Comments on: 50 Cocoon Challenge – Horse Manure http://www.redwormcomposting.com/fun-stuff/50-cocoon-challenge-horse-manure/ Red Wiggler Worms, European Nightcrawlers and loads of helpful Worm Composting Information Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:17:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Neville Wade http://www.redwormcomposting.com/fun-stuff/50-cocoon-challenge-horse-manure/comment-page-1/#comment-22139 Neville Wade Thu, 13 Aug 2009 08:51:48 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=871#comment-22139 Hi robyn . I had alook at your blog and found it very interesting. I am from Pacific Haven which is near Howard Qld.[ not far from Bunderberg. I like your idea of cane mulch and am going to try this myself. I love worms to. Regards Nifty Hi robyn .
I had alook at your blog and found it very interesting. I am from Pacific Haven which is near Howard Qld.[ not far from Bunderberg. I like your idea of cane mulch and am going to try this myself. I love worms to. Regards Nifty

]]> By: Neville Wade http://www.redwormcomposting.com/fun-stuff/50-cocoon-challenge-horse-manure/comment-page-1/#comment-22132 Neville Wade Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:44:05 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=871#comment-22132 I use horse manure all the time and I get mine from a friend who has stables . She tells me when she is going to worm her horses and when I pick up that manure I will leave it for 3 to 4 weeks before I use it . allthough at this moment I have so much manure. that when I get the new stuff it just sits there till I amready to use it.. A good tip...... I put my dry manure through a garden mulcher and then before I feed it to my worms I simply wet it down and squeeze out the excess moisture. Hope thi may help someone Regards Nifty I use horse manure all the time and I get mine from a friend who has stables . She tells me when she is going to worm her horses and when I pick up that manure I will leave it for 3 to 4 weeks before I use it . allthough at this moment I have so much manure. that when I get the new stuff it just sits there till I amready to use it.. A good tip…… I put my dry manure through a garden mulcher and then before I feed it to my worms I simply wet it down and squeeze out the excess moisture. Hope thi may help someone Regards Nifty

]]> By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/fun-stuff/50-cocoon-challenge-horse-manure/comment-page-1/#comment-21912 Bentley Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:32:30 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=871#comment-21912 Hi Heather, I get my horse manure from other people, so it's hard to say for sure how long it has composted. The latest batch I grabbed was steaming hot and obviously fairly new. I added some to my outdoor systems and watered it well, and the worms already seem to be heading into it. Horse manure is one type of manure that really needs little in the way aging and/or composting. I certainly wouldn't throw worms into a pile of it straight from the horses rear, but once it's heated and darkened over the course of a few days it should be ok. If it looks like it's been colonized by fungi (often just a whitish coating on the turds) you are probably ok. If adding to an enclosed bin I might be a bit more cautious, waiting perhaps until the turd nuggets (scientific term, I assure you - haha) aren't as recognizable and the material is darker and more earthy smelling. I haven't seen any issues with wood chips in bedding, but I'm not sure what type of wood it is. As for dewormer, I don't think it's a major concern if the material has been piled and allowed to heat outside for a bit. Remember, if the worms have a well-established habitat - especially if it is large and completely open, you should have NO issues layering the material on top, no matter how fresh it is. They can always stay down below until it is to their liking. Hope this helps! 8) Hi Heather,
I get my horse manure from other people, so it’s hard to say for sure how long it has composted. The latest batch I grabbed was steaming hot and obviously fairly new. I added some to my outdoor systems and watered it well, and the worms already seem to be heading into it. Horse manure is one type of manure that really needs little in the way aging and/or composting. I certainly wouldn’t throw worms into a pile of it straight from the horses rear, but once it’s heated and darkened over the course of a few days it should be ok. If it looks like it’s been colonized by fungi (often just a whitish coating on the turds) you are probably ok. If adding to an enclosed bin I might be a bit more cautious, waiting perhaps until the turd nuggets (scientific term, I assure you – haha) aren’t as recognizable and the material is darker and more earthy smelling.

I haven’t seen any issues with wood chips in bedding, but I’m not sure what type of wood it is. As for dewormer, I don’t think it’s a major concern if the material has been piled and allowed to heat outside for a bit.

Remember, if the worms have a well-established habitat – especially if it is large and completely open, you should have NO issues layering the material on top, no matter how fresh it is. They can always stay down below until it is to their liking.

