Breeder Bin Managing to Success - Module 4: Breeder Cycle Length 21 Days or ??!
Summary
TLDRIn this video, Jayne from Rock and Worms delves into the 21-day breeder bin cycle for red wigglers, discussing its effectiveness compared to other composting worms like African night crawlers and Indian blues. Jayne questions the standard 21-day cycle, suggesting a 16-17 day cycle may be more efficient for her bins. She emphasizes the importance of timing to manage worm hatching and optimize casting quality, offering practical insights into maintaining breeder bins and improving worm breeding outcomes. Jayne encourages viewers to adapt worm-keeping practices to their specific needs and invites feedback on breeder bin management.
Takeaways
- 🐛 The video is part of a series on managing red wiggler worm breeder bins for success.
- 📅 The standard 21-day breeder bin cycle is discussed, but the presenter suggests that it may not be the optimal cycle for all worm species.
- 🔍 Jayne, the presenter, questions the 21-day cycle, sharing her thoughts on whether it's the best practice for red wigglers.
- 🕊 Jayne observes that other worm species, like African nightcrawlers and Indian blues, may have different breeding cycles.
- 📝 The importance of a flat surface in the breeder bin is highlighted, indicating a healthy worm population.
- 🧐 Jayne shares her experience that hatchlings appear earlier than the 21-day mark, sometimes as early as 14-15 days.
- 🌱 The hatching cycle of cocoons is mentioned to be around 20-27 days, but Jayne finds variations in her bins.
- 📦 The process of resetting the breeder bin is discussed, including the removal of breeders and the drying down of the bedding.
- 🌿 The presenter prefers to sift castings without many juvenile worms to avoid them ending up in the garden.
- 🤔 Jayne suggests considering a shorter or longer breeder bin cycle based on the specific conditions and behaviors of the worms.
- 🌳 The video encourages viewers to share their experiences and thoughts on managing breeder bins, emphasizing the value of shared knowledge.
Q & A
What is the main focus of Jayne's worm channel?
-Jayne's worm channel primarily focuses on red wigglers, a type of composting worm, and shares information about managing breeder bins for success.
What is the significance of the 21 Day breeder bin cycle mentioned in the script?
-The 21 Day breeder bin cycle is a standard practice for managing red wiggler breeder bins, but the script suggests that it might not be the optimal cycle for all situations.
Why does Jayne believe the 21 Day cycle might not be the best for her situation?
-Jayne observes that in her breeder bins, there is a fair amount of hatching happening before the 21 days are up, suggesting that the cycle might be too long for her specific conditions.
What are 'red wigglers' in the context of the script?
-Red wigglers are a type of composting worm that Jayne focuses on in her channel. They are known for their ability to efficiently break down organic matter.
How does Jayne manage the bedding in her breeder bins?
-Jayne manages the bedding by ensuring it is moist, which is conducive to breeding, and then drying it down after resetting the breeder bin to make sifting more efficient.
What is the purpose of the 'piling up' procedure Jayne mentions?
-The 'piling up' procedure helps Jayne to remove most of the cocoons from the old breeder bin cycle, starting the new cycle with as few cocoons as possible.
How does Jayne differentiate between worms that are breeders and those that are not?
-Jayne looks for certain characteristics such as size and developmental stage. She gently picks out juveniles and places them in a holding bin.
What is the term used for the waste product of worm composting?
-The term used for the waste product of worm composting is 'castings'.
Why might someone choose to extend the breeder bin cycle beyond 21 days?
-One might choose to extend the cycle if the bedding is not breaking down quickly, as it gives the worms more time to breed without negatively affecting cocoon production.
What does Jayne suggest for managing the castings after sifting?
-Jayne suggests sifting the castings and putting them directly into the garden or plants as soon as possible to avoid having to store them for an extended period.
What is the term 'finishing castings' referring to in the script?
-Finishing castings refers to the process of allowing the castings to sit for a few months, typically three, to give any remaining worms and cocoons time to hatch and grow before being used in the garden.
Outlines
🐛 Introduction to Red Wiggler Breeder Bin Management
In this introductory paragraph, Jayne from Rock and Worms introduces the topic of the 21-day breeder bin cycle for red wigglers, a type of composting worm. She mentions that other worm species may have different cycles, but the 21-day cycle is considered the standard for red wigglers. Jayne expresses her thoughts on whether this cycle is truly optimal and sets the stage for a discussion on breeder bin management for success.
