About Worm Farms
While there are many varieties of worms that can be used in farming, manure worms are some of the more common types of worms. Learn how manure worms are farmed, as well as the benefits of breeding this particular variety of worm.
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Types
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Included in this family of worms are "bandlings," "red wigglers" and "angleworms." All manure worms are highly adaptive, making them one of the better varieties for worm farmers. They are also among the fastest breeding worm species and require very little effort and care during the farming process. All members of the manure worm family are useful for a variety of breeding purposes.
Features
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A worm farm that is just in the startup phase should begin with about a thousand manure worms. The worms can be purchased from other worm farmers locally or over the Internet. Manure worms will live and breed in almost any type of organic matter. Contrary to myth, they are not self-producing, yet they are able to function as either male or female. This means that while it is necessary to have two manure worms in order to reproduce, the sex of the worms is of no consequence to the breeding process.
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Function
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Two polystyrene boxes are needed to house the worms when the farm is being created. One box should be prepared by poking holes in the bottom, approximately every few inches. These holes will allow the box to drain off the liquid that will be produced by the worms, as they digest their food. The box with the holes is then prepared with a mixture of paper, leaves and compost material about 1 foot deep. The worms are added to this box and a lid is placed over the top. The prepared box is then placed inside the other box, which will catch the liquid as it drains from the inner box.
Time Frame
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Once breeding has occured, the adult worm will carry a small cocoon with the worm eggs inside. This cocoon will eventually be deposited into the soil. It takes about three weeks, in total, for each cocoon to hatch. A manure worm cocoon will produce anywhere from 2 to 20 young worms.
Benefits
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Manure worms are popularly used for composting, as they will readily digest almost any type of raw, organic material. These worms are often raised and sold as fishing bait, as well. Because they breed quickly, the farm stock is constantly being replenished. The ease of breeding and raising manure worms, as well as the variety of uses for them, has made them the most common choice of worm farmers in the United States.
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