How to Breed Earthworms
As strange as it might seem to the average person, thousands of people across the United States breed earthworms. These earthworms can be used to produce fertilizer, decompose garbage, as live bait for fishing, or to feed pets such as lizards or birds. Earthworms are bred in large heaps of compost called worm farms and will naturally reproduce on their own as long as the conditions and nourishment provided in these heaps is adequate.
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Things You'll Need
- Large rubber container
- Drill
- Earthworms
- Straw or newspapers
- Organic food, such as cornmeal
- Soil
Instructions
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1
Drill several 1/8-inch holes around the rubber container. Do not drill lower than 4 inches from the bottom. These holes will ensure that the earthworms receive proper oxygen flow and do not suffocate.
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2
Poke holes in the lid of the container and create a layer of bedding for the worms using either straw or newspaper. Peat moss can also be utilized to formulate bedding, but is more expensive than the other two options.
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3
Toss a thin, 1/4-inch layer of soil on top of the bedding and moisten the soil with water. Put roughly a pound of worms into the homemade worm farm.
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Feed the worms organic products such as corn meal. Do not feed them bones, meat or eggs. For a pound of worms, put in about a pound of cornmeal every few days, checking on the food supply periodically to see if they need more. As the worms reproduce and grow, portions will need to increase. Allow the worms to grow and reproduce on their own, removing some when you want to use or sell them.
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