Worm Cocoon and Reproduction Growth Rates

Welcome to another issue of the Poop Scoop. Worm Cocoon Reproduction and Growth Rates. Where it is my ultimate goal to Teach, Inspire & Empower you to become the best worm farmer/gardener you can be.

Let me first begin by saying, What in the world is going on with the weather this year???? >:(
Some have wanted to sue a certain gopher while others wanted to...well let's just say the gopher wouldn't be around next year. I think Al Gore may be hanging out in Superman's Fortress of Solitude as well.

I SWEAR! It's May 3rd and I woke up to snow on the ground this morning in eastern Kansas. GEEEEES!!!
I joke every year that it's spring. I'm so excited I wet my plants. Heck! I can't even think about planting my seeds yet. Why because it's still freaking winter!!!! I now know how you northerners feel.

I've been extremely busy in the Foreclosure Trashout Biz. Find out why it's one of the best businesses to start in 2013 but...Okay, enough of my pouting. Here are the latest Q and A's below
 

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Recent Questions and Answers
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Help! Worms Escaping!...general guidelines
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Worm Cocoon Reproduction and Growth Rates

There are many of you who write in and ask me about general reproduction questions concerning Eisenia Fedita.

These are great questions so I thought I'd do a scoop on it. Whether you're storing worm castings throughout the winter or are in a hurry right now because you're just starting out in worm farming you want to make the best of it.

What stimulates composting worms to produce cocoons?

This is actually a very important question and I'm sure everyone at one point has asked themselves this. It's all about creating the right conditions. I'm not talking about wine, candles, and Barry White either.

We know food, in general, is a key factor. without it why would anything procreate other than us? But what kind of food? Carbon-rich food and LOTS OF IT.

I can't really say why this works except for the fact that materials like paper and cardboard is made up of tiny compact cellulose. Like trees, this takes longer to break down than grass, fruits, and veggies. Does this give the worms a secure feeling knowing that they'll have plenty to eat? I don't know but always make sure you have plenty of this when starting a new bed or tray or adding at the top of a continuous flow-through system.

Next is decreasing temperatures to around the low 60's Fahrenheit (19 °C) can stimulate worms to reproduce while increasing temps to around mid 70's Fahrenheit (25 °C) can stimulate the cocoons to hatch open sooner.

Does all this sound familiar? That's correct. Just like in nature fall arrives and the cooler temps cause the worms to reproduce more often than normal and the arrival of spring brings warmer temps that increase the hatch rate of cocoons.

Also a way of increasing the population of your worms is to simply start a new bin. Worms know when they are too numerous for their surroundings. Although they do enjoy squirming all over each other in mass amounts they can only take so much and just plain stop reproducing or slow way down in the reproduction rate.

---Sidenote---
I would also like to point out that I get emails a lot about worms escaping. Some from my customers and some from other sites. Worms are just trying to adapt to their new surroundings but since we're on this discussion about babies, understand this.

Baby worms always do better in the environment they were born into. Much unlike their parents. ie the parents wanted to move back to France but the kids did not. The kids enjoy the temperature and food they were raised with while the parents don't but will learn to get use to it most of the time
---Sidenote---

Now let's discuss what to expect in the terms of hatch and growth rates.

I will tell you that these values can differ from source to source and even in the same controlled identical study you can have two different outcomes. These are just guidelines for Red wigglers.

Egg production:
1.5 cocoons per wk.
4 hatchlings per cocoon.
70%-80% hatch success rate.
6 hatchlings per adult per wk.

Growth Rate:
30-70 days to hatch from cocoon.
50-73 to reach adulthood.
Total 80-143 days from egg to adulthood

Remember that you are in charge of the climate and conditions of your worm bins inside your home. So you can direct the flow somewhat with the reproduction stimulation and cocoon hatch rate. That's all for this issue and see you on the web. Also stay tuned for more of Pauly's videos coming.

Enjoy your winter-spring planting and see you next issue,
~~~~;o Pauly Piccirillo

To Teach, Inspire & Empower you to become the best worm farmer/gardener you can be.

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