Why Are Worms Trying to Escape my Worm Compost Bin?
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- Опубліковано 11 вер 2020
- Read about why worms appear to be escaping your worm bin!
urbanwormcompany.com/why-are-...
It is not uncommon for worms to crawl up the sides of your worm bin. This does not necessarily mean they are trying to escape. In this new Coffee & Compost video, I'll cover 4 reasons why you'll find worms crawling up the sides of your worm bin, whether it's due to moisture, vibration, changes in barometric pressure, or worms actually trying to escape the bin! - Навчання та стиль
I found a simple solution. I had fed my worm bins last week. Not much but had dug up the bottom to make it more loose. The ANC went bezerk and were climbing all over the sides. I had sealed the sides of cover with masking tape and also put a fence of masking tape on top around already. The cover has holes for air. Some how when I switch of lights some worms escaped over the air holes and managed to climb the tapes or some loose tape on the side. Anyway I lost 4 worms on the floor dried next morning. The next day more worms were wallowing on the water condensing on the cover and in the process trying the gaps and holes. Had a quick thought and took two garlic pieces and put on top of the lid. Worms crawling all over sides and top inside promptly got inside the bedding in 5 min. No worms ventured out after that. Lot of babies as well but all went and dived inside. No more escaping or loss. People can try this. However change your garlic piece every two weeks as it may loose the smell. Also make a dent or cut in the garlic so the smell really kicks start
Hello when you put garlic on top of the ANC did they stop reproducing or did they get irritated in any way?
Thank you so much for making this simple, but straight to the point video. THAT photo you showed is so valuable for people like me who have NO CLUE. That's exactly what my worms. I think they did not like the noxious smell of the new plastic bin, coupled with not enough enough ventilation - the holes were too few and too small. You saved my red wigglers. I almost killed them a second time when I didn't feed them for two weeks. Two months later their numbers are up and they look super healthy. Thank you!
Thanks for letting me know this Irma! Feels great to hear! :)
Yes… I was given a worm bin. I was told they were red-wrigglers.
The first rain storm they did a MASSIVE Jail break…
I mean they were scattered everywhere!
I was totally freaked.
Luckily the worm bins are outside in a covered area.
How do you keep from having a barometric blastoff?
Only a light?
A light would help but having pure red wigglers would help more!
finally, common sense invaluable advice based on experience - thank you so much for your videos!!
Thanks so much SB!
@@UrbanWormCompany I think the indian blues leave when the pressure drops because if they get oxygen through their "skin", then they would be worried if a thunder storm saturated the soil and caused conditions to be too anaerobic for them.
Great video! Just got my worms today! Looking for any extra info and this was great explanation!
Super informative, thank you. Was worried about them coming up to the lid recently, and yes, there is condensation so that explains it. I wondered if it was okay to leave the lid off now and then to allow some extra airflow and let it dry out a little, and your last few comments helped with that too. Thank you!
I built a new bin a couple days ago, got my worms and did 48 hours with a bright light, with some plastic wrap on top to prevent drying. It warmer outside, and today is the first day I'm moving the bin outside. And man, 30-40 worms made their way up the wall to a screen I put under the lid to prevent them from leaving. They were crawling on the screen when I went out after 3 hours.
30 to 40 is probably not too much of a concern to be honest
Thank you for this clear and concise explanation of the worms' behavior.
You got it Brenda!
Maybe the drop in barometric pressure signals for them climb up to avoid drowning when there is monsoon rainfall.
thanks for your videos. i find your info helpful. i am months into my adventure here ( American in the Philippines) i have gone from a hundred or so anc i found in some vermicast i bought, now with a 4foot by 10 foot very full of worms, trying to hurry and build another 4x10. also working on my first ASP composting bin hope to have it going soon. hoping to invest in a pulverizing machine to help process compost materials very soon
good stuff! thanks Steve!
Thanks Steve - I just read your post on this this morning! Six days in and my worms continue to try escaping. But it’s only a dozen or two at a time, so the article reassured me too. On the other hand the second day I had them I discovered dozens of worms crawling across the floor outside the bin! Turns out that the cardboard I put down at the bottom of my UWB must have already deteriorated, and the worms were getting out the bottom because I hadn’t zipped the bottom. So they can get through that cinched exit. Otherwise, so far so good!
