Why are y compost worms drowning themselves in the drip tray?

Why are my worms all in the drip tray?

16/12/2015

Worms are instinctive creatures, and they don't lose that instinct once they are in a worm farm.
In nature, their instinct helps them survive, but in a worm farm, that same instinct can get them into a lot of trouble!
Why worms head down into the drip tray:

Escape from heat
Protection from predators
Prevent drying out

What they didn't count on was the underground lake (drip tray)!
Worms aren't particularly good swimmers with their lack of limbs and life jackets. When they get down into the drip tray it can spell disaster.
It is best to leave the tap open so that the underground lake is more of a puddle, giving your worms the best chance of survival.
In summer you may even need to do rescue missions to get the worms out of the drip tray and back up into the farm. In particularly hot weather, freeze some of your food scraps before putting them in the worm farm. The worms will then move towards or away from the frozen scraps to regulate their temperature.

7 Comments

24/5/2020 12:54:45 pm

I’m having that problem. It’s not the weather, as we are entering winter over here and it’s perfect for them. I have tried everything: leaving lid open so mites or other insects moved out; starve them a bit and just give newspapers and cardboard cut into small pieces so PH levels were healthier; now I’m giving them blended vegetables and not disturbing them, and yet they aren’t eating it. Yesterday I placed a wet newspaper cover thinking they may be too dry but didn’t help. But bottom tray is full of them today. I just don’t understand what the problem is. The bin has never smelt and I haven’t changed their diet, just peelings and scraps of fruit and vegetables, no onions and some newspapers. I started also a new bin but it hasn’t helped.

Robin watson

29/7/2022 12:15:49 pm

Haven the same trouble

Michael Maxwell

15/12/2020 04:27:47 pm

We are having the same problem. 36 celcius yesterday. Thousands have come to the top while thousands went down only to drown. Kept bedding moist and they have plenty of food. We are dumbfounded.

kosie krige

23/2/2022 04:03:12 pm

Is there a specific method to get the worm out of the bottom tray

Compost Community

24/2/2022 05:29:18 pm

I just pop on gloves, scoop them out and pop them back inthe top tray.

Lisa Mann

12/3/2023 05:49:55 am

I’m new at worm composting (only a month) and I bought a worm compost bin to use first to get the hang of it. Today I lifted my first tray, and I had about 10 worms on my catch board. When I go to airate or feed my worms, I always see them on top of my moist newspaper or under it. I am so ocd, I bought a stupid meter to show me if the soil is too wet & it’s perfect. So idk why some of my worms are going past my newspaper lining to try to escape. I keep my composter inside. Right now it’s in my bathroom.

Miller

24/9/2023 03:41:55 pm

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Why are my worms all in the drip tray?

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