How and When to feed Worms

Feeding Schedule

Unlike other critters, worms don’t demand to be fed on a schedule. They can be fed once a day, every two or three days, or once a week. You can go on vacation for a month without worrying about them. Just give them a regular amount of food before you leave and place plenty of shredded newspaper, cardboard or paperboard on top of the food. Make sure you leave the bin in an area where the temperature will not get too hot (not over 90º) and the cover material is wet enough that it will not dry out.

before adding new food

Happy redworms will eat half their weight in food every day. That doesn’t sound like a very large quantity of food because they’re so small, but when you get a few thousand worms living in a bin, food disappears rather quickly.

How Much Food?

Worms need to adjust to their new home and new foods so do not overfeed them the first few weeks. In addition to the food you are giving them, they’re eating their new bedding. Once they are settled, comfortable and happy they will quickly munch through their food. The bin will require more food as its population grows

dig a spot to put new food in

How to Feed Your Worms

Select foods that are suitable for worms including most fruits, vegetables, cereals and grains, and other organic items like cardboard and tea bags. It is best to cut food scraps into small pieces before placing them in the bin. The smaller the pieces the more surface area there is for bacteria to start breaking down the food, making it easier for the worms to consume. Some people put their food scraps, including eggshells, into a blender and make a slurry. The worms seem to love this, but it is not necessary.

Keep shredded black and white newspaper over the food at all times. Newspaper or bedding helps keep the bin dark and moist and discourages fruit flies. Other organic material such as burlap or shredded cardboard or paperboard can also be used. The worms live in these materials and they also eat them.

set food down into the space and cover with shredded paper or cardboard

To feed the worms, place the food under the newspaper in a different part of the bin each time. Do not bury the food in the castings

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