Hi Marina,
Yes they can get through the bottom. The bottom zipper, once any moisture from the initial bedding stops dripping out, should be closed if escaping worms are a concern. I think you'll find that once your Bag gets a bit more full, you can reopen the zipper to dry things out a bit before a harvest.
Started my first earth worm bin and we live in dry Eastern Washington I guess I haven't seen this phenomenon with the worms crawling on the sides of the bin but I'll have to keep an eye out for this condensation thing
Awesome info that I needed to hear, Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
All EXCELLENT points!!!
I think if the conditions are right in the bedding, they will have no desire to leave. This involves proper pH, moisture, temperature, and food supply.
Many animals can sense barometric pressure changes and begin to seek higher ground before possible flood water arrives. Same goes with land animals who flee for higher ground before a tsunami comes. This is also mystery to me, but I have realized wildlife is smarter than humans in many ways such as knowing their proper diets.
Excellent presentation, great voice. Solid info.
Love your blogs, very informative, Steve. From NEW ZEALAND.
Thank you for the info. I've have my bin for about a month and all of a sudden I have worms climbing the wall of the bin. They have food, the bedding is moist and I have them in a low traffic area. I haven't checked them in a few days till today and I had a dozen on the wall, a bunch on the surface and on top of the two damp paper bags I have on top. It's been storming alot here the last three days so I guess barometric pressure is the problem cause I haven't changed the routine since we started the bin
Yes, I bet your bin is just fine. A few dozen is no big deal. A few thousand is a problem!
Dang you're worm smart! Outstanding video and thanks so much.
Ha! Believe me, I'm proven wrong a lot too!
Thank you so much! As a new vermicomposter your video is very helpful. I just subscribed to your channel and look forward to watching more of your videos😊
Thanks for the sub, Cherrill!
I'm a newbie at this. I've had my wormies about 2 months now and they seemed to have settled into their new bin home just fine, until we had a storm a couple days ago and I found a couple dozen on the side walls. I had a feeling it had to do with the storm so this makes complete sense. There was also a small bit of water from the rain that got inside (walls only, air holes are on the sides), probably from strong wind gusts, so I assume they were attracted to the water as well. I feel much better about this now that I watched your video. Great info and Worm Mom can now rest at ease. Not to mention, wormies have been provided a large beach umbrella for rainy days. :)
Ha! You got it Dana!
Ñ
My wife was very skeptical when I first proposed worm composting in the basement; that was a year or two ago. We love our Urban Worm Bag and appreciate all the advice you have given on UA-cam and Email. Thanks Steve!
Oh wow! Thanks so much Cory! (And thanks to your wife too. )
Great video! Always very informative & concise. So glad my worms haven't tried to escape my UWB...let's me know they're happy with their home! Thanks so much!
This was super helpful!! Thank you
You got it, Princess! ;
Growing up in MN and KS I have told friends/colleagues that I can "smell" tornado(s). I can't explain what it's like but it's like the smell after a heavy rain, that "fresh smell" but different. Anyway, I was told it wasn't a "smell" but the barometric pressure goofing up my nose..
Growing up in Texas I can also sense a difference in the smell of the air or pressure!
I am new to vermicomposting. This was exactly what I wanted to hear. Some worms had crawled up and I was a bit worried. I added even ice at the bottom of the bin to ensure right temperature for them. They were some moisture in the bin and the worms came to explore and couple of them were on the ground. Now I left the lid open and have covered the top Layer with newspaper and a damp cloth. I believe it should work.
Sounds great Pavithra! :)
Thank you for this informative video.
Thanks I was freaking out the first time I saw them crawling up the walls. Now I know it’s for the condensation I’ll just keep the lid on and let them have at it.
THANKS FOR THE GREAT INFO
I wonder if worms have similar survival tendency as fish. Fish can also tell when there is pressure change is afoot. Therefore, they eat like crazy as if the world might end after the storm. I'm thinking, similarly, worms might be afraid that their home is about to get flooded when there is a change in pressure...
Thank you!! After watching your video and seeing the pictures, I'm more confident that my worms are healthy and that they're just exploring the condensation on the sides. While it's my first worm farming attempt, all the worms in the soil are plump and multiplying, but every time I look there's a few dozen all over the sides. I was actually worried it's because the soil isn't moist enough, hence they are choosing the condensation on the sides of the bins. So I'd then sprinkle more water. Next day there are even more worms on the sides. Now I'd say they're probably just enjoying it and there's nothing actually wrong with the soil.
