Comments on: Aged Manure - Ultimate Food For Red Worms http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-farming/aged-manure-ultimate-food-for-red-worms/ Red Wiggler Worms, European Nightcrawlers and loads of helpful Worm Composting Information Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:57:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Patricia http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-farming/aged-manure-ultimate-food-for-red-worms/#comment-17366 Patricia Tue, 09 Dec 2008 05:26:01 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=224#comment-17366 Nick, I used to work for Home Depot and they DID NOT recommend that product for alot of things. They carried it because it was asked for but it hardly sold. Not knowing where you live I would say save your money. JMO Nick, I used to work for Home Depot and they DID NOT recommend that product for alot of things. They carried it because it was asked for but it hardly sold. Not knowing where you live I would say save your money. JMO

]]> By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-farming/aged-manure-ultimate-food-for-red-worms/#comment-17320 Bentley Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:06:07 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=224#comment-17320 Hi Nick - the manure you are talking about would likely be considered VERY well aged - that stuff is basically fully stabilized compost. It might be ok to use in a worm bed, but I'm not sure how much food value would be left. It is worth trying out though. When I think of aged manure I think of material that still kinda looks like manure, but no longer has the pungent manure smell. Hi Nick - the manure you are talking about would likely be considered VERY well aged - that stuff is basically fully stabilized compost. It might be ok to use in a worm bed, but I’m not sure how much food value would be left. It is worth trying out though.

When I think of aged manure I think of material that still kinda looks like manure, but no longer has the pungent manure smell.

]]> By: Nick http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-farming/aged-manure-ultimate-food-for-red-worms/#comment-17275 Nick Mon, 08 Dec 2008 06:37:57 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=224#comment-17275 Hi Bentley, What exactly constitutes "Aged Manure"? I have no access to a horse stable. Would manure bought at a nursery or Home Depot (bagged), be considered aged? Will it be suitable for feeding my red wigglers? Love your blog! Keep up the great work. Nick Hi Bentley,

What exactly constitutes “Aged Manure”?
I have no access to a horse stable.
Would manure bought at a nursery or Home Depot (bagged), be considered aged? Will it be suitable for feeding my red wigglers?

Love your blog!
Keep up the great work.

Nick

]]> By: Patricia http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-farming/aged-manure-ultimate-food-for-red-worms/#comment-11009 Patricia Wed, 17 Sep 2008 07:57:11 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=224#comment-11009 Sounds good. Maybe I am just overthinking this whole thing. Worms are much easier and less maintainence than cattle and horses. LOL Sounds good. Maybe I am just overthinking this whole thing. Worms are much easier and less maintainence than cattle and horses. LOL

]]> By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-farming/aged-manure-ultimate-food-for-red-worms/#comment-10692 Bentley Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:50:27 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=224#comment-10692 Ok, so in the future you will have water completely free of nitrates and E.coli that you'll be adding to the manure? If so, this certainly won't be an issue. Not sure I'm following re: the link between nitrates and E. coli though - you said "our well water had too many nitrates which can affect animals and E. coli". I don't imagine the nitrates would harm the worms, but you never know - I know that worm growth in their own castings is stunted, so perhaps this is partially due to the nitrate concentrations that increase as a result of vermicomposting. I am more inclined to believe that it is due to the poor nutritional value of the material. Ok, so in the future you will have water completely free of nitrates and E.coli that you’ll be adding to the manure? If so, this certainly won’t be an issue. Not sure I’m following re: the link between nitrates and E. coli though - you said “our well water had too many nitrates which can affect animals and E. coli”.
I don’t imagine the nitrates would harm the worms, but you never know - I know that worm growth in their own castings is stunted, so perhaps this is partially due to the nitrate concentrations that increase as a result of vermicomposting. I am more inclined to believe that it is due to the poor nutritional value of the material.

]]> By: Patricia http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-farming/aged-manure-ultimate-food-for-red-worms/#comment-10674 Patricia Wed, 10 Sep 2008 04:31:41 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=224#comment-10674 Oh sorry forgot to add this. My bins are concrete block and less than 16 inches deep. Nitrates can affect animals with intestional ailments and poor coat condition. If I eventually get a water storage tank I will be filtering out the nitrates and e.coli. Should I expect any changes? I do understand that might be a difficult guestion to answer. TIA Oh sorry forgot to add this. My bins are concrete block and less than 16 inches deep. Nitrates can affect animals with intestional ailments and poor coat condition. If I eventually get a water storage tank I will be filtering out the nitrates and e.coli. Should I expect any changes? I do understand that might be a difficult guestion to answer. TIA

