Breeding worms as a business is an excellent option for generating income without serious financial costs. Starting capital is minimal, equipment is simple. The technology for growing worms at home does not require special knowledge and skills.

For those who have decided to start a business, selling worms is an excellent option for making a profit with a small start-up capital. High profitability and stable demand will ensure the prosperity of your worm farm. Learn the features of this process, invest some money and get a stable income.

Is there a demand for who the worm buyers are?

Before opening a vermifarm (as a place for breeding worms is called), research who will need your products. "Creeping Workers" provide several valuable products that can be sold:

• actual live worms;
• vermicompost (fertilizer);
• worm tea (vermichay).

To fertilize the soil

Valuable organic fertilizer - vermicompost - is in demand by both summer residents and large farms. Vermicompost increases soil fertility and enriches it with useful substances.

Start with small volumes. Use the humus yourself and sell it to your neighbors in the country. Expanding production will allow us to reach more established customers.

For fishing

It’s rare these days to meet a fisherman who spends time searching for worms for an upcoming fishing trip by digging up the soil. Most people prefer to come and buy bait in fishing stores. The life expectancy of worms is long, and the demand is stable. One individual can be sold for 2 rubles. How many worms do you need for fishing? Minimum 30 pieces. You will sell several packages in a day. The conclusion is obvious.

To the pet store

Birds, fish and other inhabitants of the pet store constantly need live food. The worms will be taken from you with great pleasure.

For fish farms

Owners of fish farms need a large amount of live food. The high nutritional value of worms explains the need for worm farm products.

For feeding plants

Worm tea– a unique product that allows you to increase the yield of fruit and vegetable crops by more than 2 times. Those who will also become your clients. The waste product of the worms is collected in a container. Natural fertilizer can be used for indoor plants and for open and closed ground (in greenhouses).

The production of vermicompost and its demand is described in this video:

Technology Basics

The scheme is as follows:

• Preparing the habitat of your “pets”.
• Purchase of broodstock, consisting of adults, fry and cocoons of worms.
• Moving the family into the prepared “house”.
• Processing of compost by worms and turning the latter into vermicompost after a certain period of time.
• Reproduction of worms.
• Collection of fertile layer, worm tea, live specimens for sale.
• Adding a new layer of nutrient bedding to serve as food for the worms.
• The process begins again.

Nuances and secrets in the process of breeding worms

Take into account the life activity of worms. Your task is to create comfortable conditions for their life and reproduction. A quiet, calm place without vibrations and noise will help achieve good results.

The soil

It is not enough to simply pour soil into a box, populate the worms and wait for them to multiply quickly. The soil in which they live can be divided into three zones:

• Upper layer- food place. You will need soil enriched with nutrients and organic residues;
• Middle layer– the space where the bulk of individuals live;
• bottom layer- the most valuable. Products of soil processing and derivatives of vital activity accumulate here: vermicompost and worm tea.

Temperature

Observe the temperature in the room. The optimal air temperature is from +15C...+25C. There is a type of worm that reproduces well at temperatures of +8C...+30C.

Room area

Please note: worms reproduce quickly. Consider whether you can increase the area of ​​your vermifarm. Prepare a sufficient number of new “homes” for transplanting individuals.

Sale

Year-round farming of worms will require good distribution channels. Study the market and potential buyers in your area, city, village. Focus on the indicators: a stable family, having overwintered in good conditions, will increase almost 10 times!

Basic conditions for engaging in worm breeding - what is needed for this business

Study each item carefully. Creating a home vermifarm is quite simple. Advice from specialists and experienced farmers will help you.

Even some retirees are planning to open a business breeding Californian worms; the main thing is to study the technology and apply it in practice, as described in this video:

What room can be used, requirements for it

Any heated room with normal humidity is suitable:

• garage;
• cellar;
• attic;
• utility extension.

The air temperature should not fall below +4C. The worms will go into hibernation. At temperatures above +36C, individuals will die.

What types of worms are best to use and why?

Various types of worms are suitable for a home worm farm. Pay attention to popular varieties.

Common earthworm

Local worms, well adapted to their habitat, are used because of their rapid adaptation to the conditions of a closed farm in their native soil. Reproduction will begin faster. Disadvantage – vital activity is lower than that of stronger “thoroughbred” species.

California red worm (CRW)

Popular view. When purchasing, make sure that the individuals are mobile and red in color. The breeding stock should be 1500 individuals or more. For 1 cubic meter of soil you will need from 1 to 3 families.