For the record, my worms are fed almost exclusively rabbit poop mixed with the rabbits' cast away timothy hay. Base layer of straw, then several shovel fulls of the poop and hay mixture, then another layer of straw, then more poop and hay, then light straw on top to help trap some of the moisture.
Would you see any issues with a setup like that?
Thanks Josh! This setup seems great to me. Rabbit poop is one of the few "bin-ready "manures so it's very forgiving.
And yes, adding a bit of moisture to the bin would only increase the condensation so it makes sense you'd see even more climbers after doing that.
Glad you enjoyed the video and I hope you subscribed for more!
Yay! I got the 1000th like! 😎
.. Awesome video! I’ve learned a ton from your series!
Congratulations! :)
I haven't watched the video yet but I say they are trying to swarm and they are following the queen worm... Haha I have some worms that are very happy right now but I'm sure they won't stay that way... When more hatch they will be climbing the walls! I will watch the video later. Thank you!
Funny, today was the first day I've ever seen this in our bin. And this video dowed up on my feed this evening 🤔🤔🤔
Excellent video. I didn't smell any anaerobic or ammonia smells. And they're was tons on the side.
Definitely now think it was the condensation.
Again Excellent video
Cheers Jason 🌱🪱🌱
You got it Jason! And yes, UA-cam can be a little creepy, eh?
@@UrbanWormCompany oh man I froze for second !! Cheers you videos are super helpful!!
Fantastic information thank you very much😊
I appreciate that!
Looked like I had a mass exodus starting and I had a pretty good feeling it was due to a major temperature change since the heat wave here in Texas. I had them in my garage but decided to just bring the bin inside into the A/C. Hopefully this will fix the problem and thanks for confirming my suspicions. Also first video I've seen of your and subscribed to get more tips and tricks from ya!
Welcome aboard Johnny!
Love your videos , thanku
I came by to check on why my worms were trying to escape. Last week I dumped a small container of night crawlers (bought as fishing bait) into my compost bin, so I worried that the bigger night crawlers were running my red wrigglers off. But seeing this video, we have had massive storms these past days. So perhaps I have the *blue worms you mentioned.
Yes you may! :)
Pretty vital and difficult to get information..
U know it all dude ..
God Bless
Best cover for Rubbermaid bin is breathable fabric held in place with a loop of elastic. It avoids condensation on the walls. A surface cover of cardboard, newspaper or plastic with an open margin on edges may also be needed.
For an indoor bin....I like it!
Show us your bins and feeding habits
UA-cam gold about the black gold! Ty!
If I had to guess why Indian Blues bolt when it's about to rain, its a Darwinian defense mechanism to not get swamped by the upcoming rain showers.
I'm sure you're right, and it's not only Indian Blues, but several species of worms have a similar response. After a storm our patio is littered with worms that have "suicided".
Literally did exactly that this morning when I open the top some of them were around the sides and I freaked out.
I noticed some worms "exploring" under the lid and along the sides of my black plastic 55 gallon drum that I use for compost. Kitchen scraps and yard waste. I recently added urine to the pile to add moisture, nitrogen and to help it break down faster. I have a concrete backyard and everything is in raised beds. I never added any worms. They just somehow migrated to the barrel and proliferated on their own. I have holes drilled all over the sides and bottom.
Yes! Too many people think that adding worms is like magic to the soil. Adding organic matter is what adds the magic. Add the organic matter and the worms will come!
thanks for explaning
Welcome!
Something you didn't mention that I have found nearly 100% of the time I see worms climbing: need more food! When they have consumed most of the food from a recent feeding I find that they start to climb.
Interesting observation but I don't think there's a correlation here. My worms stay put in their own castings, happily.
