Larry C
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Re:Worms escaping? .....Try this - 2008/11/21 14:15
Wow, sounds like no shortage of fishing bait for you
Larry
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timnbama
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Re:Worms escaping? .....Try this - 2008/11/21 18:54
It was cold and a little windy but my friend and I made it to the river this morning and stayed all day. We used up 3 cups of worms and wound up with 19 catfish ranging from about 12 ozs to a couple of 5 pounders. I carried grey wigglers, ENC's and Africans. I put the bedding back into the bins after we got back as the ENCs had laid several cocoons in the cups.
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WilhelmGGW
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Re:Worms escaping? .....Try this - 2008/11/23 12:09
timnbama wrote:
You might want to look at FindTape.com's site. I've seen the tape at stores and around here it would be much cheaper to order a 36 yd. roll compared to the 15 ft rolls hanging up on the racks.
I see they have the tape with a conductive adhesive and a non-conductive. I assume the non-conductive adhesive would work fine, right? Since the worms will only be attempting to cross the exposed metalic, non-adhesive side of the tape? The adhesive side is what we'll be sticking to the sides of the bin. Right?
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timnbama
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Re:Worms escaping? .....Try this - 2008/11/23 19:28
Yes, stick the adhesive to your bin. I don't know which would be the better adhesive, the conductive or the non-conductive. If you make your bins out of plywood as I do I would suggest that you sand the wood where you intend to apply the tape so that you have a smoother surface. If you find copper tape without the adhesive and use "contact cement" I would recommend the conventional contact cement and would not suggest that you even look at that sorry "water-based" cement. At least for me and a friend who builds cabinets we both have had very poor results with the water based.
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WilhelmGGW
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Re:Worms escaping? .....Try this - 2008/11/24 07:58
Larry C wrote:
with the 1" wide adhesive copper tape
I see there is quite a price difference for different widths of tape. FindTape.com has it clear down to 1/4" wide. Would this narrower iteration be a sufficient barrier? Or would one have to use a wider tape -- even, something between 1/4 and 1"? Thanks for the feedback.
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timnbama
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Re:Worms escaping? .....Try this - 2008/11/24 17:47
I don't know what the minimum width should be but like you said there is a difference in the price, anywhere you look. I would try the narrow stuff to see if it will do the trick. I think it would be easy to set up and experiment to see if the 1/4" will prevent crawling. Luckily, so far I haven't seen this problem. Most of my beds now have a 3" wide band of aluminum window screening around the top that is supposed to prevent the crawling. I figured while building and setting them up I might as well add them as it don't add that much extra to the cost of a bin.
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Larry C
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Re:Worms escaping? .....Try this - 2008/11/24 19:07
Hello everyone,
Just got back from a two-night stay at the beach for our anniversary. Before I left, I installed my copper tape around the inside perimeter of both my 3x8 beds. Got back this Monday afternoon and checked them. Not one escapee  It looks like they only crawled up the side about 1/2" - 1" below the tape. Not even touching it; as far as I can tell by the dirt/castings they leave on the sides.
As far as what width I used, it was 1-1/4" which I purchased locally at a Fred Meyer Store in their garden department at $8 per 15' roll. From what I found, FindTape.com has an 8 roll minimum. I would think you wouldn't want to go too narrow. With this width, if they do attempt to cross it, they may give up before they get all the way across.
Here is a link to ebay which is the same stuff I bought.
http://cgi.ebay.com/COPPER-SNAIL-SLUG-TAPE-stops-them-
cold_W0QQitemZ310102060358QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0
My interior walls of my bed are painted with a latex gloss paint. This provided a smooth surface to adhere the tape to. I cleaned it well and dried it with a heat gun first. After applying it, I warmed a section of it with the heat gun and rubbed it down hard, working my way all around. (I think the cold temperature wasn't making the tape stick as good as it could when warmer) All my tape still seems secure.
Larry
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timnbama
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Re:Worms escaping? .....Try this - 2008/11/25 20:14
FindTape does sell the standard rolls in less than case quantities but the price is about $3-4 a roll higher that way. How's the worms doing in those high-tech condos you built Larry? Go figure, you spend good money building them a nice roomy, warm hotel and the darned things want to check out and go somewhere else.
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Larry C
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Re:Worms escaping? .....Try this - 2008/11/26 01:45
Tim,
They seem to be producing quite well. Lot's of capsules & little ones. I'm hoping with these optimum conditions I'm providing, they are just getting too crowded for comfort. I picked up more lumber to build two more beds - then I can divide them. Hope to have them done in a couple weeks. Maybe then they won't be wanting to crawl so much.
