Growing worms prospectors business reviews. Rules for breeding earthworms at home

Breeding worms as a business is a great way to generate income without serious financial outlays. Starting capital is minimal, equipment is simple. The technology of growing worms at home does not require special knowledge and skills.

For those who decide to start a business, selling worms is a great way to make a profit with a small start-up capital. High profitability and steady demand will ensure the prosperity of your vermifarm. Learn the features of this process, invest some money and get a stable income.

Is there a demand for who are the buyers of the worms?

Before opening a vermi farm (the so-called place for breeding worms), study who will need your products. Creeping Workers provides several valuable products that can be sold:

• actual living worms;
• biohumus (fertilizer);
• worm tea (vermichay).

For soil fertilization

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

Start small. Use the humus yourself and sell it to your neighbors in the country. The expansion of production will allow reaching more reputable customers.

For fishing

It's rare these days to find a fisherman who spends time looking for worms for an upcoming fishing trip, digging up the soil. Most prefer to come and buy bait from fishing shops. The life expectancy of worms is long, 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 per day. The conclusion is obvious.

To the pet store

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

For fish farms

Fish farm owners need a lot of live food. The high nutritional value of worms explains the need for vermifarm products.

For plant nutrition

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 customers. 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).

About the production of biohumus and its demand is described in this video:

Technology Fundamentals

The scheme is this:

• Preparing the habitat of your "pets".
• Purchase of breeding stock, consisting of adults, fry and cocoons of worms.
• Settlement of the family in the prepared "house".
• Processing of compost by worms and turning the latter into biohumus 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 that serves as food for worms.
• The process starts over.

Nuances and secrets in the process of breeding worms

Consider the characteristics of the life of worms. Your task is to create comfortable conditions for their life and reproduction. A quiet, calm place without vibrations and noises will help to achieve good results.

The soil

It is not enough just to fill the box with earth, populate the worms and wait for their rapid reproduction. 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. It accumulates products of soil processing and derivatives of vital activity: biohumus and worm tea.

Temperature

Observe the temperature regime in the room. The optimum air temperature is from + 15С ... + 25С. There is a species of worms that breed well at a temperature of + 8C ... + 30C.

Room area

Please note: worms multiply rapidly. Think about whether you can increase the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe vermi farm. Prepare a sufficient number of new "houses" for transplanting individuals.

Sale

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

Basic conditions for breeding worms - what is needed for this business

Study each item carefully. Creating a home vermifarm is quite simple. The advice of specialists and experienced farmers will help you.

Even some pensioners are planning to open a business on breeding Californian worms, the main thing is to study the technology and put it into practice, as described in this video:

What room can be used, requirements for it

Suitable for any heated room with normal humidity:

• garage;
• cellar;
• attic;
• economic outbuilding.

The air temperature should not drop below +4C. The worms will hibernate. 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 start faster. The disadvantage is that the vital activity is lower than that of the stronger "pedigreed" species.

California red worm (CRW)

Popular look. When buying, make sure that the individuals are mobile and red. The breeding stock should be from 1500 individuals or more. For 1 cubic meter of soil, from 1 to 3 families will be required.

Quickly multiplies, gives high-quality biohumus. Not picky about food. It does not tolerate temperatures below + 10C.

Worm Prospector

Direct competitor of the well-known California counterpart. High activity, the ability to process feed qualitatively, and a rapid increase in biomass distinguish the Prospector species.

It tolerates temperatures from + 9C to + 28C. From 1000 kg of substrate, biohumus yield reaches 60%.

Give preference to industrial types of worms: HRC or Prospector. Productivity is higher than that of an ordinary earthworm.

What equipment will be needed

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

• scales;
• sieve for sifting;
• wheelbarrow;
• bucket;
• shovel;
• pitchfork;
• devices that measure the acidity of the soil and its temperature;
• room thermometer;
• shelving.

