Questions about worm compsting

northprairiegir · #1 04/15/08, 06:04 PM

Currently we have around 15 rabbits and would like to start "composting" the rabbit poo. Does anyone have any advise for me? What kind of worm should we use if we would like to also sell worms for bait at some point?

newfieannie · #2 04/15/08, 06:12 PM

I do worm composting myself but Shrek over on ST will be able to answer any questions you may have regarding this. ...Georgia.

Ann Mary · #3 04/15/08, 06:19 PM

Waaay back in about 1977-78 when I was a girl my sis and I raised rabbits and wanted to sell worms to the fishermen that went by to the Columbia river. So, we nailed 1 x12" boards to the feet of the rabbit hutch, saved our $ and sent away for the 'red wigglers' that like to feed on manure. After they FINALLY came, we released them onto the damp earth that was a mix of manure, straw, and dirt...and then covered it all with feed sacks for a few days so they would stay 'home'. After a few weeks we had lots of worms so we started selling them for $1 per dozen...and we sold 100 dozen that summer. But, then Dad told us he didn't like strangers coming at all times of day/night asking us if we had worms....so we had to stop....that and they always seemed to stop by as were were all dressed for church and just leaving...but we always chuckled when we were all dressed up and people would ask us 'do you have worms???"......do we LOOK like we have worms???!!

Well, all this to say,...if teenage girls can do it with just a few rabbits ANYONE can do it. You do need to make sure the worm bed is what they like or they will wander off...not too wet/dry....or some chicken will wander in and eat them all in a few minutes flat

northprairiegir · #4 04/15/08, 06:40 PM

Thanks ladies for the advise! My oldest son and I are trying to come up with a few money making ideas for the summer and we thought that worms would be a good thing since we live less than 10 miles from a lake where worms are the only thing you can use as bait. (The nearest bait shop is 40 milles away.)

Fla Gal · #5 04/15/08, 07:33 PM

By raising 'red wigglers' in bunny poo, not only do you get to sell the worms, you also get worm castings that are great fertilizer for the garden and potted plants.

Another thing you and your son could do to make some money, if there's a market for it in your area, is to bag up the castings and sell them outright or take them to a feed store and market the castings through them. Again, if the market is there, you could also sell compost tea made from the droppings or castings.

northprairiegir · #6 04/15/08, 07:56 PM

Thanks Fla Gal! I had actually thought about selling the worm castings. I am not sure what kind of a market there is - but I thought about packaging and talking them to Farmers Market this summer/fall. Does any one know of a good place to get the intial worms?

Bearfootfarm · #7 04/15/08, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by northprairiegir

Thanks Fla Gal! I had actually thought about selling the worm castings. I am not sure what kind of a market there is - but I thought about packaging and talking them to Farmers Market this summer/fall. Does any one know of a good place to get the intial worms?

Google "vermiculture" and you'll be able to find some suppliers

Fla Gal · #8 04/15/08, 09:52 PM

Northprairiegir, you're welcome! Unless you're willing to drive 40 miles to the nearest bait shop you can post a want ad on the Barter Board here on HT. There are several HT members that raise them.

Post in the Homesteading Questions and The Great Outdoors forums that you've posted a want ad for red wrigglers. If you know how, add a link to your want ad.

Before you post an ad on the Barter Board you many want to call local small stores in your area and ask them if they carry red wrigglers. The small grocery store in this area has a tiny little refrigerated unit that holds about a dozen containers of red wriggler fishing worms. You might be surprised at what you find.

If you decide to sell the castings at the Farmers Market it would be a good idea to post an information sheet in plain view to help sell the castings. You could also make up a sheet that would be given with each purchase of castings.

Do a google search for worm castings so you'll get an idea of what they sell for elsewhere. Take into account what your market will bear and don't undersell your product. That stuff is black gold.

Fla Gal · #9 04/15/08, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearfootfarm

Google "vermiculture" and you'll be able to find some suppliers

Sometimes it takes me a long time to respond to a post and I miss someone else's post.

Bearfootfarm is putting you on a good track. Not only will you learn about suppliers but you'll also learn a lot about vermiculture and different methods of raising worms.