I've been reading the threads and have seen no info. on using rabbit droppings and feed waste for worms. Several years ago there was an article where someone had put the worm beds under the rabbit cages. Does this work? We have several rabbits (20 is several for 2 people) so would need to know how many worms, how big and many beds, etc. Also, it can get 110 deg. in the summer and -15 deg. in winter. How do we keep the worms in winter. We are just getting started so any help would be great. Thanks, Dave

-- Dave (drcomer@rr1.net), March 19, 2001

Answers

I tried this and had trouble, It should work but as you know there aew wet spots under rabbit cages and they can be to wet for the worms. The red worms I brought came from a man who raised them under his rabbits so I don't know the answer but I do know you need to watch for the wet spots Grant

-- grant (organicgrange@yahoo.com), March 19, 2001.

When I was a kid we raised rabbits and a lady we knew had worms under her rabbits so we put a 2x4 around the bottom of our cage to let the manure collect and put in the worms the only problem we had it that the worms mulitplied so fast. we did put some chopped corn on the beds once in a while for extra feed and some lettuce scraps. They did fine no extra fine. dale

-- dale (dgarr@fidnet.com), March 20, 2001.

I raise rabbits and thought about raising worms but decided I just didn't want to work with the wiggling things!But in the back of my Angora rabbit book and some of my other books they talk about it working really well and being a good source of income!

I think they bury down and basically kept theirselves warm in winter...plus the rabbit droppings composting adds warmth also.

My late grandpa raised worms in a bed to sell but he didn't have rabbits. He just had two big areas in the back yard that had boards around them about six inches tall and his worms were in there.

We have lots and lots and lots of worms in the garden where I've been dumping the rabbit droppins all winter so I know they do well in it.

If you'd like me too, I'll be glad to see if I can find the article inthe back of one of those books. Just e-mail me direct and I'll try to find it.

-- Suzy in Bama (slgt@yahoo.com), March 20, 2001.

I have rabbits,, and I cant keep enough manure. People buy it from me for their gardens and such, since it can be applied fresh without burniung the plants.

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), March 20, 2001.

Yup!! I do this. My worm bin is a lot more shallow than most recommend, but it works. Its low so that the ammonia from the bunny urine won't cause a problem. As for the heat - just make sure you keep the bin really moist (not wet) and they should be fine.

I have a hutch that holds 4 does. Its 8 foot long, 2 1/2 deep. It hangs so that the does are at my chest height (about 4 feet at the roof). The bin is made of 1/6, about 18 inches tall. It fits as if it were the bottom of the hutch, but sits about three feet below it. I used old roofing tin to cover the front to keep the critters (dogs and cat) out, and it stays pretty dark, but not totally as is recommended.

Went to the bait store and bought four dozen worms (Who knew they were THAT much $????) anyway, they are all doing well, and multiplying. I didn't pay attention to what I bought, but know they aren't red 'wigglers', as those aren't sold up here anymore.

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), March 20, 2001.

Thanks so much for all of your replies. I'm convinced to try a bed under the worms. Will wait a while though because we are still having freezing nights in central Illinois. Thanks again, Dave

-- Dave (drcomer@rr1.net), March 20, 2001.

OOPS, guess I need a bed under the worms as well as over them. You probably figured out what was meant. Thats my first mistake since the last one. Thanks again, dave

-- Dave (drcomer@rr1.net), March 21, 2001.

Talk about timing, the new issue of Countryside has a website that covers all the bases of worm raising under rabbits. It's www.cyberstreet.com/kwfarm/. Kay Smith did a bang-up job on this. I've got a worm bed going but will wait till warmer weather to try it under the rabbits. Can you believe it, a high temperature of 38 deg. on April 17 in central Illinois? Whew! Dave

-- Dave (drcomer@rr1.net), April 15, 2001.