It multiplies quickly and produces high-quality vermicompost. Not picky about food. Does not tolerate temperatures below +10C.

Worm Prospector

Direct competitor to its famous Californian brother. High activity, the ability to efficiently process food, and rapid growth of biomass are characteristics of the Prospector species.

Tolerates temperatures from +9C to +28C well. From 1000 kg of substrate, the yield of vermicompost reaches 60%.

Give preference to industrial types of worms: KPC or Prospector. Productivity is higher than that of a regular earthworm.

What equipment will you need?

To organize a small home vermifarm you will need a minimum amount of equipment and inventory:

• scales;
• sifting sieve;
• wheelbarrow;
• bucket;
• shovel;
• pitchfork;
• instruments that measure soil acidity and temperature;
• room thermometer;
• racks.

Place the main emphasis on the correct arrangement of piles, pits or boxes for growing worms and preparing compost.

Which container and in what cases is it better to use

Where to place newly acquired individuals and where to plant new families? At home, several types of nurseries are used:

• Wooden box

Size: 1m x 2m x 0.5m. Boards – from 25 mm thick. Holes in the bottom will ensure the outflow of valuable liquid. To collect it, the box is installed with a slight slope. At the bottom you need a tray for collecting vermicha. The cover is made of plywood and knocked down boards with holes for ventilation.

• Old refrigerator

All “internals” are removed and the camera is installed with the door facing up. Ventilation holes are needed in the door and walls. Be sure to install the “house” at an angle on the bars.

• Cardboard box

An excellent option to get started. Dimensions of the cardboard nursery box: 400 mm x 300 mm. Eco-friendly material “breathes” well. Worms feed on pieces of cardboard. The box has become damp and thinner - bring a new one.

• Plastic container

There are many varieties: from a large flower pot to a high-quality large plastic container. A prerequisite: access to air, otherwise the worms will suffocate in too wet soil. Drill holes in the walls and lid. Place a basin or tray to collect the vermicelli.

• Special vermicomposter

The most convenient and expensive option for equipment for breeding worms. Most small entrepreneurs use simpler homemade options.

How does a vermicomposter work?

Which soil is better to use and why

The activity of individuals, their reproduction and the rate of processing of organic waste depend on the quality of the soil.

Follow the rules:

• Cover half the container with a layer of humus. You can add some shredded cardboard;
• moisten the mixture. Humidity should not exceed 70-80%;
• after 2-3 days, make several depressions in the soil, populate the worms with part of the soil in which they lived before transplanting into the box;
• Gently level and moisten the soil. Cover the “house” with cardboard;
• wait a couple of days;
• After successful acclimatization, food can be added.

Always do a test placement in a small container. Place 50 to 100 individuals in the substrate. Check after a day to see if they are alive. This way you will know if the acidity of the soil suits your pets.

Optimal indicator:

• from 6.5 to 7.5 pH.

Several dead worms are a signal for a change in acidity.

The following will help improve your performance:

• sawdust or straw;
• plant tops.

To reduce acidity, the following are suitable:

• regular chalk;
• ground shells;
• limestone.

What and how to feed worms

All types of worms have no special food requirements. The value of worms is that they speed up the processing of waste that rots on your site in a compost heap for 1.5 - 2 years several times. Vermicompost for sale and grown worms can be collected every 4-6 weeks.

Basic feeding rules

Worms feed on plant debris that begins to rot and die.

Prohibited:

• meat waste;
• citrus. Increase acidity;
• undiluted kefir. Increases the acidity level of the soil, which leads to the appearance of mold;
• whole peels of vegetables or fruits, cores (freeze or pass the peelings through a meat grinder to destroy the cell walls);
• fresh manure. The rotting substance releases a large number of heat. The temperature will rise to 70C, the worms will die.

• plant remains: cabbage leaves, potato peelings, banana peels, boiled vegetables;
• food waste;
• stale bread, pastries;
• tea leaves and coffee grounds;
• powder eggshells;
• the water you used to rinse the sour cream or kefir jar;
• grass, leaves, straw;
• fermented manure (cow, horse), chicken droppings. Important: Very old manure contains few nutrients.

A new portion of food is added after everything has been eaten. Excess food waste leads to increased acidity and fermentation in the soil.

What packaging options can be used to transfer worms to customers?

