Breeder Bin Bait Trap Result and How Breeder Traps are Different from Grow Out Bin Traps.

Summary

In this educational video, Jayne from RockinWorms demonstrates a method for efficiently resetting a breeder bin for worm farming. Using a bait trap, she gathers worms into a condensed area before transferring them to a new bin with a moist, nutrient-rich bedding. Jayne explains the importance of moisture for breeding success and contrasts this process with baiting out in growout bins. The video highlights the benefits of the bait trap method, including time-saving and ease of cocoon collection, ultimately aiming to streamline worm breeding operations.

Takeaways

• 🐛 The video is about resetting a breeder bin for worms, specifically using a bait trap to gather breeders into a condensed area for moving to a new bin.
• 📦 Jayne demonstrates preparing a new breeder bin with damp newspaper and a mixture of pre-post sifted cow manure, worm chow, veggie powder, grit, and moisture to encourage cocoon production.
• 🌱 The importance of a moist environment for breeder bins is emphasized, as it is conducive to maximizing cocoon production.
• 🍄 The presence of additional biota, such as fungi, in the breeder bin is highlighted as a positive aspect, providing food for the worms.
• 陷 The bait trap method is used to efficiently move breeders from an old bin to a new one, with the intention of speeding up the process compared to manual picking.
• 🔄 Jayne discusses the difference between baiting out in a breeder bin versus a grow-out bin, noting that breeders are not allowed to forage due to the need to maintain their health for breeding.
• 💧 The contrast in moisture levels between breeder bins, which are kept damp, and grow-out bins, which are kept drier for ease of castings harvesting, is explained.
• 🕊️ The bait trap in the breeder bin works by providing a concentrated area of food and moisture, which attracts the worms, despite the bins already being quite moist.
• 📝 Jayne shares her experience timing a full breeder bin reset, which took approximately 25 minutes and 46 seconds, and how the bait trap method saved time.
• 🧹 After moving the worms, the remaining material in the old bin is used to clean off any attached cocoons, which are then collected separately.
• 🔄 The process of resetting the breeder bin not only involves moving the worms but also collecting cocoons and integrating a bit of the old bedding into the new bin for the worms' comfort.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of using a bait trap in the breeder bin reset process?

The bait trap is used to gather the breeders into a condensed area so they can be easily moved and mass-transferred to a new breeder bin for the next breeding cycle.

Why is the breeder bin kept very moist according to Jayne?

The breeder bin is kept very moist to maximize cocoon production, as a damp environment is conducive to the breeding worms' health and reproduction.

What are the contents of the breeder bin that Jayne has prepared for the worms?

The breeder bin contains pre-post sifted cow manure, worm chow, veggie powder, grit in the form of oyster shell flour or powdered eggshells, possibly azomite, and a significant amount of moisture.

What is the significance of additional biota growing in the breeder bin?

The additional biota, such as fungi and mushrooms, serve as a source of food for the worms, contributing to their health and the overall success of the breeding process.

How does Jayne ensure the breeder bin is ready to receive the breeders from the bait trap?

Jayne aerates the bin to ensure it is not too compacted and is ready for the worms, providing a good environment for them to thrive after being transferred from the bait trap.

What is the difference between a bait out trap in a breeder bin and a growout bin according to the script?

For a growout bin, worms are allowed to go into a forage mode before baiting out, making them hungrier and more attracted to the bait trap. In contrast, breeders are not foraged and are always provided with enough food, so they are less driven by hunger when attracted to the bait trap.

Why does Jayne not let the breeders forage before setting up a bait trap?

Jayne does not let the breeders forage because she wants them to be focused on breeding rather than finding food, ensuring they remain healthy and ready to reproduce.

How does Jayne collect the worms from the bait trap and move them to the new breeder bin?

Jayne uncovers the bait trap and quickly moves the worms, one by one, into the new breeder bin to minimize their exposure to light, which would cause them to retreat back into the bedding.

What is the benefit of having a moist bait trap when doing a bait out in a growout bin?

A moist bait trap is attractive to worms in a growout bin because it provides a sudden area of high moisture, which the worms need to breathe and are naturally drawn to.

How does Jayne ensure that the breeder bin remains obstacle-free for the worms?

Jayne carefully removes any foreign objects, such as sticks, that may have accidentally entered the bin with the pre-compost or sifted manure to maintain a clean environment for the worms.

What is Jayne's strategy for collecting cocoons after moving the worms to the new breeder bin?

Jayne scrapes off the top layer of the pre-compost and bedding, allowing any attached cocoons to be left behind and then collected. She also spreads out the material gently to reveal any hidden cocoons for collection.

Why is it important for Jayne to leave some of the original bedding in the new breeder bin?

Leaving some of the original bedding helps the worms feel more at home in the new environment, as it provides a mix of familiar and new bedding, reducing stress and promoting a smoother transition.

How does Jayne address the concern of time consumption in resetting breeder bins?

Jayne uses the bait trap method to expedite the process of picking out the breeders and resetting them into a new bin, which she found to be significantly faster than her previous method.

What does Jayne suggest for those who might have missed some cocoons during the collection process?

Jayne acknowledges that it's okay if a few cocoons are left behind or if some hatchlings appear in the new breeder bin, as long as there aren't too many, as they won't interfere with the breeding process.