Larry
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wellsworms
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opps - 2008/11/26 07:06
Post edited by: wellsworms, at: 2008/11/26 07:11
FEED IT TO THE WORMS
WELLS,vermont
jerry walker 2008 |
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wellsworms
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Re:Worms escaping? .....Try this - 2008/11/26 07:08
timnbama wrote:
Go figure, you spend good money building them a nice roomy, warm hotel and the darned things want to check out and go somewhere else.
Given their mating habits [any one any time] it no wonder they want a sleazy motel instead of a high-class hotel
FEED IT TO THE WORMS
WELLS,vermont
jerry walker 2008 |
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timnbama
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Re:Worms escaping? .....Try this - 2008/11/26 21:12
Yes, they do seem to have fun don't they. I really like it when I pull the covers back off the beds to feed and water and see those little things doing what they are famous for. I have yet to see the wigglers mating, they must not do it on the surface like the redworms, Euros, & Africans do. Hmm, now that I think of it I've never dug a couple up from down in the bed either when turning the bedding. Maybe they're shy or just a little more respectful, lol.
I've seen 2 of the wigglers very close together but never seen them together. I see the cocoons and little ones all along so they must be mating. Anyone else raise "gray wigglers"? If so have you seen them actually mating? I think it must be bacause they seem more sensitive to any type of disturbance, even feeding and watering, compared to all the other types that I'm raising.
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digger51
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Re:Worms escaping? .....Try this - 2008/11/30 12:18
Hey Everyone,
I just use a layer of newspaper about a inch thick on top of my beds and have never had a problem with worms crawling out. Save your money and use free newspaper. If you have to spend money order more worms.
Digger
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Larry C
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Re:Worms escaping? .....Try this - 2008/11/30 19:17
Digger,
Do your worms see light if they crawl out from under the newspaper? I keep mine in the dark under insulated lids to trap the heat from the heat cables. When I pull the lid off, and their exposed to the overhead light, they all head underground like usual. I thought about doing away with the lid, but prefer this tape to letting the heat escape. These beds maintain 72 degrees in a unheated barn.
Of my two beds, the first one is definitely crawling more than the second one. I think it's just time to split it so they aren't so crowded. (This week's project )But until then, this prevents the persistant ones from crawling on the inside of the lid and finding their way through the joints in the weatherstripping around the top edge.
Larry
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timnbama
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Re:Worms escaping? .....Try this - 2008/11/30 23:07
Larry, have you thought about putting a small light such as a LED or 4-watt nightlight in the bed on the bottomside of the lid, that way they would be lit even with the lid down. Just put an rug or something on top so they could come up and feed on top.
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digger51
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Re:Worms escaping? .....Try this - 2008/12/01 05:51
Larry,
My worms bins have lids on them so there is no light on them. I have been using newspaper for about two years now and have not had any problem. The newspaper can be a pain at times because of tearing but it works. Plus they sure love to eat it like it is candy. I have nine bins that are 2 feet by 4 feet all euros. My shed only gets light when I am in there working. Don't shred just lay the paper out flat. I am not saying this will work for you. Just try it on one bin to see if it works for you. I don't heat my bins. They are in a drafty old shed and this time of year they get pretty cold but as long as they don't freeze they do just fine. I live in south Missouri and it gets pretty cold here. I don't think my beds have ever reached 70 degrees. I keep them cool and they do fine.
Digger
Post edited by: digger51, at: 2008/12/01 06:12
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Kori
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Re:Worms escaping? .....Try this - 2008/12/01 22:20
I put newspaper on top of my beds and still have the worms crawl out.
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Larry C
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Re:Worms escaping? .....Try this - 2008/12/02 03:09
Tim: I actually thought of using a string of LED lights around the perimeter of the bed to save electricity, instead of overhead lights if I was going to leave the lid off. Never thought about inside the bin like you mentioned. The tape is working great, and I like the worms being able to crawl all over the feed on top, plus it's easy to monitor their feed supply.
Digger:I've never tried raising Euros or any other night crawlers. I understand they prefer colder temperatures than reds. At this optimum warmer temp, in just two months my 30lbs have multiplied enough in the 3x8 bed that I think they just want more elbow room.
Kori: Give this tape a try. It will be an instant fix.
Larry
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