Products are packaged in:

• dense plastic bags 150mm x 100mm in size with holes for worms to breathe. Store at a temperature approaching the lower mark. This will make the worms less mobile. A sufficient layer of soil is required. Convenient for fishing shops or individual fishermen;
• cardboard boxes. The weight of the box is within 8 kg. A sufficient layer of substrate is required. The mother colonies tolerate transportation well. The transfer method is suitable for large quantities of goods.

Please note: You must send the buyer a brood colony consisting of cocoons, fry and adults.

Worm implementation options

Use all channels to attract potential buyers. People should learn as much as possible about your products.

How to sell:

• Direct sales method. Go with the goods and offer them to “everything for fishing” stores, pet stores, familiar fishermen, neighbors in the country, farmers. Vermichai is readily accepted by amateur flower growers and avid summer residents.
• Advertising on the Internet: on free message boards such as Avito, on social networks, on a farming or fishing website. Perhaps you have your own website? Use this platform too.

Estimated business profitability

Worm breeding as a business - profitable investment funds. From 2 cubic meters of nursery in a year of successful operation you can get up to 15-20 thousand individuals for sale and about a ton of vermicompost. Just 2 rubles for 1 unit - and you already have 40 thousand rubles. Add the cost of vermicompost and vermicelli.

Taking into account the small initial investment, the break-even point will be passed quickly -

For those who decide to start growing worms for sale, it would be advisable to start with a small home farm in an old refrigerator or wooden box.

Having fully mastered the technology, studied the nuances of the business in practice, and “recruited” clients, you will be able to expand and organize a worm farm on an industrial scale. More substantial investments will be required. At this stage, you can prepare a business plan for breeding worms in order to optimize processes and attract additional Money for development.

A home mini-farm will allow you to accumulate capital sufficient to open a serious production.

Now you know that worm breeding as a business is profitable for you and useful for environment case. Study the technology, establish sales channels - and your business will prosper.

Discussion (20)

Hello, I’m going to start this business with minimal costs (One royal seed) and further development. I'm studying this question it’s long enough, and your article is very good, but I can’t find information anywhere about how long manure (cattle) should sit before the urea comes out and how to speed up this process. I would be very grateful if you help or suggest the necessary literature on which I can prepare in more detail and correctly!!!

I didn't know that worms can hibernate in sub-zero temperatures. In our city, many people sell worms right along the highway when we go to visit another city. And not only in summer. Apparently, this is very profitable, and the hassle is minimal, especially in the summer. My husband buys it from me sometimes, mostly in the fall and winter. And in the summer he digs himself.

It's a good deed. First of all, restoration of ecology, restoration of the humus layer of the soil. Mother Earth will be healthy and grace to humanity. In a good situation and proper balance of forces, the sweat of labor will flow like golden rain.

Subject to the presence of personal subsidiary plots, in home business For breeding worms, it is enough to invest no more than 50 thousand rubles. The main costs will be spent on the purchase of breeding stock and the manufacture of boxes with substance for the winter maintenance of worms. Also, depending on the scale of production, it is necessary to have appropriate food base. Otherwise, the business will not be profitable.

I'm on retirement. Tired of traveling on shifts! Maybe we should also start breeding worms? My son came up with an idea today. I don’t know what to do! Maybe try?

I breed worms in the basement of my house. I started with a small volume. First, a tray near a paid lake - not far from my village. Now there is already a circle of its customers. It's not a bad supplement to your pension. Many fishermen come to the house for bait. Especially in winter and early spring, demand is good.

By the way, I’ve also been involved in this business for 5 years now, breeding worms for fishing, on my summer cottage. The business is great, no investment, it just naturally takes time. I also keep a tent at the market to sell worms, they sell very well! We already have our own clientele.

Yes, business is specific. It would be good if there is a steady demand for such products, and you should at least live in a private house. This is definitely not for everyone, although there will certainly be a demand for such exotica.

