In fishing, different baits can be used - both artificial and live. But the dung worm is of particular interest to many fish species. In general, worms for fishing are a universal bait, although it is not always possible to buy them. True, they can be dug up, but only under certain conditions. In case of drought in summer, it is difficult to find a worm, not to mention winter fishing. Therefore, breeding worms for fishing at home may be a suitable choice for fishermen.

Worms loosen the soil

What benefits do worms bring?

It is difficult to overestimate the importance of worms. First of all, it should be noted their importance for increasing soil productivity. Let's look at the functions they perform as part of this task:

• creating fertile soil. In the course of their life, worms pass through themselves all organic residues and process them into humus, on which the fertility of the soil depends;
• loosening the soil;
• ensuring its aeration and moistening;
• soil disinfection - occurs due to the fact that worms absorb along with the soil large number fungi with their spores, nematodes, bacteria and other pests. By doing this, they not only destroy harmful substances in the soil, but also digest them in order to then release their intestinal microflora. It has an antibiotic effect that prevents pathogenic environments from developing in the soil.

Worms can also be an excellent food for poultry. This is of interest to:

• owners subsidiary farms breeding chickens, turkeys and other poultry;
• pet store owners who can use worms as a feed additive for their pets.

Worms create fertile soil

Well, for us the greatest interest is the function of the worm - to act as bait for fishing. One of the most favorite delicacies for almost all types of fish is a dung worm. You need to look for such worms in manure or compressed wet leaves.

By appearance they are difficult to distinguish from ordinary red worms. The only difference is a slightly longer length and an unpleasant odor from the yellowish liquid that is released when the worm is baited. They also differ in their conditions of detention.

Technology for growing worms at home

The question of how to breed worms for fishing involves preparing everyone necessary conditions for them home care. It would seem that this could lead to unsanitary conditions in the house. But if you choose the right place and container, and also feed the worms correctly, in order to prevent the appearance of unpleasant odors, then there will be no inconvenience from such a neighborhood.

Worm box

Growing worms for fishing requires a certain container, which can be a plastic, wooden or even cardboard box. If you are running your mini-farm for a long time, i.e. you are supposed to breed a large number of worms over the course of long term, then choose a plastic box. It is easier to clean and clean, and is also more durable.

If you plan to temporarily rear a small number of individuals, cardboard or wooden boxes are suitable. But you need to understand that cardboard box you will have to change it often or insert it into another one, as it will quickly get wet and lose its shape.

In no case should you use metal containers, since metal can, when oxidized, release elements harmful to worms into the soil.

Growing worms in a box

The dimensions of the box can be arbitrary, but the main requirements must be met:

• height must be at least 30 cm;
• the area is selected depending on the number of worms per 1000 adult individuals, at least 1 sq. m.

You must also remember to make holes in the box: in the bottom for drainage, and in the sides for air circulation. The more holes there are, the better. The holes must be placed evenly over the entire bottom area. The size of the holes should be small so that even young individuals cannot get out through them and crawl around the apartment. It is better to place the box on a tray with sand. This way, excess moisture will be absorbed and not leak onto the floor or shelving.

An old trough or bathtub, as well as special containers, can be used as an alternative container for living.

Priming

It is recommended to cover the bottom of the prepared container with a small layer (about 5–6 cm) of compacted straw or hay. A ten-centimeter layer of vermicompost should be evenly poured on top. If you do not want to buy vermicompost, you can prepare a suitable substrate yourself. It should include chopped straw and hay, as well as sawdust, manure and soil. All components must be thoroughly mixed and compressed.

Worm soil

When collecting soil for the substrate, you need to ensure that no remaining ash from the fire gets into it, because this can be destructive for pets. The presence of fresh humus in the ground will also have a bad effect on the worms. After all, leaves and roots will rot at high temperatures, and at the same time oxygen is taken from the soil. With a lack of oxygen, the worms will not only be unable to develop and reproduce, but also survive.

For worms, it is important that the prepared substrate has a normal acid-base reaction, since in alkaline or acidic soil the worms can gradually die. The ideal environment for their habitat is soil with an acid-base reaction pH 7. To check it, you can use litmus paper:

• if it does not change color when wet in a damp substrate, then the soil is suitable;
• if the paper turns red, the soil is acidic. In this case, you need to add dolomite flour or pour chalk or lime milk;
• If litmus turns blue, the soil is alkaline. Then you need to add peat or manure, but not fresh, but one that has lain for at least 2 years.

The amount of substrate should be prepared based on the fact that about 300–400 g are needed per worm per year.

It is very easy to check the humidity of the substrate - you need to squeeze a small amount of it in your fist. At optimal humidity, moisture should appear, but not flow.

