| Article Index |
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| Earthworm Composting with Red Wigglers |
| Starting a bin |
| Harvesting |
| Reproduction |
| Worm Castings |
| Feeding Red-Wigglers |
| Common Worm-farm Problems |
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Page 4 of 7
- Reproduction
Worm Capsules (Eggs) and Babies
· Each worm is both male and female, and can produce as well as fertilize eggs.· The swollen white band on the worm’s body will shed and become an egg (or cocoon) in approximately three weeks.
· On average about 4 baby worms hatch per capsule.
· Capsules take about 3 - 4 weeks to hatch.
· 1000 capsules can be expected to yield about 4000 worms (about a kilo when hey are adult size).
· Numbers of capsules and hatching will depend on the season and bedding temperature and the correct moisture level (damp) of the bedding.
· Babies are hard to see and may take a week or two to be visible.
· When capsules are a rusty brown colour, they are close to hatching. If they are transparent, the babies have probably hatched.
· New baby worms are transparent, with a slight red tinge. Can sometimes be seen crawling on the sides or lid of your worm bin.
· The worms will reach breeding age in about 2 or 3 months, and maturity in about12 months.
· When worms mate they look like they are 'knotted' together.
· Once new worms hatch you will notice an increase in the feeding rate. (Worm
population will have doubled). Increase food.
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