I couldn’t ignore this topic, because I remember a real example from the late 90s, when a friend of ours was able to get promoted in this business and rise from scratch. Now he is already a seasoned businessman. And then he was an ordinary labor teacher at a vocational school, then state employees were not paid salaries for several months, and even then, even if they waited for payment, it was only pennies. Which you can’t feed your family with. And he decided to start growing worms, right here in our vocational school, in the back room. The director was aware, but turned a blind eye to it, then everyone survived as best they could.
I remember how we all walked and looked at these worms, if I’m not mistaken, they were red Californian ones (I remember for sure that they were not the usual earthworms). The men made fun of our businessman, the women fumed and turned up their noses. But nevertheless, they borrowed everything from him from paycheck to paycheck, since the profit from this business was obvious, they sold it to pet stores, gardeners, fishermen, they didn’t break the price, and they took it from him willingly.
And he fussed with them like little children. And he constantly monitored the temperature, placed boxes with material at different levels, and observed ventilation regimes. There was once a tragedy that derailed his business - they told him that he needed to add eggshells to the ground for nutrition. Only they didn’t specify that it should be finely ground, just into flour. But he threw it into the ground, just mashed, the worms simply cut themselves when they moved in the soil. Now there is a lot of information on the Internet, and such mistakes can be avoided, but then our businessman collected information bit by bit from the same amateur businessmen in magazines and by calling them around the country.
What I'm getting at is that this business is really profitable, the sales market is huge and wide, if only there was a desire. But you shouldn’t classify it as one of the easiest and quickest to pay off; there are risks, as in any business.
But what does not require huge starting capital and strength even for a pensioner, obviously.

The idea of ​​making money by breeding worms would never even have crossed my mind. I read the entire article, everything turned out to be more than real. But I don’t think that there will be a permanent, stable income from this activity, so you can do this as a hobby, in your free time from work, or for retirees in order to earn extra money and not sit idle. By the way, I think it’s better to breed worms in the city, because to sell “finished” products it’s better to have regular customers who are unlikely to go to your village for a jar of worms. But still, there may well be income from this, and if you wish, you can carefully study all the points and nuances and try to make money on it

A very interesting type of business.
Low-cost, simple and cost-effective.
I think the pitfall of this business will be the sale of products in Russia.
I understand from the article that everything is happening in Latvia.
But what about our 35 degree frosts (I live in the northwest)?
Thank you very much for the valuable information.

It seemed to me that there was nothing left to do in our small town, all the ideas had already been sorted out, but what unexpected ways there are, and yet such a simple solution had to be thought of! We need to think carefully about this, of course, some pitfalls will emerge, but I think everything is quite solvable. The main thing is that no one here is doing this kind of work yet, so we need to hurry up. As they say, everything ingenious is simple!

Live worms are now on sale! Read more detailed description.

Dendrobena (Dendrobena)

We think you will not be able to meet a fisherman in Europe who has not tried fishing with Dendrobena. Since this wonderful worm appeared in European stores 20 years ago, a new era of live bait has begun in the fishing world. The ease of preservation, exceptional fish appeal, combined with the high activity of these worms on the hook have made Dendrobena the most popular worm in Europe today.

Dendrobena is a large and strong worm with highly developed muscles. It stays on the hook for a long time in an active state, and its external characteristics and attractive smell for fish leave no chance for fish to ignore such bait. Of course, this is a very catchy and well-selling worm.

Many call it the ideal worm for fishing. All these advantages of Dendrobena are combined with the possibility of long-term storage and the absence of the need to carry out any manipulations on it during this time. This gives Dendrobena additional preferences in terms of sales organization and distribution methods.

When working with Dendrobena, you must remember that at room temperature the worm is in an active state, it requires food and a certain amount of habitat. In conditions of multi-day fishing, when it is not possible to place the worms in the refrigerator, it is necessary to periodically feed the worms with sleeping tea, well-decomposed peat, crushed potato peelings, wheat bran or other organic material available.

You can also use rotted or old (odorless) manure for these purposes. Don't give the worms too much food at one time. Do this daily, making sure they eat the previous portion. It is also necessary to remember that dairy products, canned vegetables, meat products and bones can cause rapid death of worms. Worms cannot tolerate the smell of pine resin, as well as the entire spectrum of sunlight. Do not leave worms in the sun, even for a short time. Remember that foam packaging is not a barrier to solar radiation.

CANADIAN NIGTH CRAWLERS

To catch a fish, you need to interest it, and to catch a big fish, you need to interest it greatly. There is a formula: “The larger the worm, the larger the fish.” This approach perfectly matches the life aspiration of the fish (to eat) and the goal of the fisherman (to catch). Canadian night crawlers are gigantic in size and are a real heavyweight among live bait. The average weight of one individual is 5-6 g! Of course, this worm is intended for large fish. Imagine what you can catch with such a giant! Its length is up to 15 centimeters. Canadian night crawlers can be recognized by their flattened tail and large “head”. Approximately half of the worms sold in the world are Canadian crawlers.