Having prepared the soil, you can populate the container with worms. After moving in, you need to wait until the worms hide in the ground, and you can start feeding them.

Having prepared the soil, you can populate the container with worms

Feed

In the natural environment, dung worms mainly feed on rotten plant debris, but when breeding worms at home, kitchen waste is suitable for them, but you can also add fallen leaves and hay.

For food, it is good to use fruit and vegetable peelings (but not potato peelings) and fruit from compotes. All this needs to be chopped, optimally using a meat grinder or blender. It is also effective to give them coffee grounds, leftover tea leaves and porridge without milk, and crushed eggshells. You should not give worms salty food. When breeding dung worms at home, it is not recommended to add meat and fish waste to the feed, as an unpleasant odor will appear.

It is necessary to accustom worms to a new food and replace its components gradually and quite carefully.

The feed needs to be evenly spread over the soil surface in a layer of about 5 cm. On top of it you can cover it with a layer of wet corrugated cardboard, or you can sprinkle it with a two-centimeter layer of vermicompost.

As the worms process the previous portion of food, you need to add the next one. Determining when to add feed is quite easy:

• if the food is covered with cardboard, then a new one is added when gnawed holes appear on the cardboard. They indicate that the previous portion has already been eaten;
• if the feed is sprinkled with vermicompost, then the additive is needed when the previous portion is converted into vermicompost.

Worm food

Watering

When growing worms for fishing, it is important to ensure optimal humidity in their habitat. To do this, you need to carry out regular watering. Be sure to water after feeding, as well as as needed.

There is no need to be afraid to overfill the water, since the drainage holes in the bottom of the box will allow excess moisture to escape and prevent the water from stagnating. But you shouldn’t be too zealous either.

For irrigation, be sure to use water at room temperature, which has been left to settle for at least three days. After watering, the substrate is covered with thick wet cardboard, preferably corrugated, or a lid with holes for air circulation.

Temperature

Temperatures between 18 and 24 ºC are suitable for breeding worms. Too low a temperature causes the dung worm to stop feeding and developing and instead go into hibernation. You need to grow worms in a dark place away from heating devices and direct sunlight.

Settlement

If normal conditions are created, then after about 2 months the number of worms in the container can increase by no less than double, and sometimes even 5-6 times. Before moving them, you need to completely stop feeding and wait until the worms come to the surface. Then they will be much easier to assemble.

Breeding worms at home allows you to start a business with minimal investment, our investment amounted to only 1100 rubles. Not bad, right? We bought Prospector worms for 1000 rubles, but there were few worms in the box. This fact did not stop us from taking up worm farming.

When the worms were brought to us, we needed to transplant them into a box, we bought the box for 10 rubles in a fruit and vegetable store. The good thing about fruit boxes is that they have holes all around, and the worms need air. But you can’t put earth with worms in such a box. Therefore, for the remaining 90 rubles We bought agrofibre, one side of which allows air to pass through.

We put agrofiber in the worm box with the breathable side facing out so that air could penetrate to the worms, and populated the worm box. They had a supply of food, so at the beginning we did not feed them. This is how we got a vermifarm.
Read on detailed guide on the technology of growing and keeping worms, as well as about the vermicompost fertilizer obtained with the help of worms.

Types of worms

Technological earthworms differ from ordinary earthworms in that they can live in greater concentrations per 1 sq.m. In principle, you can dig up earthworms in your area, but these worms will not be as effective as technological worms.

Earthworms are an ingenious creation of nature and are used for:

• soil formation
• soil restoration
• for the production of vermicompost and liquid vermicompost

Supporters will especially appreciate them natural farming and connoisseurs of organic products grown without the use of chemicals.

They are also used for fishing and animal feed.

Three types of popular earthworms are described below:

Worm Prospector

This is the Vladimir hybrid, which Professor A.M. Igonin obtained this worm in the laboratory by crossing local earthworms with the Kyrgyz earthworm Eisenia foetida. That is, the Prospector worm is a technological rain compost (dung) worm Eisenia foetida.

California worm

It was developed in California in 1959 as a result of selective breeding. The California worm is a technological earthworm, Eisenia foetida.

Dendroben Veneta Worm

It was bred in Europe specifically for fishing. The Dendrobaena veneta worm is an earthworm called Dendrobaena veneta or Eisenia Veneta. It is distinguished by its meatiness and vitality.