I have a mechanobarorecptor disease because my ear organ was damaged by autoimmune disease. I can tell you exactly why a drop in barometric pressure causes them to scatter. Pressure drops make you extremely sick to your stomach, causes an immediate dump of the system, causes dizziness or drop attacks, your blood pressure to skyrocket, your blood to rush from your extremeties to your core to keep you alive, trouble breathing, etc. Since your blood is rushing from your brain to your core, you get really confused and disoriented. You know something is wrong, but you don't know what, and sometimes you can't even speak to express to others that you're in distress. It's like being extremely drunk, spinning, puking, can't stand up straight or walk, but without the euphoric feeling of alcohol. You don't even realize there's a euphoric feeling when you're that sick from alcohol until you have an autoimmune disease like this and have the symptoms without the euphoria.
Oh wow....I'm both sorry for this but thankful you explained why something like this could happen!
@@UrbanWormCompany No problem. I'm going to the Cellular Performance Institute in Tijuana for stem cell treatment in May. I'm hoping that will fix me.
Great videos but I can't find one on "why my worms are clumping together" ? Can you please tell me what is going on. Keep up the good work.
Great video of information on worms .... If I put worms in my raised garden, will they hang around the garden or just take off somewhere never to be seen again, not even a wave goodby ;-)
Thank you for this video. We got an old freezer and cleaned it out for composting. We bought red worms that were
shipped 3 days ago and the they are still trying to escape.
I’m a little worried…
Freezers and refrigerators can be difficult due to lack of ventilation. Best of luck!
me and the worms can freak out together 😂😂. I have just bought a worm factory, not got any worms yet just doing extra research 😅
I have tons of baby worms on the sides. Some of them seem to get “stuck” or drying out on the lid. The adult worms seem happy, healthy and thriving (and reproducing!) Is there something I need to do differently for the sake of the tiniest ones?
My ANC also don't like if I turn the bedding to air it, after that the crawl everywhere. I put a copper tape at the top of the big bins and since this day they don't escape anymore. They don't crawl over the copper. I use it for long already and it doesn't hurt the worms.
Let me know what you think about it.
Good breeding
Hi Steve a friend sent me one of your video regarding the making of worm tea, question can I use Molasses instead?
Good afternoon I have a bin and I seen some yellow bubble stuff in the bin. Do you know what that means?
Would putting my harvested vermicompost (casting) in my garden compost pile help my compost pile? Just curious. Have come to the end of "fertilizing" here--entering rainy season so collecting casting soil and storing is first solution. Just wondering if all those microbes would help my "garden compost pile. Thanks.
The microbes in your finished vermicompost are *mesophiles* meaning they need/like moederate temperatures. In a hot compost pile, you're trying to create a situation where the *thermophiles* can flourish and produce heat for you. So bottom line? I would use the castings in your garden rather than your compost pile. :)
I m new to composting worm and recently i just bought a new bin,i was freaked why my warms trying to escape, so it means condensation or excess moist in bedding or no food or high temperature in bin, i think i have the blue indian worms with me becoz in their site its mentioned red wiggler but i think i have the blue indian worm which is selled as red wiggler worms here in india
Hello Steve. Wonderful videos from you; thank you! Learn so much from you . Can you answer this question for me; can I keep red wigglers in a very large shredded leaf pile and can they still reach the bottom under all the pressure of the moist pile? I don't plan on feeding them alternative foods as it is the leaves that I need composted. And, would they appreciate me gently rotating the pile with a pitch fork from time to time? Thank you!
Thanks Dan! The weight/compaction of a leaf pile should not be all that much to be honest, even if piled 4-ft high. That said, they may not *love* it when you turn the pile, but they'll adapt and overcome! :)
Thank you for the reply!
I have ANC for a while so far was fine but suddenly they are stressed out and escaping because I bought red compost worms and mixed them together now I don’t even know how to separate them especially the babies 😅 now I covered the bin and they have no choice to accept each other
This is exactly what I needed to see right now! I do have a couple dozen worms climbing the side walls of my worm bin. I was really worried that I had something wrong, but there is condensation on the sides and top of my bin, so that must be why they are climbing up! The past couple of days, I’ve had leachate coming out of the bottom, which hasn’t happened since I set up the worm bin, so I was concerned they were drowning or something! I recently put 3 large English cucumbers in the bin, which are high in moisture content, so I’m assuming that’s the reason for the leachate. Is it normal to have leachate occasionally? I’ve added quite a bit of shredded dry paper and more coco coir on the dryer side to soak up any excess moisture, but hopefully all is a-ok! :). Appreciate your helpful content! As a newbie, I don’t know what to expect, so thanks for making these videos!