📅 The 21-Day Breeder Bin Cycle and Hatching Observations
Jayne discusses the typical 21-day breeder bin cycle, which is based on the hatching cycle of most worm cocoons. However, she notes that in her experience, hatchlings often appear earlier, around the 14th or 15th day. She explains that while the 21-day cycle is a rule of thumb, it may not be ideal for all situations. Jayne also describes her process of resetting the breeder bin and her preference for doing so before many hatchlings appear.
🔍 Identifying and Handling Juvenile Worms in Breeder Bins
In this paragraph, Jayne focuses on the presence of juvenile worms in the breeder bin, which can come from early-hatched cocoons or previous cycles. She explains her method of gently removing these juveniles and placing them into a holding bin with cocoons and unprocessed bedding. Jayne emphasizes the importance of finding a 'sweet spot' in the breeding cycle to minimize the presence of juveniles in the final castings.
🌱 Adjusting Breeder Bin Cycle Length for Different Bedding Conditions
Jayne explores the idea of adjusting the breeder bin cycle length based on the type of bedding used. If the bedding takes longer to break down, a longer cycle might be beneficial without negatively affecting cocoon production. She advises worm keepers to consider their specific circumstances and adjust the cycle accordingly to optimize worm breeding and bedding processing.
🤔 Reflecting on Breeder Bin Cycle Practices and Encouraging Discussion
In the concluding paragraph, Jayne invites viewers to share their thoughts and experiences with managing breeder bins and cycle lengths. She emphasizes the importance of learning from one another and adjusting practices based on individual worm keeping conditions. Jayne also encourages viewers to like, subscribe, and share the channel to support its growth.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Red Wigglers
💡Breeder Bin
💡21-Day Breeder Bin Cycle
💡Cocoon
💡Hatchlings
💡Worm Chow
💡Bedding
💡Sifting
💡Casting
💡Worm Keepers
💡Rules of Thumb
Highlights
Introduction to the 21 Day Breeder Bin Cycle for Red Wigglers, a standard practice in worm composting.
Different composting worms, such as African Night Crawlers and Indian Blues, may have different breeding bin cycles.
The importance of a flat surface in breeder bins for optimal worm activity.
The discovery that hatchlings appear earlier than the 21-day cycle in breeder bins.
The challenge of separating cocoons from breeders to avoid early hatchlings in new bins.
The suggestion that the 21-day cycle may not be optimal for all conditions and setups.
The personal preference for resetting breeder bins around day 17 or 18 to avoid too many hatchlings.
The explanation of the 'piling up' procedure to remove most cocoons from old breeder bins.
The observation of juvenile worms in breeder bins, indicating early hatching from current cycle cocoons.
The practical approach of picking out juvenile worms and placing them in a holding bin.
The strategy to find a 'sweet spot' in the breeding cycle to maximize efficiency and minimize hatchlings in castings.
The consideration of drying down bedding before sifting to improve the process and reduce the inclusion of juveniles in castings.
The concept of 'finishing castings' and its role in allowing for additional hatching and growth of worms before use in gardens.
The option to extend the breeder bin cycle beyond 21 days if bedding takes longer to break down.
The emphasis on adapting the breeder bin cycle to individual worm-keeping circumstances for optimal results.
A call to action for worm keepers to share their experiences and learn from each other's practices.
Transcripts
hi everyone I'm Jayne at Rock and worms welcome to my worm Channel where we
focus mostly on red wigglers what I'm going to be talking to you about today
is the fourth module in my breeder bin managing for Success little series
and specifically this topic is going to talk about the 21 Day breeder bin cycle
that is practically carved and stone for managing your red Wiggler
breeder bins and I want to say red wiggler because other composting worms
use a different length of breeder bin cycling for example my understanding is
the African night crawlers use more of a fort 14 day cycle and even the Indian
Blues use a slightly shorter cycle than 21 days but red wigglers 21 days that's
the Canon except should it be and that's what I want to talk to you about today
because I have some thoughts on whether that 21 day cycle is really what I
should be using and what you should be using Okay so let's get into a breeder
bin that I do have to reset so you can have something better than me
to look at pulling back the newspaper they didn't eat the
newspaper a lot this time um I don't know if it's because I just
gave them a little bit more you know worm Chow because although I gave you
um you know my brooder bin feeding recipe so to speak I do eyeball it more
times than not but I am in that ballpark so sometimes I could you know give them
more warm chow or more vegetable powder than I do on other times also I do not
know exactly how many worms are in this breeder bin it should be somewhere
around 882 but I haven't counted them for uh
two cycles okay so first off uh before I get into the cycle length question you
can see this nice flat surface this is what you you should be seeing in your
breeder bins and even your girl out bins when you you know leave them alone for
at least a sub you know several days because they're worm action of you know
you know squiggling and wiggling and Diving down and Diving up tends to
flatten out the surface of your bin so if you ever go in into your bin and you
see that your top is all you know wonky woodled you know like this you know just
kind of all up and stuff and you think you've got worms in there be concerned