Technology for growing worms at home

Conditions for breeding worms

For productive breeding of worms, it is necessary to constantly maintain comfortable conditions for them. There is no single recommendation on how this can be done, everyone’s climate is different, in some regions it is easier to maintain favorable conditions, in others it is much more difficult. The conditions are as follows:

• temperature environment+8 +29 degrees
• it is necessary to constantly maintain moderate humidity in the boxes where the worms live
• it is necessary to constantly ensure that the worms always have food, you can calculate it in such a way as to provide them with food for 1 week, instead of constantly adding food

They reproduce in a comfortable temperature from +8 to +29 degrees; if the worms are cold or lack moisture or food, reproduction stops until recovery favorable conditions. Worms die at temperatures above 39 degrees. Cocoons ripen in 2-3 weeks.

Worm cocoons can dry out, freeze and remain in this state for months, but when favorable conditions are restored, the cocoons swell and newborn worms emerge from them.

Wormworms

The choice of a worm farm depends on where you plan to breed worms: in an apartment, in a country house, on the street or in a utility room. The choice will also depend on your goals: whether you plan to organize the production of vermicompost or want to fertilize and restore the soil only on your site.

If you are just starting to deal with worms and are planning to organize a business in the future, start with 1-2 boxes of worms, do not buy a large batch of worms at once, study the process of breeding and obtaining vermicompost, gradually increasing production.

Breeding in an apartment. In an apartment, worms can be kept in plastic fruit boxes; such boxes can be found in any fruit store. We also tried keeping the worms in wooden fruit crates, but the boards in them were too thin and could not bear the load, so we had to abandon this idea.

Also, at home, worms are kept in special ready-made worm farms and vermicomposters from which it is convenient to obtain vermicelli; such vermicomposters are usually equipped with a faucet.

Outdoor breeding. Worms on the street are in danger in the form of moles, mice, birds and mole crickets, so the container in which the worms will live must have a bottom. Many people keep worms outside in old enamel baths; this method is good because liquid vermicompost drains from the hole at the bottom of the bath.

Trench breeding method. The trench should be 60 cm deep, 2.5 m long and 1.2 m wide. Such a trench can accommodate 50,000 individuals. To protect the worms from pests, the bottom and walls of the trench are lined with boards.

It is advisable to place drainage at the bottom of the trench. The next layer is rotted horse manure. Then the soil and the third layer - peat. It is advisable to cover the top of the trench with breathable agrofibre. Subsequently, vermicompost is extracted by sifting.

In the utility room. Worms are kept in completely different ways: on racks in boxes, they make mounds of earth on the floor and worms live in these mounds, they are kept in large wooden piles, in general, it all depends on your imagination and capabilities.

Do-it-yourself vermifarm

Before making a farm, decide what your main goal is: obtaining vermicompost, obtaining liquid vermicompost or breeding worms. This is necessary so that the worm farm is designed in such a way that you can then extract the final product without any problems.

Vermifarm for an apartment.

You will need a fruit box (or another box that allows air to pass through, size approximately 40cm x 25cm x 25cm), the soil is quite loose, agrofibre that breathes on one side, pre-prepared food for worms.

How to make a worm farm. The first thing you need to do is cut the agrofiber to such a size that it fits into the box and there is still some left that can be used to “wrap” the worms. Next, you need to put the agrofibre in a box, the breathable side should go out so that air can flow to the worms, and inside there should be a side that does not allow moisture to pass through. After this, you can begin to populate the worms in the box.

Usually, when you buy worms, they come with a minimal amount of soil, so you will need to stock up on soil in advance, it should be loose enough for the worm to move around in. Clay will not work in this case. Place a layer of earth, about 10 centimeters, on the bottom of the box. Place the worms on the ground. Cover with a small layer of soil on top.

The next layer will be food: rotten food waste or rotted manure, or rotted leaves. The main thing is that there is not a lot of liquid in the food and that the worms are not in the swamp. For example, we mix kitchen waste with rotted leaves; this is a fairly convenient food option for the home. After the layer of food, you need to add more soil so that you don’t have midges in your home.

Video: Breeding Prospector worms. What you need to start breeding

Vermifarm at the dacha. The principle of organizing worms is exactly the same as described above, the only thing is that in the open air you can already feed the worms with manure or keep them on manure alone. And in this case, you will have a wider choice of containers in which the worms will live.

What to feed worms

Worms are fed with rotten organic matter, this can be: manure, chicken droppings, straw, sawdust, fallen leaves, weeds, kitchen waste. But among organic waste there are exceptions that cannot be fed to worms, these are: meat, bones, fish, milk, lemon, onions, garlic, hot peppers, as well as cat and dog feces.

In 24 hours, the worms pass through themselves an amount of soil equal to their body weight.

Growing worms

After you have introduced the worms into a worm farm or vermicomposter and provided them with food, you need to periodically monitor whether the food requirements for them have been met. suitable conditions: humidity, temperature, availability of food, lack of sunlight. It is enough to put food in the worm bin once a week, provided that there is enough food for a week.