Thanks so much Jessie! Glad to hear the timing on this was good! :)
And yes, putting 3 whole cucumbers would likely release enough water to produce leachate. Leachate is common, but not desirable. It can lead to anaerobic conditions over time and in a flow-through like the Urban Worm Bag, it will likely result in your harvests having worms in them.
Urban Worm Company Funny you should mention that! BEFORE the leachate that I’ve been getting for the past few days, I had about 6 - 12 worms coming out of the bottom of the bag everyday, so I’d gather them up and put them back in the top. Ever since I added the cucumbers and I’ve had the leachate, no worms coming out of the bottom of the bag! I’m trying hard to figure this out. Achieving the best conditions for the red wrigglers isn’t as easy as it would seem! I’ve now had fruit flies and I have now identified pot worms in the compost bin! I have added more dry shredded paper and covered with a layer of barely damp coco coir, added ground egg shells and sprinkled the worm blanket with calcium carbonate (100% ground oyster shell) to reduce the acidity. Keeping my fingers crossed that I’ll get this right at some point! :)
@@jessieschnell9919 Now that's interesting. I'd still keep an eye on those worms coming out of the bottom again at some point.
You might also try scraping some dry coco coir right off the block into your bin. It's like kitty litter.....just sucks the moisture right up.
I'm finding a lot of baby worms on my Rubbermaid lid the last week or so. I think the adults are getting busy in the moisture there!
Does copper tape help to prevent them escaping
My worms trying to get out, I put ice water bottle I feed them put more shredded newspaper. There pH is 7.5 and there still trying to come out. I do give them coffee grounds often. The temp is 70
So ... they can climb then. Trying to stop them coming over a low wall in my yard..... If you have any ideas that would be great.
Thank you.
You're welcome!
I really appreciate the wisdom you show in these videos. Commonsense answers to the questions I have, and uncannily, often at the right time, hemispheres apart. Thanks Steve
Thanks so much for the kind words, David! :)
Thank you I farm worms thanks for the info
I am just starting worm composting Got one question do the worms eat the peat I have put a mixture of nearly everything the worms like to eat But no too much
Yes, they will eat the peat and mostly any organic matter!
Hey there
What about the little white worms that live in the bins? I had thousands of them on the inner roof of my bin. It looked like roots. Any reason they all congregated at the top, and why there are so many?
That sounds like it could be potworms, Kieran. They are white and stringy.
They like wet, acidic conditions. Do you add bedding with each feeding?
My worms go thru the bottom of the bin onto the lid with holes which catches any liquid to the bottom bin. I have the h have the holey lid covered with newspaper and they congregate there. Why
They will fall through the holes to get to the wet stuff!
How many hours or days does it take for the blue or red wrigglers from trying to escape the second the lid goes on? Bedding is the proper moist coco coir, w shredded damp cardboard and paper. Oh according to soil meter 6.5-6.8 pH. They aren’t clumped just trying to escape individually but like 10 of them
I'm not too sure, but if there are only 10 of them, that doesn't indicate a problem to me. Climbing on the walls is not really an attempt to escape in my book.
Does it kill good microorganisms to heat the casting to try and kill little black gnats?
Thanks.
You're welcome!
Periodically I work the soil with my hands so it does not get compacted and wonder if that is a good practice?
I do this ever 2 - 3 days. I'm always afraid they'll suffocate or I'll get anaerobic bedding.
It should not get overly compacted or anaerobic unless your bin is way too wet. Lots of folks want to do this to satisfy their curiosity about what's going on in their bin though! :)
Steve, There was lots of useful information in your video; but you leave us hanging. If vermicompost is not a good source of macronutrients, ie. N-P-K, why is it so good for plants?
Hey Joseph...yeah, I had to stop peeling back the layers of the onion somewhere. The topic of the goodness of worm castings is worth its own video series.
Here's a stab at it though.
In short, worm castings feed the soil, not the plants. The microbes help cycle the nutrients in the soil and turn them (especially the nitrogen) into a form that plants can use. Worm castings may or may not feature plant growth hormone. Chitinase in worm castings can prevent infestation by hard-shelled pests. Worm castings improve water retention and decrease runoff. They are a great source of organic matter and act as food for microbes and even worms who will happily eat their own poop. Pollinators are shown to be more effective on plants grown in vermicompost. The list goes on and on! :)
It’s so annoying I’ve decided just to sell mine to someone else because I can’t cope with waking up and finding them all over my floor
I'm sorry to hear this rampz!