okay just as a heads up something's going on all right but anyways back to
today's topic so what I'm going to do is uh you know start pulling out
breeders out of this bin and talk to you about
the 21 Day breeder cycle now I will say that this specific bin is actually on
day 21 but I would prefer it to be more on day
17 or 18. um and let me tell you why
now the 21 Day cycle is the norm because
the hatching cycle for most cocoons not all cocoons but most cocoons is
somewhere around 20 3 to 27 days I've I've read you know
both numbers I don't know if again it's just that range for most of them because
cocoons will hatch when cocoons hatch okay so
um so 21 days however what I have found in my breeder
bins is that I get a fair amount of hatching AKA little you know wisps and
hatchlings way earlier than 21 days
um they start more at 14 15 you know that type of time frame and that's not
from cocoons that I think inadvertently became uh you know introduced to the new
breeder bin by you know sticking to the body of a breeder like for example you
can see right there there's a cocoon and it's kind of stuck to the breeder body
and also or simultaneously you know the little bit of bedding right and here's
some more okay so sometimes you know old older cocoons or cocoons from your
previous cycle do come along with your breeders
and you know so you're gonna get some hatching some Wisps in your breeder
bin you know it's almost unavoidable unless you're like really gonna spend a
lot of time making sure each and every cocoon does not go into your breeder bin
frankly I don't think it's worth your time to do that certainly not worth my
time a few little wisps um are not going to slow down the
breeding ability the meet and greet of your breeders to any significant amount
of time to be worth you know your time making sure all the cocoons absolutely
come out okay um and then of course I do this pile up
uh procedure now when I put my breeders in the new bin because
um that does help me get most of the cocoons out
you know out of the old breeder cycle and uh so the new breeder bin
cycle starts with as few cocoons as possible but anyways back to the um yeah
the 21 Day cycle so I find that I get a fair amount of hatchings before the 21
days is up even from newly laid cocoons and
I think one the uh cocoon hatching cycle isn't as well known as we
like to think it is here is a juvenile right here can you see that
let me uh put them out okay so this juvenile can either be from a cocoon
that hatched very early on in the 21 Day breeder bin cycle or it could be what I
was just talking about a a a wisp that hatched
early in the bin cycle but it came from a cocoon from the previous cycle if you
follow that and what I'm going to do with this little guy
is I'm just gonna pick them out let me pick them out
gently gently oh he's longer than I thought he was okay
and I'm going to put him into this holding bin here which is uh you know
cocoons and unprocessed bedding that I sifted out of a a different breeder bit
okay and uh so anyway so that's an example of
uh you know what you can find in your breeder bins that aren't breeders right
and I'm sure I will come across some much smaller hatchlings as I go through
this because when I reset my other bins I certainly did but all right so cocoons
hatch when they hatch right and it's you know 21 days 23 days 27 days but
sometimes I think it is less because I am you know seeing
really small young babies in my bins that have to be
from I'm just looking to see if I can find any right off the top that have to
be from cocoons from this current cycle so since I want to
have as few as these wisps
and hatching cocoons in my new breeder bin as possible I want to do the breeder
bin reset in that sweet spot between having the
Breeders have enough time to you know breed and and also process the uh the
bedding so I get a good casting call out of it as well but before I get a lot of
babies because sifting with babies is not you
know not the greatest thing to do because
those little babies oh that's not one these little babies will go through
the uh you know the screening of the 1 8 and then sometimes you know
through the 112th as well here's another juvenile
that is from an older cocoon okay
again I'm just going to put that in there
I'm thinking this bin was set up right before I started this new process of of
piling up my breeders so I could better
take off their tacumes that do stick to their body
and that's why I'm getting a you know a few more older worms now what I'm hoping
for again is to come across some babies to show you in this bin now I will admit
that it's a little bit harder for me to find things when I'm talking to you
because you know I'm concentrating on what I'm saying and not quite as much as
what I'm seeing in the bin and uh you know or the activity that I'm doing
picking out these worms so let me see if I can find
some babies
yeah they're gonna they're gonna make a liar out of me
darn worms okay anyways the fact of the matter is
whether we find any in here right now while I'm you know working on this
they're there okay I can tell you 100 they're there I've seen them many times
so since I don't want to sift with a a lot of juveniles or babies in
my castings okay my my leftover bedding what I want to do again is find that
sweet spot where the Breeders have enough time to do their breeding job but
the cocoon's really really really don't have time to hatch
okay so what I'm figuring out is that for me The Sweet
Spot is right around day 16 day 17. now that also gives me a day or two
to dry down this bedding because the bedding in the
breeder bin is very moist because breeders do better breeding jobs when
their bedding is very moist but of course if it's very moist it's also very