]]> By: Patricia http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-farming/aged-manure-ultimate-food-for-red-worms/#comment-10672 Patricia Wed, 10 Sep 2008 04:20:49 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=224#comment-10672 Bentley, that is what i meant on the water. Even after I water sometimes the water doesn't get all the way down to the bottom so that is why I was thinking drip water system. In regards to the water we were recently told that our well water had too many nitrates which can affect the animals and e.coli. Was curious if that would also affect the worms? I always appreciate your comments. TIA Bentley, that is what i meant on the water. Even after I water sometimes the water doesn’t get all the way down to the bottom so that is why I was thinking drip water system. In regards to the water we were recently told that our well water had too many nitrates which can affect the animals and e.coli. Was curious if that would also affect the worms? I always appreciate your comments. TIA

]]> By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-farming/aged-manure-ultimate-food-for-red-worms/#comment-10626 Bentley Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:20:43 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=224#comment-10626 Hi Patricia, That is really odd that manure could be wet on top yet dry down below - generally, the only way this could happen is if you are hot composting (since water vapor would leave the hot zones down below). Or perhaps you mean that even with watering the manure, the water isn't getting down very deep? Letting your manure age for only a few days certainly won't get rid of any nutritional value - this only happens over the course of months as the manure gradually turns to compost. Not sure I follow re: the nitrates and e. coli. The vermicomposting process generally promotes nitrification - meaning the end material generally has more nitrate than the starting material (where organic N and ammonium would be dominant). There has also been quite a bit of research to show that vermicomposting can kill pathogens like E. coli. Not sure if any of that is helpful, but I figured it was worth mentioning. B Hi Patricia,
That is really odd that manure could be wet on top yet dry down below - generally, the only way this could happen is if you are hot composting (since water vapor would leave the hot zones down below). Or perhaps you mean that even with watering the manure, the water isn’t getting down very deep?

Letting your manure age for only a few days certainly won’t get rid of any nutritional value - this only happens over the course of months as the manure gradually turns to compost.

Not sure I follow re: the nitrates and e. coli. The vermicomposting process generally promotes nitrification - meaning the end material generally has more nitrate than the starting material (where organic N and ammonium would be dominant). There has also been quite a bit of research to show that vermicomposting can kill pathogens like E. coli.
Not sure if any of that is helpful, but I figured it was worth mentioning.

B

]]> By: Patricia http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-farming/aged-manure-ultimate-food-for-red-worms/#comment-10611 Patricia Tue, 09 Sep 2008 07:19:07 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=224#comment-10611 Bentley, I read and reread your post and I think all of your responses apply. Our weather has been in the 90's consistently and it is hard trying to keep them moist. When I had checked my aging manure it was wet on top but dry and gray underneath. I do see alot of different sizes and shades of red when I am harvesting. what I might do is run a soaker hose across the top of my shade frame and just let it drip down until this weather breaks a bit. My manure is aged for a few days in the stalls and then put into a bin right away. Just for grins, when do you think manure starts to lose it nutritional value? Also, do worms respond to water conditions in regard to nitrates and e.coli? Or are they immune to that stuff. TIA Patricia Bentley, I read and reread your post and I think all of your responses apply. Our weather has been in the 90’s consistently and it is hard trying to keep them moist. When I had checked my aging manure it was wet on top but dry and gray underneath. I do see alot of different sizes and shades of red when I am harvesting. what I might do is run a soaker hose across the top of my shade frame and just let it drip down until this weather breaks a bit. My manure is aged for a few days in the stalls and then put into a bin right away. Just for grins, when do you think manure starts to lose it nutritional value? Also, do worms respond to water conditions in regard to nitrates and e.coli? Or are they immune to that stuff. TIA Patricia

]]> By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-farming/aged-manure-ultimate-food-for-red-worms/#comment-10413 Bentley Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:29:03 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=224#comment-10413 Hi Patricia, I am really surprised to hear that your worms are not getting bigger in manure - it is pretty well the ultimate material for optimal worm nutrition. How fresh is the manure you are using? If it has been allowed to age for too long it can lose a lot of its nutritional value. Dry conditions can also result in smaller worms - how is the moisture content of your manure? Some strains of Red Worms just seem to be naturally small, even when fully grown. Interestingly enough I do know of a population of small Red Worms that live in manure heaps (owned by a worm farming friend). How big are yours and how big do you want them? It may just be a matter of perspective as well. B Hi Patricia,
I am really surprised to hear that your worms are not getting bigger in manure - it is pretty well the ultimate material for optimal worm nutrition. How fresh is the manure you are using? If it has been allowed to age for too long it can lose a lot of its nutritional value. Dry conditions can also result in smaller worms - how is the moisture content of your manure?

Some strains of Red Worms just seem to be naturally small, even when fully grown. Interestingly enough I do know of a population of small Red Worms that live in manure heaps (owned by a worm farming friend).

How big are yours and how big do you want them?
It may just be a matter of perspective as well.

B

]]>