Hope this helps!
8)

]]> By: Heather http://www.redwormcomposting.com/fun-stuff/50-cocoon-challenge-horse-manure/comment-page-1/#comment-21910 Heather Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:28:26 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=871#comment-21910 Hi Bentley, Wondering how long your horse manure composts before you add worms to it? I have 3 stables near me and access to all the stall shavings/manure I want. Just don't want to commit mass murder on my worms from it being too hot? I also am somehat worried about horse de-wormer and other chemicals in the horse stuff. How much do I need to worry about it? Stall shavings may be cedar--any worries there? I never believed I would be so obsessive about worm well-being, lol. Hi Bentley,

Wondering how long your horse manure composts before you add worms to it? I have 3 stables near me and access to all the stall shavings/manure I want. Just don’t want to commit mass murder on my worms from it being too hot? I also am somehat worried about horse de-wormer and other chemicals in the horse stuff. How much do I need to worry about it? Stall shavings may be cedar–any worries there?

I never believed I would be so obsessive about worm well-being, lol.

]]> By: robyn http://www.redwormcomposting.com/fun-stuff/50-cocoon-challenge-horse-manure/comment-page-1/#comment-21882 robyn Sun, 19 Jul 2009 11:41:58 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=871#comment-21882 I did it...i started my blog. please come see..join and follow me. http://imcrazyaboutworms.blogspot.com/ robyn I did it…i started my blog. please come see..join and follow me.

http://imcrazyaboutworms.blogspot.com/

robyn

]]> By: robyn http://www.redwormcomposting.com/fun-stuff/50-cocoon-challenge-horse-manure/comment-page-1/#comment-21877 robyn Sat, 18 Jul 2009 11:33:39 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=871#comment-21877 Hi Guys, Let me describe what i do. I got interested in worms about 10 years ago, and believe me i have spent many hours researching on the net aswell. BEDDING I make the bedding from expanded core peat bricks (excelent moisture retaining spongy fibers), Sugar cane mulch, which is a bit like a bale of dry grass but flatter this just helps to fluff things up a bit, a good helping of beneficial bacteria in the form of home made compost or finished castings or both, and then a generous amount of horse or cow manure. mix these all together, no layering. Make it at least 30cm/12inch deep, to help maintain temperature. Don't pat it down at all, its really light and spongy and will hold heaps of oxygen for your worms to breath. You know what? i have never used paper or cardboard, i guess you could substitute sugar cane mulch for paper but i recon i would put i through a shredder first. FOOD Normal kitchen food scraps, (no citrus, onion, meat or dairy) i collect this in a bucket over about a week. Then with a big 600w food processing wand i will process it while still in the bucket, might have to add some water at this stage too. Does'nt have to be too fine. Then i take it down the back to where the worms are. Tip this slop into another bucket, (just so my kitchen bucket stays nice a clean) Then add the same amount of finished compost from the tumbler and another amount of horse or cow manure or any aged manure really. Mix with water to make a nice sloppy consistancy. I plop this stuff on top of the bedding in a few places, never cover the entire bed just incase it heats up. i dont bury it. I cover it with wet hesian bags then on top of that i put plastic weed mat (the type that breaths) this keeps the bags from drying out too fast. You can then walk away and leave it for a week. But i cant resist checking in on the progress. after 48hrs the worms are massing all over the food. its so cool. Sorry if this is too long. i should start a blog or something. Robyn Hi Guys,

Let me describe what i do. I got interested in worms about 10 years ago, and believe me i have spent many hours researching on the net aswell.

BEDDING
I make the bedding from expanded core peat bricks (excelent moisture retaining spongy fibers), Sugar cane mulch, which is a bit like a bale of dry grass but flatter this just helps to fluff things up a bit, a good helping of beneficial bacteria in the form of home made compost or finished castings or both, and then a generous amount of horse or cow manure. mix these all together, no layering. Make it at least 30cm/12inch deep, to help maintain temperature. Don’t pat it down at all, its really light and spongy and will hold heaps of oxygen for your worms to breath. You know what? i have never used paper or cardboard, i guess you could substitute sugar cane mulch for paper but i recon i would put i through a shredder first.

FOOD
Normal kitchen food scraps, (no citrus, onion, meat or dairy) i collect this in a bucket over about a week. Then with a big 600w food processing wand i will process it while still in the bucket, might have to add some water at this stage too. Does’nt have to be too fine. Then i take it down the back to where the worms are. Tip this slop into another bucket, (just so my kitchen bucket stays nice a clean) Then add the same amount of finished compost from the tumbler and another amount of horse or cow manure or any aged manure really. Mix with water to make a nice sloppy consistancy. I plop this stuff on top of the bedding in a few places, never cover the entire bed just incase it heats up. i dont bury it. I cover it with wet hesian bags then on top of that i put plastic weed mat (the type that breaths) this keeps the bags from drying out too fast. You can then walk away and leave it for a week. But i cant resist checking in on the progress. after 48hrs the worms are massing all over the food. its so cool.

Sorry if this is too long. i should start a blog or something.