Under favorable conditions, the worms will begin to reproduce.

Video: Growing worms at home. We share secrets of how we breed worms

Reproduction of worms

Worms reproduce in a temperature favorable to them, from +8 to 28 degrees, in the presence of food and favorable soil moisture. IN unfavorable conditions reproduction stops.

One individual has both female and male genital organs. In order to lay cocoons, the worms mate. Earthworm eggs are laid in egg cocoons. The size of the cocoon is from 2 to 6 mm. Under favorable conditions, worms lay cocoons once every 7 days.

A dung worm has 6-20 eggs in a cocoon, but not all of them develop. Fertilization of eggs occurs after laying. The sperm are in a cocoon and then penetrate into the eggs. Worms develop in a cocoon for 2-3 weeks. The hatched worms are 10-15 mm long and immediately begin to look for food.

Worm farm for business

Consists of boxes that are stored on shelves. You will need boxes measuring 35cm x 40cm x 15cm made from thin boards, at least 4mm thick. Subsequently, it should be possible to place one box on top of another. To ensure air circulation in the box, several 2-3 cm holes are made at the bottom or on the sides.

Rotted horse manure (1 part) is placed at the bottom of the box, then a layer of earth (1 part) and peat (1 part) are placed. To prepare compost, you need to have a separate, large enough box. The compost should be moistened with water before adding it to the worm bin.

One such box is filled with about 500 worms.

The land can support 5-6 million worms per 1 hectare. If worms are bred artificially, 1 hectare can contain 345 million individuals.

The top of the box should be covered with agrofibre, which allows air to pass through. Boxes must be located in a room where they cannot be entered sun rays. The soil temperature should not exceed 17 degrees. It is necessary to maintain constant moderate humidity in the boxes.

To select worms and cocoons from such boxes, the following operation is carried out: a box is taken and the contents are shaken out onto a surface, preferably a large table. Next, layer by layer is looked through and cocoons and worms are selected. Large worms are put back into the box, they will continue to produce vermicompost and offspring. The cocoons are either sold or placed in a new box that does not yet contain worms. Young worms can be placed in a new box along with cocoons, or planted under plants. Worms are separated once a month.

4 boxes yield 55,000 cocoons per year

Another, less time-consuming process of separating a family is carried out as follows: adult worms are lured out of the box with sugar and they are moved to a new box, while the worm crawls and cocoons remain in the old box. Subsequently, vermicompost is extracted by sifting.

One Prospector worm produces offspring of 1,500 individuals and 100 kg of vermicompost per year. From 1 ton of compost, 600 kg of vermicompost and 10-15 kg of worms are obtained.

Business on worms

This type of business is a noble cause, because you help restore soils, grow healthier products enriched with minerals and without the use of chemical fertilizers.

Worm business can be classified as one of those types of businesses that require minimum investment with one BUT. Yes, to enter this business you need 1100 rubles, but the business will develop very slowly, you will need to wait until the worms multiply.

On the one hand, this is good, especially if you are new to this business, you can slowly learn all its features while the worms are breeding. Get clients. And have a bonus in the form of incoming funds.

But if you are already an expert in this matter, investments in the business should be more substantial in order to seriously engage in the production of vermicompost and the sale of worms. To do this you will need a room or land.

Plus of this business is that vermicompost is a very popular product and not only in Russia. Look at the world map, how much land you see is covered with sand, all these countries are in dire need of vermicompost to create soil. Also gaining popularity organic farming, people are more and more interested in organic products grown without the use of chemicals.

To start a worm business, you will need:

• worms, preferably broodstock that contains cocoons and young worms
• the box where you put the worms
• rotted organic waste that is food
• soil in which worms will live
• agrofibre, breathable to close the top of the drawer

Worm breeding as a business makes it possible to sell the following products: family of worms, breeding stock of worms, worm cocoons, worm crawl, vermicompost, liquid vermicompost.

The current problem with worm farming is that the process is not mechanized and requires a lot manual labor. That's why large companies units producing vermicompost.

Customers for products: agricultural enterprises, farmers and individuals

Manure disposal on farms

Vermiculture is an environmentally friendly and cost-effective way to dispose of organic waste by processing it with earthworms.

Manure passing through the worm's body:

• seeds from manure lose their viability
• the content of E. coli is significantly reduced
• the number of pathogens is reduced

Processing manure with worms helps solve three problems:

• receiving organic fertilizer vermicompost
• recycling of livestock waste
• environmental protection

Vermicomposting using worms is used to recycle waste in agriculture. Worms speed up the process of processing manure, while the process of mineralization occurs and the concentration of pathogenic organisms decreases. Worms enrich the soil with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, removing these chemical elements from rotten plants.