This type of worm is not bred in captivity - they are collected from natural conditions. There is only a limited region in Canada where this famous fishing worm lives. It is prepared in hundreds of tons, placed in huge refrigerators and then distributed to all fishing countries through a well-functioning system of distributors. Each country has a certain supply quota. Storage and transportation of Canadian hatchlings is carried out only under strict temperature conditions. The presence of a refrigerator at points of sale is necessary. This worm is very sensitive to temperature changes of even 1-2 degrees. So, already at +6°C it becomes active and requires significant space and a large amount of nutrition. At this temperature it cannot be stored in standard packaging for more than one week.
However, at a temperature of +2°C. The worm's life processes are slowed down and Nigth Crawlers can be stored for 4-6 weeks. At the same time, all this time it does not need to replace the substrate. And only if you need to store Canadian for a longer time, replacing the substrate is necessary. In this case, well-decomposed peat of the middle fraction can be used as a habitat for worms.

In conditions of multi-day fishing, when it is impossible to use a refrigerator, it is necessary to place the worm in a cool place and provide it with enough space. In this case, you will be able to keep the worm in good condition for 10 days. Remember that this worm cannot tolerate sunlight. All other conditions usually used for keeping other types of worms also apply.

The price of both types of worms is the same - 160 rubles. There is also a promotion: two packages for 295 rubles!

Choose the optimal location and environment. If you don't mind living near crawling critters, the basement of your home can be one of the most optimal places for worms to live. A warm, dark, dry environment is best. At the same time, the worms are quite hardy and can withstand temperatures from 4 to 27 degrees Celsius. While the environment should be moist, it shouldn't be too wet, so make sure it won't get rain. Also, make sure that the worms are protected from direct sunlight. If you arrange the container well enough, they will be able to survive in lower temperatures, but you should not deprive them of care.

Build a container for your new pets. This doesn't require anything special. If you can't make one yourself, buy a ready-made one, there are a wide variety of worm bins on the market, from plastic to wooden. Wood is considered the optimal material, as it absorbs some of the moisture and is a good insulating substance, unlike plastic, in which the compost can get wet. Chances are you have some stuff around the house that you can use, like old toy boxes or dresser drawers. Anything that can hold a sufficient amount of filling will do. You will need to drill holes in the bottom to allow moisture to escape. If the water is not removed properly, the worms can easily drown.

Prepare a good mixture to fill your worm bin. Crumpled newspapers are an excellent material; Crumpled cardboard, leaves, and other yard debris also work well. A couple of shovels of soil is enough. Worms need some dirt as tough material to digest their food. Use a variety of filling materials; the worms will have more fun, the amount of excrement they excrete will confirm this. Make sure that whatever filling you use is organic, such as paper, and non-toxic. Wet it and squeeze it out so it's a little damp but not wet. Fill the container about 3/4 full and keep it loose so there is enough room for the worms to get oxygen as well as evaporate any bad odors.

Select the type of worms for your new venture. This essentially means that you should decide on the type of clients to whom you will supply the worms. Large, thick night crawlers, such as Canadian mammoths, are suitable for fishing. They do not build a large number of mounds, like, for example, red worms. Red worms, on the other hand, are excellent for creating compost, which is considered a good standard fertilizer by agricultural farmers. By searching online, you can find good suppliers and choose exactly what you need.

Load the container with worms, keeping an eye on the ratio of worms to litter volume. The golden rule in this matter is the ratio of worms to daily food is 2:1. If you have approximately 2 thousand night crawls, then your container should be quite spacious.

Feed the worms daily. A family of four typically produces enough food waste to feed the worms daily. Any type of food is suitable, with the exception of meat, dairy, excessively fatty and grain products. These products are smelly and attract flies. You better not deal with them. Coffee grounds work great; it has sufficient weight and is inexpensive as a food source. Eggshells are no less good. These substances tend to absorb moisture, so by using them you create a good environment and get quality fertilizer in return. Peelings and cores of vegetables and fruits - too a good option. You can also throw in crumpled, soaked newspapers.

Place worm food in one corner of the container. The worms will crawl and eat her. There is no need to scatter food throughout the container. Once the container is filled with excrement and good compost, you can move the worms to a new container and start over. And you will still have a good product to sell. As the worms multiply, they will also need more space. You can drill a hole in the side of both containers and connect them together with a plastic pipe. The end of the pipe attached to the container where the worms are currently living should be closed. When you need to move the worms, simply open this end of the tube and fill the second container with food. The worms will begin to migrate there. This is a longer process, but it is simpler, less labor intensive and more accurate. Thus, you are the owner of a profitable business.