very hard to sift so if I can reset my breeder bins say a day you know 16 and
by resetting I mean pull out the Breeders and put them in their new
breeder bin that means in the old breeder bin what I have is just process
bedding cocoons and whisks so I can then dry down that combination
much drier than I would if I still had the breeders
in it and because I can dry down the bedding with the the cocoons and with
some of the juveniles in it much drier that means I can sift it out much more
efficiently all right and again if I have less hatches
when I'm sifting I'm not getting a lot of babies into my castings because I
prefer to basically sift my castings and put
them in my castings bucket and get them out to the Garden get them out to the
plants as soon as I can okay um lots of worm keepers
will finish their castings which is just the term used
for putting your castings in your castings bucket but not
putting them out into your garden for several months usually about three
months seems to be the norm the average because that three-month time frame does
give any wisps and cocoons that are in your castings a chance to hatch and also
grow up enough that they can beat feet to a bait cup and then get captured in
that bait cup and easily pulled out of the castings put back into uh you know
grow out bin for example and then the quote cleaner castings can go out to the
Garden okay so that's just what finishing your castings means but again
I don't have a lot of extra storage space so if I have storage space I
actually want to be putting a worm bin in there and not a castings bucket so
those casting buckets I want to keep to a minimum
and that means I you know send my castings out to the Garden as quickly as
possible all right so here's another thing too uh you know
itself when you're thinking about gee do I you know want to go with a 21 day
cycle or do I want to make it shorter which is what I'm talking about but
maybe you can go with a longer breeder bin
cycle now why could you or would you want to do that
well if you're using bedding that perhaps your worms do not process and
break down into the uh you know massive amounts of castings in their breeder bin
right if your bedding is primarily unprocessed it just takes longer than a
21 day cycle then you know you can just leave your your breeders in there
there's plenty of bedding and food and they're already dealing with probably a
fair amount of quote obstacles in their way to meet and greet because if your
bedding isn't you know breaking down quickly into these finer particles your
worms when they're trying to find each other are kind of like bumping in to you
know your your your shred your leaves you know whatever is in your your straw
whatever is in your bedding that are larger particles and you know
working their way around that to find their mate so if they happen to be also
working around um you know baby worms or or cocoons you
know how much of a an additional hindrance is that really probably not
that much which means on the good side you know you can let that breeder bin go
a little bit longer maybe even a couple weeks longer than 21 days and not
negatively affect overall your cocoon production
all right and what the longer here here's a worm here's a baby right here
finally yay okay right here seam right there okay
so this is a a hatchling and he's you know I don't know what his
birth date is oh here's another one and here's another one okay so here I
found a pocket here let me get rid of this little handful of breeders there we
go all right so this is what I'm talking about this is a 21 day old breeder bin
and these are hatchlings that are you know at least the day or two days old
maybe even more you know like I said I don't know I don't know their lives
right I don't know their birthdays but this is what I'm talking about because
if I'm sifting these castings okay it's very
easy for these very small worms to be attached to a piece
of uh castings of batting and go through my sifts okay so if I can just you know
catch them before they're hatched and they're in those cocoons it's easier for
the sieves the sifters at the uh 112th level to catch these cocoons so they
don't go into your castings all right does that make some sense all
right what I'm going to do is just take a second here and gently get these guys
off of my gloves as best I can it's a little hard because they like to
stick and I gotta reach over the bed but all right that's fine it's fine I got it
okay thank you um all right so there is an example
of um you know hatching that goes on in
your bin before the 21 Day and like I said if you're in a position
where you know your bedding is lasting longer than 21 days
then you know Let it go longer than 21 days it's probably not going to make
much of a difference on your on your breeder production all right
so uh that's what I wanted you to just start thinking about just start
considering what works best for you um you know we have lots of rules of
thumb in Warren keeping the 21 Day breeder bin
cycle is one of them but you know it is a rule of thumb it shouldn't be taken as
again etched in stone you need to think about
what works best for you and your worms and what your specific circumstances are
and how things can and should be adjusted so the
outcome is the best you can get all right so that's what it is if you have
any questions or comments about how you run your Buddha bins and what you're
doing as far as your breeder bin cycle length I'd love to hear about it because
again we always can learn from each other all right so I hope you have a
good day oh don't forget to like And subscribe and share if you can the
channel is growing very nicely and of course I'd like to continue to have that
happen all right so I am yours in the dirt Jayne
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