The resulting vermicompost contains nutrients and mineral compounds in a form accessible to plants. This vermicompost meets all sanitary standards and is absolutely harmless to vegetables and fruits.

To carry out the vermicomposting process, it is necessary to prepare manure for this as follows:

manure moisture 70-75%

To produce vermicompost on an industrial scale, the following methods of keeping worms are used: boxes, piles, piles. Most popular way, this is the use of boxes and collars.

Burts or boxes are filled with substrate and worms are placed there. The substrate is periodically moistened using watering machines or hoses. From time to time the surface is loosened.

Vermicompost

Vermicompost - This is an organic, environmentally friendly fertilizer with a high content of carbon, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, enriched with macro and microelements, enzymes, and active microflora. Vermicompost does not contain pathogenic microflora and weed seeds.

Vermicompost looks like a loose, finely granulated mass, odorless, brown or black.

The use of intensive technologies in agriculture has led to a deficiency in the balance of humus in the soil. The solution to this problem is vermicompost.

Application of vermicompost

The concentration of nitrates in vegetables and fruits decreases by 2 times, the content of vitamin C, sugars, carotene, starch, and dry matter increases.

• to enrich the soil with humus
• to speed up seed germination
• to increase productivity by 30-80%
• to accelerate plant growth
• increases plant resistance to pests
• used to detoxify soil
• to accelerate the breakdown of pesticides in soil and plants
• for soil health
• to increase the shelf life of vegetables
• to obtain environmentally friendly and safe products

It is used for all types of agricultural crops: from garden greens to trees.

Using vermicompost will save you cash, which you could spend on chemical fertilizers.

1 ton of vermicompost gives an increase in grain yield by 100-200 kg, potatoes by 1600-1800 kg, vegetables by 200 kg. In this case, the crop ripens 10-15 days earlier.

Video: Vermicompost, vermicompost benefits and application. Best organic fertilizer

Instructions for using vermicompost

• Apply to the soil from early spring to late autumn.
• It is applied to the soil before planting, as in open ground, and indoors. The rate for applying vermicompost is 30 kg per 1 hectare.
• Root feeding is carried out during the period of maximum growth of green mass.

Considering the number of people who want to relax by the pond with a fishing rod, breeding worms can be very effective business. Earthworms today are used not only as food for fish, but also in the process of farm. They can significantly increase soil productivity, which makes them a sought-after product in large quantities.

Considering the number of people who want to relax by the pond with a fishing rod, breeding worms can be a very effective business

Therefore, if you take a large-scale approach to implementing this project at home, then breeding worms will turn out to be a profitable undertaking. The implementation of such technology will not require special skills, experience and knowledge from the owner of a mini-farm. And in terms of preliminary costs, breeding such animals at home requires minimal initial investment, which is very profitable in comparison with other types of business today. Now we need to take a closer look at the methods of breeding worms for fishing and using the products of their vital activity in the process of making a profit.

To start growing and breeding earthworms at home, you will need to create an optimal temperature regime and habitat for them. This will require a constant temperature of +15...+25°C, sufficient food, and air humidity of 80%. There are species that actively begin to mate and reproduce in large temperature ranges (within +10...+30°C). If the indicator drops below +4°C, the worms will burrow into hibernation, but if it exceeds temperature regime above +35°C can cause their death.

Earthworms today are used not only as fish food, but also in farming

In addition, you need to carefully monitor what you feed the earthworms. Feeding is carried out using the following common ingredients:

• food waste;
• fallen leaves;
• hay;
• fermented manure;
• tea leaves;
• eggshell.

For beginners, it is important to remember that Not all types of worms are equally good at raising at home. Therefore, before you start growing worms, you need to become familiar with their “performance”, the minimum requirements for habitat, nutrition, and other important characteristics.

The most suitable worms for a beginning entrepreneur are Californian or prospector worms. To grow them, you need minimal conditions, but in terms of effectiveness they can exceed all your wildest expectations. After all, 1 adult prospector is capable of breeding up to 500 offspring per year. Other types of worms can only dream of such productivity.

So that the cultivation of worms really gives good income, the business owner may be required to comply with some additional points, in particular:

• combine this activity with other types of farming;
• to care for the plantation, use vermicompost from the excrement of domestic animals (in particular, cattle);
• The grown product will be actively sold to neighboring farmers and fishing enthusiasts.

Breeding worms at home (video)

Potential consumers

Of course, at the beginning of your journey you will need to outline a business plan, determine the costs at the start of the project and calculate the potential consumers of your products. This will make it possible to fully plan the size of the upcoming business, select a site for work, the type of worms for breeding, as well as the final product that you will receive. This could be:

• the earthworm itself;
• vermicompost from worms;
• special worm tea.