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

What container and in what cases it is better to use

Where to place newly acquired individuals and where to deposit 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. Below you need a pallet for collecting vermicai. The lid is made of plywood and knocked down boards with holes for ventilation.

• old refrigerator

All "insides" are removed, the chamber is installed with the door up. Need holes for ventilation 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. Cardboard nursery box dimensions: 400 mm x 300 mm. Eco-friendly material breathes well. The worms feed on pieces of cardboard. The box is damp and thinner - bring a new one.

• Plastic container

There are many varieties: from a large flower pot to a high-quality plastic container of large sizes. Prerequisite: air access, 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 worm breeding equipment. 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 of 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 indentations in the soil, populate the worms with part of the soil in which they lived before transplanting into the box;
• gently level, moisten the soil. Cover the "house" with cardboard;
• wait a couple of days;
• after successful acclimatization, you can feed.

Always test populate in a small container. Place 50 to 100 individuals in the substrate. After a day, check if they are alive. This way you will know if the acidity of the soil suits your pets.

Optimal score:

• from 6.5 to 7.5 pH.

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

To help improve your scores:

• sawdust or straw;
• tops of plants.

To reduce acidity are suitable:

• ordinary chalk;
• crushed shell;
• limestone.

What and how to feed worms

All types of worms do not have special requirements for food. The value of worms is that they speed up the processing of waste rotting on your site in a compost pile for 1.5 - 2 years, several times. Biohumus for sale and grown worms can be collected every 4-6 weeks.

Basic feeding rules

Worms feed on decaying and dead plant debris.

Forbidden:

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

• plant residues: cabbage leaves, potato peels, banana peels, boiled vegetables;
• food waste;
• stale bread, pastries;
• tea leaves and coffee grounds;
• eggshell powder;
• water with which you rinsed a jar of sour cream or kefir;
• grass, leaves, straw;
• fermented manure (cow, horse), chicken droppings. Important: Few nutrients remain in very old manure.

A new portion of food is added after everything is 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 measuring 150mm x 100mm with holes for the breathing of worms. Store at a temperature approaching the lower mark. So the worms will be 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. Transportation of uterine families is well tolerated. The transfer method is suitable for large consignments of goods.

Please note that you must send the buyer a broodstock consisting of cocoons, fry and adults.

Worms implementation options

Use all channels to attract potential buyers. People need to 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, country neighbors, and farmers. Vermichay is willingly taken by amateur flower growers and avid summer residents.
• Placement of advertising on the Internet: on free bulletin boards like Avito, in social networks, on a farming or fishing site. Perhaps you have your own website? Use this site too.

Estimated estimated business profitability

Breeding worms as a business is a profitable investment. From 2 cubic meters of nursery for a year of successful work, you can get up to 15-20 thousand individuals for sale and about a ton of biohumus. Only 2 rubles for 1 unit - and you already have 40 thousand rubles. Add the cost of biohumus and vermicai.

Given the small initial investment, the break-even point will be passed quickly -

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

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

A home mini-farm will allow you to make enough capital to open a serious production.

Now you know that worm farming as a business is profitable for you and good for the environment. Learn the technology, establish distribution channels - and your business will flourish.

Discussion (20 )

Hello, I am going to start this business with minimal costs (One mother seed) and further development. I have been studying this issue for a long time, and your article is very good, but I can’t find anywhere information about how much manure (cattle) should lie down in time before urea comes out and how to speed up this process. I would be very grateful if you help or tell me the necessary literature on which you can prepare in more detail and correctly !!!

I didn't know that worms could 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. It can be seen that this is very profitable, and the hassle is minimal, especially in summer. My husband sometimes buys from me, mostly in autumn and winter. And in the summer he digs.

It's a good thing. First of all, the restoration of ecology, the restoration of the humus layer of the soil. Mother Earth will be healthy and grace to mankind. In a good scenario and a competent alignment of forces, the sweat of labor will shed like a golden rain.

