worms through the winter

**MikeA57** · 10-01-2009, 12:05 PM

I've been keeping some nitecrawlers and red wrigglers I bought earlier this summer in the fridge outside. I moved them from the original plastic tubs into a heavy foam box about 10" X 10" X 10" that my uncle used to use to keep worms in. They really seem to be doing well and there seem to be at least double the number I originally put in there in late July/early August.

Last week I was cleaning out the workshop and garage and came across an old plastic tub my wife used to store winter clothing in. It's probably 3' X 2' X 2' (LWH). I don't have the top for it anymore and at first I threw it in the trailer to take to the dump. Then I thought, "Hey, wait a minute, that would make a great worm tub!" Now, I've got questions:

I thought I'd fill it with peat moss and worm bedding that I found at Bass Pro and just dump them in. Would that be OK?

It's got a crack in the bottom so water won't stay in it but should I drill additional holes and then place screen or something like that in the bottom?

Should I put a layer of rocks in the bottom on top of the screen (if I put that in there)?

I also thought I'd place it along the back of my house, right up against it under a crepe myrtle tree and other bushes not buried. Would that work? What about if it gets really cold this winter?

I am also in the process of insulating my garage doors and I'll probably have a couple of the sheets of 1" thick insulation left over. Should I line the inside of the tub with that?

Do I need to cover it with something or just leave it uncovered?

I put some coffee grounds in it, but what else can I put in there? If I put it where I'm thinking it will be right under our bedroom window so I don't want to put anything in there that's going to draw pests and rodents.

Thanks guys!!

Mike

**"G"** · 10-01-2009, 12:42 PM

Here is what I use year around.......I feed them dry dog food once a week and water them down. I have drain holes in the bottom covered with screen, I have four inches of gravel in the bottom to help drainage. Box is filled with a mixture of composted manure and peat moss. The old drink box is insulated so the worms do not get too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter. I have a old freezer that I am going to use to make another one.

**SMITTY 58D** · 10-01-2009, 03:08 PM

I keep mine in the garage. I drilled a few holes in the side for air and some on the bottom for drainage. Peat moss is great for bedding along with some shredded black and white news paper. They need a little sand or crushed cooked egg shells so they can eat and digest the food and bedding. They will double their numbers about every 3 months. feed them coffee grounds and any left over fruits and veggies. Stay away from citrus, meats and dairy and they should be ok. Peat moss needs to soak in water for about 2 days then drained till its just damp before you put the worms in. Keep it going and you will never have to buy worms again.

**jvg** · 10-02-2009, 09:14 AM

I just started on in a old cooler i had and maybe by spring i will enough redworms to keep them grandkids happy

**redear** · 10-02-2009, 09:28 AM

I use two plastic tubs from home depot called tuff boxes, they are perfect, heavy duty black plastic, 20x30x14 inches deep with molded in rib supports and handles. peat moss and composted manure from lowes. it will take a couple days to soak the peat moss good at first. I use about 9 inches of soil, and some use much less. I keep them in the shop, and feed them chicken laying mash, the crumbled up type, and also keep newspaper or cardboard on top of them, and keep this wet. they love to eat the paper and cardboard once it gets soft enough. do not mix the food into the soil, just put it on top. I killed alot of worms by covering up some food, by just digging around in there. I feed them almost every day, they can eat plenty, if there is a good population in there.

**shipahoy41** · 10-02-2009, 08:33 PM

This is my setup...

**shipahoy41** · 10-02-2009, 08:34 PM

Originally Posted by jvg

I just started on in a old cooler i had and maybe by spring i will enough redworms to keep them grandkids happy

Way to go JV.:D

**"G"** · 10-02-2009, 08:47 PM

jv...those I have outside in the big Pepsi box quit raising in the winter so I usually keep some in the shop in a large styrofoam cooler. Its warm enough in my shop that they will raise all winter. I just started the cooler in the shop last week. I put about 75 worms in it. I will have enough worms for my winter fishing and when spring gets here there will be probably 2000 worms in that cooler. They multiply like crazy. I feed the ones in the cooler corn meal everyday and keep them covered with news papers....when the news paper gets dry...I wet it down good.

**mikeb** · 10-09-2009, 09:44 PM

Hey Guys,
Do you start wit the nitecrawlers that ya buy in the little cup at wallyworld???

mikeb

**shipahoy41** · 10-10-2009, 06:33 AM

Originally Posted by mikeb

Hey Guys,
Do you start wit the nitecrawlers that ya buy in the little cup at wallyworld???

mikeb

I only raise red worms, earth worms, and red wigglers. Nightcrawlers spoil too quickly. IMHO Bream and Shellcrackers prefer red worms and wigglers anyway. Besides, they do a much better job of reproducing for you. I started with three cups from a bait shop a few years ago. Since then I have had worms whenever I wanted to go fishing.

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