If you open your own small point of sale of this product in portions, you will ensure a flow of customers all year round. You can enter into an agreement with a specialized fishing store and supply products in bulk. In this case, its cost will be slightly cheaper, but the breeder will have lower rental costs. commercial premises, maintaining sellers, there will be less loss of your own free time. As a rule, in the end, when calculating the income and consumable parts Almost the same amount of profit will come out in both cases.

The next direction is when a worm grown by yourself is further processed into fertilizer. It may seem that this is unprofitable and unpromising, but in reality it is not so. The final product is actively used in gardening, summer cottages, in specialized flower shops where highly concentrated plant fertilizer is required. Soil fertilized in this way significantly increases its fertile characteristics.

The cultivation of earthworms is actively supported by representatives of numerous pet stores, where they are used as food. For feeding fish in specialized fish farms, in the process of improving the soil of exotic plants by saturating it with special worm tea, the product is also necessary.

All this gives a very real understanding of how such a business can be effectively run.

The most common buyers of live dung worms are fishermen

A little about technology

Before you start breeding unusual “pets”, it is advisable to gain a complete understanding of the general technology, how this will all happen, how much time and resources will be required for these purposes.

Growing begins with simple preparation of the place where your charges will live and reproduce. Such a farm must have not only prepared soil, stable temperature and humidity, but also worms specially selected for these purposes. A worm farm should consist of adults, cocoons and fry, which must be placed in a “house” initially prepared for life.

To maintain normal living conditions for worms, the constant presence of fresh compost will be required, which they will gradually process into vermicompost. In this environment, it will be necessary to constantly monitor their reproduction, behavior, and monitor their general condition.

If the created conditions are favorable, then within a few months it will be possible to begin collecting the first results of your labor in the form of living individuals, fertile layer as fertilizer, and worm tea. For worm farming to be successful, the work schedule should be scheduled in such a way as to give the remaining individuals the opportunity to restore the population and increase the resources already realized. For this purpose, it is necessary to monitor the constant availability of food litter, a sufficient amount of soil, and conditions that activate mating and reproduction.

You need to understand that the soil for breeding worms cannot be completely homogeneous. As a rule, it consists of 3 main layers:

• the upper one, which serves to feed the worms;
• middle, where their permanent habitat is located;
• the lower one, where waste products of worms accumulate (vermicompost, worm tea).

Common types of worms for breeding

Earthworms used as the main product for propagation can be divided into several most actively used species. Each of them has its own own advantages, because of which he is chosen as the main “actor”.

To begin with, we should consider ordinary "local" worms. Catching them does not require any equipment or effort. They quickly adapt to the created living conditions; because of this, their reproduction begins earlier, which makes it possible to quickly receive a return from the running process. True, there is a small drawback here - such worms have a reduced vital activity, which is much inferior to special “pedigreed” individuals.

Next we should consider individuals of the Californian red worm. This is a very popular and productive species. When purchasing, you should carefully select the livestock (it should be dark red in color). Here you need to remember that for a normal breeding process, the breeding stock should be kept at a level of at least 1500 individuals. A small disadvantage of this species is that if the temperature drops below +10°C, the likelihood of losing the entire livestock increases.

The prospector worm for home breeding is considered the most popular species today. Basically this is a direct competitor to the one described above California worm. It has a fairly high activity, develops quickly, reproduces well, and stays freely in the temperature range from +9 to +28°C. Provides fairly high productivity in the process of processing the substrate (about 60% of vermicompost per 1000 kg of “input material”).

Necessary containers and accessories

To start producing worms at home, you need to have a minimum number of tools and equipment. For this you may need shovels, buckets, a wheelbarrow, scales, a sieve, as well as things such as racks, instruments that help determine the acidity of the soil, a thermometer, and special boxes.

Among general rules, which should not be forgotten, it is recommended to remember the following points:

• the nursery should have an area, based on the fact that for every 1000 adult individuals, at least a square meter of soil is needed;
• the air temperature in the room where pets will be kept should not fall below +4°C;
• containers should have a minimum depth of about 30 cm, and it is advisable to use wood, cardboard, and, in rare cases, plastic as a base.

If you plan to grow a large number of worms in one place at the same time, then you can use a plastic container, which is initially equipped with a sufficient number of small holes to allow air ventilation. If you do not plan to breed in one place big family, wooden and cardboard boxes are quite suitable.

As an alternative, old bathtubs, refrigerators, and special containers can be used for a base of residence. We must not forget that worms love moist soil; a regular plastic watering can can replace rain. The concentration of water in the soil must be dosed, because its excessive amount has a negative impact on the life activity of individuals.

Ordinary local worms collected in the forested area are suitable for breeding.