My compost worms just arrived, but next morning they were up at the lid trying to escape.
Now I added the food scraps but they are not doing their work…..not one is busy with eating and composting….some still trying to escape.
i got holes for oxygen, its dark, temp is approx 25 celsius and i added water as well.....
Stay patient! It's going to seem like nothing is happening for several weeks. And the worms that you think are trying to escape may just be exploring their environment, especially if you have condensation on the walls and lid of your bin. Worms love moisture and will follow it wherever it goes!
I added red worms to my outdoor raised vegetable beds. I noticed one worm was being attacked by little ants. Will ants kill my worms?
Hi! I have a question maybe you or someone else can help me with. I have had Europian Nightcrawlers in a bin for about 2 years now. I have changed out portions of the bedding etc when needed, and they are thriving it seems. The problem is that they don’t seems to grow very large. They all seem to be about 1” to 3” and super skinny. Not suitable for fishing. I have thinned them out from time to time, fed them the “ professional “ worm food, but no great results. Any suggestions? I’m starting to wonder if I was actually sent red wiggles instead of Europeans’
Not 100% sure Frank, but I do know that a vermicomposting environment is likely a little less rich and less wet than a vermicomposting environment. Worm sellers who sell by weight (which is most of them) are incentivized to sell you the largest fattest worms as possible which means fewer worms. I always expect shrinkage from the worms I buy after I put them in my bin.
And I wouldn't think of bedding as something to change. Worms eat bedding. I suggest that whatever volume of food waste you're adding, add double that in bedding.
I have the same Kitty coffee mug! I use it as a planter for small herb pots in my kitchen window. ;)
I love it! Haha!
What about mites in my bin
Interesting
I found my rendered garage wall covered in worms just after a big storm, these die in place later and stick like glued and leave a terrible stain. Any one know what can remove this stain? I’ve tried bleach, soap lots of things , wall ruined !
Indian Blue Worm? Could it be that they think it's about to start Monsoon Season?
Do you sell and ship worms?
New sub from Georgia (usa)
Can we use any worms?
My partner Meme's Worms does! She's right near you in Valdosta!
You don't want to use just any worms. You'll want Red Wigglers, European Nightcrawlers, or African Nightcrawlers.
It’s just the babies that are crawling up the walls…
Great video.Thanks for the information .
2 of the 3, condensation and barometer drop (I watched it to time out going fishing), were factors when mine started exploring. However, I also had just fed the bin next to this one and this one is getting close to being all castings. So I was wondering if they may have been looking for that food next door. This bin had the lid loosely on but the other did not have a lid at all, just some wet newspaper
Excellent video as usual. Thanks so much
I wish I beat the alarm when I saw my wormies balling up 😭 Poor things, they've been boiling in that heat😱 I don't know if they escaped but there's very few left. I'm so unlucky with this vermicomposting! How can I make cooling system for it? Not always I can go there to put ice etc. Subscribe from me!
Hey Julia,
I just published this post. I hope it's not too late for your wigglers!
urbanwormcompany.com/hot-weather-vermicomposting-7-tips-to-beat-100f-temps/
What does feed stock cost
Hi Angel,
"Feed stock" is a general term for whatever the worms will eat. It can be anywhere from low-cost to free, to even profitable if someone will pay you to take it from them.
I keep find worms outside my bin and I do this for fishing rather than the compost hoe can I stop them climbing out?
Without knowing why they're trying to leave, I would use a bin with holes too small for worms to escape through. Physically preventing them from leaving is about the only surefire way to ensure that.
👍👍
Indian blues try to get to higher ground when the barometric pressure drops.
Is see the worm balls, but they are concentrated in the food area. I assume this congregation is normal, yes?
Yes, very normal!
Escaping worms isn't normal, if they r trying to escape, you need to look into food/bedding/moisture/temperature conditions in the bin. They must not try to escape. An occasional wanderer is an exception.
Lol jail break
Too much caffeine??
Got the itching to wiggle the hell out
Johnny Sins truly did it all.
🇱🇰♥️
Too wet