Hi Brian, I\’ve had my worm farm for 4/5 months and all has been fine. But lately it seam\’s that the worms are not I\’m the same amount as before. When I got give the farm it came with 500 worms from Bunnings and I bought 1000 worms and 2000 eggs from Kookaburra Worm Farm about 2 weeks latter. I know longer can see any bigger worms that I bought where as before you could see them everywhere. What maybe the cause of the worms decreasing in volume? Thank you, Craig
Hi Craig,
What’s probably happening is one of the measures worms use to control their own population. Worms never outgrow a space.
As the population nears the capacity of an area, measured in a weight of worms per square foot/metre etc – the worms all get smaller so theres more worms, but the same weight of worms.
This continues and the worms then slow down or stop laying cocoons – and the cocoons will stop hatching out. Cocoons can stay dormant for up to 5 years until conditions are suitable (the can sense season, population, food availability).
My guess is thats whats happening – 2000 cocoons would equate to about 6000 worms, added to your starting 1000 worms, youve got 7000 worms. So about 2 kilos of worms. One of the bunnings plastic worm farms will only hold 1 to 2 kg of worms.
Hope that helps – and thanks for asking your question
Regards
Brian