Dig a small hole in a suitable place, fill it with rotted leaves, vegetable and fruit peelings (excluding garlic, potatoes, citrus fruits and onions). After this, the food is watered and the hole is covered with cardboard or a board. You can collect individuals that have settled near the feeder after a week.

Where to breed worms

For a home worm farm you will need durable containers. Suitable for this:

• enamel dishes;


• old aquarium;


• buckets, basins, any other metal (not galvanized) or plastic containers.

The usual containers for short-term storage of worms - a canvas bag, wooden or plywood boxes - are not suitable for long-term use. They quickly become damp, the boxes begin to rot, the bags begin to rot.

The selected container should be prepared before use. Using a drill (7-9 mm), holes are made in the bottom of the future farm that will drain excess water. The holes should be evenly distributed throughout the bottom.

A tray is needed under the container. Before placing the container on the tray, the latter needs to be filled with dry sand - it will absorb excess water. A layer of 3 cm will be enough.

Conditions for breeding worms

The container size is calculated based on the number of worms present. For 1 kg of individuals there should be at least 1 sq. m surface area.

Worms cannot tolerate sunlight, so it is advisable for the worm house to be located in a dark place.

What to fill the container with

There are different ways to fill a mini-farm.

The first layer is straw or large sawdust. Its height should be about 5 cm. Next, pour vermicompost (it is sold in flower shops). The height of this layer is about 10 cm. The third layer is food: fruit and vegetable scraps, old tea leaves (without sugar), coffee grounds. The feed is evenly distributed over the entire surface in a layer of 5 cm. The topmost layer is the humus layer. Its height is 2 cm.

If you use regular soil to fill the container where worms will be bred, you must ensure that it does not contain roots and leaves. When leaves rot, a large amount of oxygen is consumed.

What to feed worms

Almost all waste can be used as feed. The exceptions are potato peelings, citrus fruits, onions and garlic. You should not use salty foods, meat or fish for feeding.

The favorite food of worms is oatmeal. You can also give them dry rolled oats, but it should be taken into account that dry flakes take moisture from the soil.

How often to water worms

The worm pit should be watered abundantly. Excess moisture will drain through the drainage holes. Watering is done at every feeding. If indoors high temperature, it is worth watering more often.

You can check the quality of soil moisture in a simple way– squeeze a handful of the top layer in your fist. If water comes through your fingers, there is enough moisture.

The water should be settled (at least 3 days), at room temperature.

Breeding worms is a simple process. Compliance simple rules will avoid typical mistakes and get a truly working home vermifarm.

Breeding worms at home. Breeding the Prospector worm in boxes. Obtaining vermicompost by vermicomposting. How do worms reproduce at home? Photo.

Each of us has been familiar with worms since childhood. Those who are disgusted by it simply do not know what kind of “beast” it is. The earthworm is a great worker of the soil.

By breeding worms at home, you can utilize kitchen waste to obtain vermicompost and vermicelli of excellent quality, and use them when growing seedlings and in the garden.

Breeding earthworms at home.

It is possible to breed earthworms at home, but it is not at all cost-effective. The earthworm reproduces slowly, is picky about food, and lives for a short time. Of course, you can work hard and, after a few generations, breed your own breed from an ordinary earthworm, but I didn’t.

Russian professor Anatoly Mikhailovich Igonin managed to breed a special breed of earthworm and called it “Prospector”. This worm, unlike an ordinary earthworm, lives longer, tolerates changes in the type of food well, reproduces quickly - it is completely adapted to human needs.

After scouring the Internet in forums and stores, I found boxes that were suitable for me. They have no extra holes, are strong and fit comfortably into each other. Dimensions 590x360x180mm (My first boxes were smaller, but I was uncomfortable with them.) If you choose boxes very large size filled with vermicompost, they will be too heavy.

Minimum set of three boxes.

Boxes for breeding worms at home.

Holes are made in two using a drill (the bottom and all sides along the top edge - see photo).

Top boxes for keeping worms.

In the bottom box, holes are made only in all sides along the top edge in one row for ventilation; vermicha will flow into this box. The number of holes depends on the size of the boxes - so that it does not lose strength.

We place one perforated box on the vermicha box. We put food in it and populate it with approximately 1500 - 3000 worms. Close the lid - the worm loves the dark.

Caring for Prospector worms at home.

When the worm eats a layer of food in the box (this will be easily noticeable, the top layer will take on a smooth, loose surface), lay the next 5 cm layer, etc.

Breeding worms at home. We put food for the worms.

When the box is full, we place a second one on top, which also has a perforated bottom and sides, into which food is poured, and the worm from the first (bottom) box, through the holes, crawls into the second (upper) box for fresh food (in the bottom box all the food is processed and there is nothing to eat).