I found some interesting things about worms:

01.03.2010, 07:35

I'll try to describe it in more detail. Slowly collect your thoughts so as not to miss the details..
I've been breeding them for several years, I have a little experience, but... I’m not a biologist, everything I write is purely my opinion. There are many types of worms; before you try to breed them, you need to be able to distinguish them from each other. I’ll say right away that we’re talking about earthworms and crawlies, not about dung worms and subspecies, like Californians. These are completely different worms and should not be confused, much less kept together. This will end in the death of both. I also kept dung and subspecies, but I consider them a pale shadow of rain and therefore there is no point in stopping. Moreover, they are easy to obtain at any livestock farm or fishing store.
Anyone who has mined earthworms himself knows that you don’t encounter them one at a time, but several at once in a small area. This is their family or colony. There is an opinion that they form a certain habitat around themselves, with a certain acidity or bacterial - this is a question for biologists. The point is that if you want to breed, you cannot mix:
1) different types of worms
2) worms from different areas
If the coexistence of different types will definitely end in the death of all, then the mixing of worms of the same type from different areas may end in death or degradation, or it may not. It’s not worth taking risks, this is a passed stage, so it’s better not to repeat the mistakes of others. Therefore, for your colony of worms you need to take them in one area. In one city park, at a dacha, it is not important not to add worms to them, for example, from a friend’s dacha left after fishing. It is better to keep such mixed ones separately, so to speak, for urgent expenses. Even in the same container they will divide into colonies; an alien that ends up in another colony quickly dies.
There is a separate question about crawling. It’s strange, but in nature they usually live together with ordinary rain ones, although they are very different from them. You often find them in the usual “family” of raincoats, sometimes separately. But they are found much less frequently, approximately one in 30 earthlings. Accordingly, they can be kept with ordinary rainwater ones from the same area, or they can be planted. It is quite easy to distinguish breedings, even very small ones. Firstly, they are much darker than an earthworm, which is more reminiscent of a dung beetle. Secondly, their body is proportionally thicker and shorter, even in small ones. And the main distinguishing feature is that they have a flattened tail at the end. By this feature, you can always distinguish even a very small crawl from an earthen (rain) or dung crawler. Conversely, under certain conditions, rainbirds grow to enormous sizes, so they can be confused with a crawler, but you can always tell them apart by their tail.

About reproduction.
Earthworms are known to be hermaphrodites, that is, they contain characteristics of both male and female individuals. But at the same time, they cannot reproduce alone; this requires another worm. In this case, a light ring is formed on the first third of the worm’s body in the form of a mucous thickening. Then this ring comes off the body and a light brown, hard, round cocoon is formed. Size from a match head to a small pea. After some time, small worms emerge from the cocoon. Like that.
Accordingly, the following conclusions follow from this. To form a fruitful colony, a certain number of worms, for example rare crawlings, must accumulate. Then they will bear a certain amount of offspring. According to experience, this number should reach thirty or more adult individuals in order for the younger generation to begin to appear. And also, if you find cocoons and small worms in the humus, it means the worms have adapted to the environment and feel normal. If the environment causes problems for them, then there will be no talk of any reproduction, although they also do not die immediately. In general, there will be some time to think about the conditions of detention.
Crawlers reproduce hard and grow slowly. More than two months until a more or less adult individual. It’s understandable, such a piece of meat still needs to be fattened up. From this point of view Vypozok is a “precious” worm, so I haven’t seen any recommendations on the Internet for breeding these worms. Only in terms of content, which immediately leads to certain not very optimistic conclusions.

Breeding earthworms is one of the most promising options for starting your own entrepreneurial activity due to the fact that when minimum investment The worm farm is highly profitable, and the final product is in constant demand among summer residents and farmers who prepare compost.

It is worth noting that the breeding of worms can be carried out in the basements of private houses or on plots, and the technology of their cultivation itself does not require highly specialized knowledge, due to which there is minimal investment in similar business can bring consistently high profits. However, lack of awareness leads to the fact that most potential breeders do not know about the worm business: where to start, how to feed and breed them correctly.

What does a new earthworm breeder need to know?

Growing worms requires a lot of preparation. First of all, you need to decide for what purpose you will raise worms, since different types are in demand for different activities.

Earthworm

A worm that lives in your area. It adapts well to the soil, quickly adapts to nursery conditions, and reproduces effectively. However, the earthworm has low vital activity compared to other species.

