Preventing Worms From Escaping Their Bin

African Nightcrawler (ANC)earthworms are migratory worms. Preventing newly purchased worms from escaping their bin is top priority for beginners.

Here are things that you can do to manage your migratory worms.

BEFORE BUYING WORMS

A well-prepared bedding helps earthworms quickly adjust to their new environment.

Choose a bin 15" - 24" high. African Nightcrawler earthworms are surface dwellers. They can live down to 18" from the surface. Your bin should be high enough (15" - 24") to contain enough bedding materials for your worms.

The bedding should have 70% - 90% moisture content. If you are using paper and carton strips,the paper should be moist like a wrung out sponge.

The food preferably should have been pre-composted for two weeks and cooled to room temperature before introduction to the bin.

Addition of "old bedding" into the new bedding. It helps if you can ask your worm supplier for some bedding material where the worms came from originally.

If possible, the old bedding should be equal to the weight of worms purchased. The original bedding also gives more protection while transporting the earthworms to its new home.

AFTER BUYING WORMS

Gently insert the worms and the old bedding at one corner of the bin. Allow the worms to explore their new home instead of dispersing them around the bin since worms tend to group together even in mature beddings.

Cover the surface with plenty of dry material after introducing your worms into their new environment. The dry material will prevent worms from getting out of your bin since worms need plenty of moisture to crawl around.

If possible, wrap a few sheets of newspaper around the top of the bin. The newspaper should not touch the bedding as this might transfer moisture allowing worms to crawl out.

Place the bin cover, if any.

African Nightcrawler earthworms are migratory in nature and covering your bin's surface with enough dry material, apart from making a proper bedding, prevents the worms from crawling out.