With each new feeding, I powder the top with a thin layer of sand and a little ash (which has been sitting for a month), or chalk. Sand helps worms digest food, and ash serves to deoxidize and saturate vermicompost with additional microelements. For better, faster processing of feed, I spill each new bookmark feed with undiluted vermicha.

When the second box is filled to the top, we put the third one on top and the worm, in the same way, crawls there through the holes. I always close the top drawer with a lid - the worm does not like light. Thus, up to 5 floors can be accommodated. The optimal temperature for maximum vital activity of the worm is 20° - 25°C. At sub-zero temperatures it goes into hibernation (it can spend the winter outside in a compost heap). Worms live only in organic matter and will not escape from the box.

Obtaining vermicompost.

When, for example, all three boxes are filled with vermicompost and there are no free boxes left, I remove the bottom box with vermicompost, empty it of vermicompost and put it on top of the last one, pour in new food, spill it with vermicompost and close it with a lid. The worms will crawl into it themselves.

Breeding worms at home. Ready vermicompost.

I put the finished, raw (raw) vermicompost into a woven plastic bag or into a simple wooden box for subsequent fermentation and readiness. The finished vermicompost takes on a free-flowing appearance. Almost always, some of the worms still remain in the bottom drawer filled with vermicompost. You can simply collect them by hand, or you can leave them in vermicompost.

What to feed worms when breeding at home?

Everyone who gets worms adapts them to their existing food. But first, I recommend asking the seller what the worms ate and adding your food gradually as they are eaten. Worms love a lot of our kitchen waste (this can be various vegetable waste: fruit and vegetable peels, leftover tea leaves, etc.).

If the food sits there for several days and starts to turn sour, then they obviously didn’t like it and it’s better to remove it. To speed up the process of eating food, I grind it with chops in a wooden trough. But you can also use a meat grinder or simply cut with scissors or a knife. I like to grind in a trough, because I don’t have to wash a bunch of meat grinder parts every time and any waste can easily fit into the trough. If you put waste without shredding, it will take longer to process and may even rot. Sometimes I sprinkle sunflower husks to loosen the substrate so that the vermicompost doesn’t turn sour (just in case 😊)

Breeding worms at home. How do worms reproduce?

If the worm lives happily and eats well, then sooner or later it will begin to reproduce. It lays cocoons - small sand-colored balls. They can be easily noticed.

Reproduction of worms. The worm lays cocoons - small sand-colored balls.

Each cocoon contains several eggs, and after 2-3 weeks new worms hatch. And after another 7-12 weeks, these worms are already able to bear offspring. Over time, you understand how your pets live, whether they are dry or damp, when they need to be watered or fed. In any business there are always mistakes and discoveries, and it is impossible to give clear instructions. Each person has their own type of worm food and room temperature. We must be attentive to these little helpers.

When breeding worms at home, we get vermicompost and vermicelli.

Worms create a wonderful vermicompost from a pile of organic matter, with a special pleasant smell familiar to every gardener. The same magical vermicompost that our seedlings and plants in the garden enjoy. The worm, in which colonies of microorganisms live, moves in the soil, processing organic matter. It secretes coprolites (copros - feces, lithos - stone) with a large number own intestinal microflora, enzymes, vitamins, biologically active substances.

They have antibiotic properties and prevent the development of pathogenic (painful) microflora, putrefactive processes, the release of fetid gases, disinfect the soil and give it that pleasant earthy smell. I will talk about the use of vermicompost for growing seedlings later.

Vermichay is an aqueous extract from vermicompost. It is usually called vermicompost tea or simply vermi tea. It is similar in color to regular strong brewed black tea with a faint soil aroma.

Vermichai is an excellent tonic for all plants, from indoor flowers to fruit-bearing trees. It nourishes, protects from stress and pests, prevents diseases, develops a strong root system and helps to quickly adapt after transplantation.

Getting vermichay.

There are different ways to obtain vermichai - an aqueous extract from vermicompost. I chose the right one for myself. Once every two weeks, I spill water from a watering can for indoor plants in the top drawer. Water gradually passes through all the boxes. Calculation: two liters of water per box. The thicker the layer and the more boxes, the richer the tea. The next day, I pour the tea into bottles and store it in a cool, dark place.

Most often, I use vermicelli collected over the winter in the garden in the spring.

I dilute tea with water in a ratio of 1:10 or in its pure form. I know that some people use it for indoor plants, but I don’t practice it myself.

In the summer I keep worms in a bath in the garden and collect vermicelli in buckets and water (1:10) the entire garden.

I will talk about this in the next article.

You can read about purchased vermicompost and Vemikofe -

©Alexey Lesnykh (2017)

I will answer your questions in the comments.