New Worms Experiments

I have had an itch for more worms since my original batch suddenly died due to a newbie mistake of adding fresh rabbit manure. But one problem is I am still not sure whether it was because the manure was 'fresh' meaning not composted or because it was saturated with urine turned ammonium. At any rate, it was a big mistake.

You see we got a new bunny for the purpose of breeding and composting. For now I am just trying to keep him alive through winter. Perhaps, we will find him a mate in spring.

After we got Jack home, it was time to clean his cage. Let the fun begin! It seemed the bedding was already full. We moved him to a wire cage with tray underneath to catch droppings. He is living up to his part in providing plenty of manure.

It seems to me, though, that rabbit manure is just too hot when it is fresh. But many blogs have stated they put worm bins right under their hutches. This leaves me a little confused. My experience has been overnight worm death when rabbit manure is used. Again the questions, Is the manure too hot or too full of urine.

Last night, I bought fresh worms and separated them into two containers. One with just newspaper bedding, the other with newspaper bedding and manure. This morning, I found the 18 worms in bedding only, which we will call the "control group", happy and wiggling. The other 18 worms were dead, except for one. What is that yellow stuff they excrete out of their skin?! Too hot, too much salt from the manure or ammonia or too much nitrogen. It was much sadder than watching slugs die under the torturist attack of the angry salt shaker. Further tests will follow...