Robyn

]]> By: Mark from Kansas http://www.redwormcomposting.com/fun-stuff/50-cocoon-challenge-horse-manure/comment-page-1/#comment-21875 Mark from Kansas Sat, 18 Jul 2009 02:00:31 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=871#comment-21875 Oh and please don't tell Bentley I told you this. Mark Oh and please don’t tell Bentley I told you this.
Mark

]]> By: Mark from Kansas http://www.redwormcomposting.com/fun-stuff/50-cocoon-challenge-horse-manure/comment-page-1/#comment-21874 Mark from Kansas Sat, 18 Jul 2009 01:51:30 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=871#comment-21874 I have an idea for you. How would you like to triple you worm population? Start making a second bin and harvest like Bentley said. Only this time, get some 1/8 inch hail screen from the hardware store. Make a 2 foot by 2 foot frame and staple the screen to it. Over a newspaper lined wheel barrow, grab a handful of vermicompost put it on the screen and shake. The large pieces of food and the worms will stay on the screen, dump that into your new bin. What will fall into the wheel barrow will vermicompost, baby worms, and if you look very close COCOONS. I am sure of it, after three months there has to be tons of them. Use your wheel barrow contents as a top layer in your other bin being mindful to cover it with a thin layer of bedding. Make a third bin because, in 6 weeks those cocoons will hatch. I have an idea for you. How would you like to triple you worm population?
Start making a second bin and harvest like Bentley said. Only this time, get some 1/8 inch hail screen from the hardware store. Make a 2 foot by 2 foot frame and staple the screen to it. Over a newspaper lined wheel barrow, grab a handful of vermicompost put it on the screen and shake.
The large pieces of food and the worms will stay on the screen, dump that into your new bin. What will fall into the wheel barrow will vermicompost, baby worms, and if you look very close COCOONS. I am sure of it, after three months there has to be tons of them.
Use your wheel barrow contents as a top layer in your other bin being mindful to cover it with a thin layer of bedding.
Make a third bin because, in 6 weeks those cocoons will hatch.

]]> By: Heidi http://www.redwormcomposting.com/fun-stuff/50-cocoon-challenge-horse-manure/comment-page-1/#comment-21869 Heidi Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:05:26 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=871#comment-21869 Bentley, I hadn't thought of harvesting. It was my understanding that as long as there was still fresh bedding (including the orignal bedding with which I started the bin), all was well. But mere age and potency of compost can do it as well? I started the bin about three months ago. Sounds like cardboard should be fine. I'll look to other solutions. I haven't SEEN any dead worms, but from what I understand they decompose pretty quickly, so they may have been there at one time. The cardboard is a fairly recent addition, but I added it at the same time that I stopped feeding them so much food in order to let the bin work itself out. It was getting a touch (just a touch) odorous. I realized that I have another question: I realize that if food goes uneaten long enough to being to mold, then I'm giving them too much food. If such a miscalculation DOES occur, however, how toxic is the mold to the worms? Also, I found a slug in there. I have no idea how it got there. Can it eat my worms? Bentley,

I hadn’t thought of harvesting. It was my understanding that as long as there was still fresh bedding (including the orignal bedding with which I started the bin), all was well. But mere age and potency of compost can do it as well? I started the bin about three months ago.

Sounds like cardboard should be fine. I’ll look to other solutions.

I haven’t SEEN any dead worms, but from what I understand they decompose pretty quickly, so they may have been there at one time. The cardboard is a fairly recent addition, but I added it at the same time that I stopped feeding them so much food in order to let the bin work itself out. It was getting a touch (just a touch) odorous.

I realized that I have another question: I realize that if food goes uneaten long enough to being to mold, then I’m giving them too much food. If such a miscalculation DOES occur, however, how toxic is the mold to the worms?

Also, I found a slug in there. I have no idea how it got there. Can it eat my worms?

]]> By: Duff in VT http://www.redwormcomposting.com/fun-stuff/50-cocoon-challenge-horse-manure/comment-page-1/#comment-21868 Duff in VT Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:05:22 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=871#comment-21868 Speaking of cocoons. I bought EF's from Bentley and some from a local source. Both are doing well. Bentley's are bigger and stripier and the cocoons are as pictured here on this site, lemon shaped and colored and very visible. The other worms are smaller and redder and, despite producing many babies, I cannot identify cocoons in the bin. There are many small, brown, semi-flattish things, but I am not sure if they are cocoons or what they are. Could these be a different species of worm? And, I intend to start a stacking worm unit and want to mix both bins. Will that be ok if I have two separate types of worms? Speaking of cocoons. I bought EF’s from Bentley and some from a local source. Both are doing well. Bentley’s are bigger and stripier and the cocoons are as pictured here on this site, lemon shaped and colored and very visible. The other worms are smaller and redder and, despite producing many babies, I cannot identify cocoons in the bin. There are many small, brown, semi-flattish things, but I am not sure if they are cocoons or what they are. Could these be a different species of worm? And, I intend to start a stacking worm unit and want to mix both bins. Will that be ok if I have two separate types of worms?

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