Red Californian

This type of worm is extremely popular among worm farm owners due to its unpretentiousness to food, high vital activity, and rapid reproduction. It is worth noting that the standard number of red worms reaches 1,500 units. When choosing a family, you need to pay attention to the color and mobility of individuals. A distinctive feature of red worms is the increased amount of vermicompost formed as a result of their vital activity.

Prospector Worm

Unlike “Californians,” “prospectors” are more resistant to sudden temperature changes. High activity, efficient feed processing, rapid biomass growth, unpretentiousness in feed, excellent substrate properties and a huge amount of vermicompost determine the high popularity of this type of worm.

It is recommended to start a worm business with “thoroughbred” species: their efficiency and productivity are much higher than that of ordinary earthworms living in local soils. Moreover, these varieties are distinguished by an increased amount of by-products, which is also one of the most important conditions for maintaining a vermifarm.

Secrets, nuances and subtleties of earthworm breeding

The main task of a novice breeder is to create acceptable conditions for the life and reproduction of individuals. Particular attention should be paid to several important parameters: land, living conditions and temperature conditions.

Earth in a nursery

High vital activity and normal functioning of worms, especially purebred species, require ensuring the most optimal soil conditions by dividing the soil in the nursery into three main zones:

1. The bottom layer, in which by-products of worm tea and vermicompost are formed and accumulate;
2. Middle layer, the main habitat of individuals and families;
3. The top layer through which the worms feed. The choice of soil for the top layer must be given special attention.

Rules for using soils

The quality of the soil determines the activity of the worm, the speed of reproduction and food processing. Maximum efficiency can be achieved by following a few simple rules:

The container for dilution must be filled with a dense layer of humus mixed with crushed cardboard;
Make sure that the soil moisture does not fall below 75 and does not rise above 80%;
Move in the family 2-3 days after laying the soil in the container;
Cover the nursery with cardboard;
After acclimatization of the worms, add bait.

In addition, special attention must be paid to the level of soil acidity. For breeding worms, the optimal indicator should be within the established norm of 6.5-7.5 pH. If dead worms are found, it is necessary to measure the soil acid level. Acidity can be increased by adding impurities from straw or sawdust, while chalk, eggshells or limestone can help reduce the acidity.

Room

The choice of premises also needs to be given special attention, because the high rate of reproduction will eventually require expansion of the worm farm. Any heated room with high humidity is suitable for breeding worms. You can use the following as a location:

Basement or cellar;
Garage or outbuilding;
Attic space.

As their business develops, most wermifarmers face the need to expand. It is worth noting that a separate room for a farm is relevant only when it is required by a high volume of products sold.

Temperature

When the temperature drops sharply to +4C, some of the individuals die, while the rest fall asleep. That is why the most acceptable temperature for maintaining the activity of earthworms is considered to be +15…+25 degrees. Nevertheless, modern markets offer species whose peak activity occurs at temperatures above +8C.

Equipment for breeding earthworms

At the initial stages, a worm breeding business requires a basic set of equipment. In addition to packaging, it is important to purchase or find:

1. Industrial scales;
2. Sieve for sifting soil;
3. Wheelbarrow for transporting containers;
4. 10 l. bucket for carrying soil;
5. Shovel, pitchfork and rake;
6. Instruments for measuring soil parameters;
7. Room and soil thermometer;
8. Racks for storing containers.

Containers for breeding worms at home

As a breeding ground in the initial stages of organizing a business, you can use:

1. Wooden nursery.

The best option is a wooden box measuring 1x2x0.5 m with a board thickness of 25 mm or more. The lid for such a nursery is made in accordance with the materials and dimensions of the box. Don't forget about ventilation. To ensure a stable supply of worm tea, it is necessary to drill several holes in the bottom of the structure, and also adapt a container to collect liquid.

2. Chamber of an old refrigerator

The most optimal nursery option for beginner vermifarmers. An old refrigerator, devoid of internal parts, is installed horizontally, the bars are inclined. The flow of fresh air requires holes in the door.

3. Cardboard boxes

The least expensive option for organizing a nursery. In addition to the fact that cardboard is one of the most environmentally friendly and “breathable” materials, worms use it as food. In case of getting wet or thinning, it is enough to bring a new box, slightly larger in size than the one used as a nursery.

4. Plastic containers

Plastic is one of the most popular materials for creating a worm nursery. In this case, you can use both ordinary flower pots and large containers, but in both cases it is necessary to ensure ventilation of the container.

