worm beds

[SquashNut]

any one have worm beds under their cages? I am consitering it. what kind of worms do I need? reading on the web, but would like to hear from some one who is doing it.

[MaggieJ]

This is something I definitely should be doing. It would be great winter protein for the chickens and an efficient use of - er - bunny by-products. There was a good thread about vermiculture with rabbits earlier this month. Here's the link in case you missed it:
Vermiculture with buns?

[Serena]

i have what I usually hear called red wiggler worms under my cages. Dirt floor in the barn. I let the manure build up a little bit and then went to another breeder and they scooped me out a coffee can full of worms that I dumped in and covered up.. I spray the beds with water if they seem to get dry and to keep the worms disperssed. Otherwise they stay in the damp spots like under the waterers and then you have to rake the manure to their favorite spots. I never have to shovel out my barn unless I want the oh so awesome "worm dirt" for my garden. my Father in law "offers" to come shovel the barn out about once a year. I have to fuss at him or he will strip it bare for his garden... Some times you can go under the damper areas and scrape the top inch off and its solid worms. I love how easy it makes my life! I also have an autowater system that I love. I always managed to drench my shoes or clothes filling bowls. Now I feed and spend time grooming and working with bunnies and getting to know them better!

[Pennsyltucky]

Serena,

Do you find any need to add a bedding material for the worms?

[o&itw]

Sometimes they are hard to get started where they haven't been before. It is best to let 3 or 4 months of manure accumulate before one tries. The idea of geting a scoop of worms from another rabbit breeder works best. They seem to acclimate at once. I have had limited success trying to buy red wigglers at the bait shop and get them started. Once you get them established, then they will re-establish even if you remove all the older manure. In this area, if one has outdoor hutches, they will usually establish themselves after several months from the yard.

Night crawlers and regular earthworms won't work, I think the manure is too rich for them. They live in the ground in burrows and come up at night to feed, red wigglers live right in the manure.

[beechicken]

hello all, well i have raised red wigglers for several years and have found that they can acclimate to most any thing if giving enough time. I would use the bedding/food they are used to and place that in your rabbit bed and let them move into the rabbit droppings on their own this could take some time.

[Serena]

I didnt have to add anything. Like o&itw said you let a few months of manure build up. I got out of Rabbits for about a year and a half and just recently got soem more. I made sure when the barn was empty to keep the ground moist in there from time to time to keep them going and they are already in the swing of things after two weeks of bunnies in the barn again. The damp areas under the waterers you almost cant tell there are bunnies, it just looks like loose healthy soil they have it so cleaned up.