5. Professional vermicomposter

One of the most expensive and effective nursery options, which has many advantages. A multi-level design, including several waste compartments, a liquid container, means for maintaining soil moisture, as well as an advanced ground ventilation system ensures maximum efficiency of worm reproduction.

Feeding earthworms

Worms are extremely unpretentious to food, however, properly selected food can accelerate the release of substances responsible for the production of vermicompost. The best food for an earthworm is dead or rotting plant debris. To increase vital activity, it is recommended to feed the worms:

Plant residues;
food waste;
stale baked goods;
eggshell powder;
residues after washing kefir or sour cream containers;
fermented coarse manure cattle or bird droppings.

However, some feeds can lead to decreased worm activity, increased or decreased soil acidity, and death. individual species. Therefore, the following is prohibited as food for worms:

1. Meat waste;
2. Citrus fruits (affects soil acidity);
3. Kefir, not diluted with water;
4. Whole cores, unground plant residues;
5. Fresh manure, which releases heat during the process of rotting.

It is important to remember that a new portion of food should be added only after the old one has been eaten. If there is a surplus, the soil fermentation process is activated, resulting in a significant increase in pH values.

Scheme of an earthworm breeding business

The scheme for breeding a worm for further sale looks like this:

1. Site preparation;
2. Purchase of breeding stock (family);
3. Check-in at the nursery;
4. Processing compost into humus;
5. Reproduction of individuals;
6. Collection of soil, liquid and worms for sale;
7. Adding nutritious bedding for further reproduction.

After this, the cycle can be repeated.

Sales of finished products

Before starting a business, you need to decide on the category of product buyers. In addition to the worms themselves, the by-products of their vital activity are also extremely popular. For example, humus formed as a result of the activity of worms is actively used in agriculture as one of the best fertilizers. Worm tea is no less popular among summer residents and gardeners for feeding indoor, greenhouse and outdoor plants.

At the same time, the main clients of werm farmers are considered to be:

• Gardeners and summer residents who turn to breeders for humus and vermicelli - fertilizers that increase soil fertility and crop quality;

• Owners of fishing shops. Based on how much worms for fishing cost, modern fishermen prefer to purchase them in specialized stores. The fairly long lifespan of the earthworm ensures a constant demand for this product;

• Pet store owners who use worms as food for animals, fish and birds. It is worth noting that pet stores prefer to purchase worms in bulk;

• Owners of fish farms in need of huge quantities of feed. Unlike pet stores, representatives of fisheries purchase worms wholesale in large quantities from several suppliers at once.

That is why the cultivation of earthworms can bring profit, although small, but stable, since the worms themselves, as well as the products of their vital activity, are in great demand.

Breeding worms is a cost-effective and profitable type of business

With minimal investments throughout the year, growing worms as a business allows you to earn up to 40 thousand rubles from worms alone, because today the cost of one individual fluctuates between 2 rubles, and 2 cubic meters. m. the nursery has the potential for 15-20 thousand individuals. In addition, about a ton of vermicompost and several hundred liters of worm tea are collected from the same nursery. To start a business, it is better to immediately buy 2-3 families of worms; the cost of such an acquisition will be from 3,000 rubles. To populate 1 m3 of soil you will need 1-3 families.

The high profitability rate and potential of the vermifarm is explained by:

No production waste;
minimal costs for feeding;
rapid reproduction;
low production costs;
availability of materials;
extensive sales markets;
steady demand not only for worms, but also for fertilizers.

It is worth noting that worm breeding as a business pays off due to optimization production capacity and expanding the number of nurseries.

Advantages and disadvantages of a worm farm

Most worm farmers claim that earthworm farming as a business has no disadvantages. Starting with a small home farm using an old refrigerator, cardboard box or plastic dishes, you can master all the nuances and subtleties while building a client base. Over time, earthworm farming can be expanded, but this will require greater investment. However, statistics show that a worm farm passes the break-even point quite quickly, so worm farming with a business plan drawn up by a specialist can attract serious investment.

Starting from a home mini-farm, you can stop at stable income, however, the money collected from the sale of worms and fertilizers should be enough to open a more serious production.
In addition, breeding worms is very beneficial for the environment, because the fertilizers sold by breeders have a positive effect on the soil, as well as plant growth and increased yield. Today, entrepreneurs receive their main profit from growing worms for fishing, since summer residents do not yet know everything how to make compost correctly and what the role of the worm is in obtaining high-quality soil for growing vegetables.

By the way, a business based on worms can become a business in the form of an addition to the main one. Good luck!

Self-development