Subject to the availability of a personal subsidiary plot, it is enough to invest no more than 50 thousand rubles in a home business for breeding worms. 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 an appropriate forage base. Otherwise, the business will not be profitable.

I'm on retirement. Tired of traveling on shifts! Maybe also start breeding worms? My son came up with an idea today. How can I not know! Maybe try?

I breed worms in the basement of my house. 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 a good addition to your pension. Many fishermen come to the house for bait. Especially in winter and early spring, the demand is good.

By the way, I have also been doing this business for 5 years already, breeding worms for fishing, in my summer cottage. The business is excellent, there are no investments, only time is naturally needed. I also keep a tent in the market to sell worms, they sell very well! We already have our own clientele.

Yes, business is specific. It’s good if there is a steady demand for such products, and you need to live at least in a private house. This is definitely an amateur, although there will certainly be a demand for such exotics.

I could not get past this topic, because I remember a real example from the late 90s, when our friend was able to unwind in this business and rise from scratch. Now he is already a seasoned businessman. And then it was an ordinary teacher of labor at a vocational school, then state employees were not paid salaries for several months, and even then, if they were waiting for payments, then these were pennies. On which you can't feed your family. And he decided to engage in the cultivation of worms, and right 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 (I remember exactly that they were not the usual earthworms). The men teased our businessman, the women farted and turned up their noses. But nevertheless, everything was borrowed from him until paycheck to paycheck, since the profit from this business was obvious, he sold it to pet stores, gardeners, fishermen, he didn’t break the price, and they willingly took it from him.
And he was busy with them, as with small children. And he constantly monitored the temperature, set the boxes with the material at different levels, observed the ventilation modes. There was once a tragedy that derailed his business - they told him that it was necessary to add eggshells to the ground for food. Only they didn’t specify that it should be finely ground, just into flour. And he threw it into the ground just mashed, the worms simply cut themselves when they moved in the soil. This is now 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 calling them up around the country.
What I am leading to is that this business is really profitable, the sales market is huge and wide, there would be a desire. But you should not rank it as one of the easy and fast payback, there are risks, as in any business.
But, something that does not require a huge start-up capital and is even a pensioner's strength is obvious.

Even the idea of ​​earning money by breeding worms would not have crossed my mind. I read the whole article, everything turned out to be more than real. But I don’t think that there will be a constant stable income from this occupation, so you can do it as a hobby, in your free time or for pensioners 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 in order 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, the income from this may well be, and if you wish, you can carefully study all the points and nuances and try to make money on it.

A very interesting business.
Low cost, simple and cost effective.
The pitfall of this business, I think, will be the sale of products in Russia.
I understood 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 your valuable information.

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

Profitable activity on worms on the scale of small businesses in our country is at an early stage. This is due to the specifics of the direction and the limited circle of the target audience. Worms and their waste products are not essential goods. The business can be lucrative if the beginner draws up a proper worm farming business plan and learns the basics of how worm farming works.

For clarity, we suggest studying our example in order to understand how to prepare a business plan for breeding worms with calculations.

Summary

Breeding worms involves different scenarios for the development of events:

• You can sell the livestock itself as feed, bait, for breeding in other farms.
• Realization of the product of vital activity of worms (biohumus). The fertilizer is recognized as the most environmentally friendly and is in demand among farms, private gardeners. You can offer the product to intermediaries or open your own outlets to make big profits.

For a novice entrepreneur with a small start-up capital and no experience in trading, the preferred option is to sell the product to partners working with a specific consumer.

Our project is aimed at a person who lives in a rural area and has a free land plot or a room for placing special containers with worms. The option of renting an area is possible, but this involves more costs than the option with a personal subsidiary plot or garden plot.

A small worm farm will operate year-round. It is necessary to provide a comfortable temperature and humidity in a special hangar. The option of wintering in the cellar will not be able to bring the desired turnover due to limited space. The best option is to build a structure that will eliminate seasonal difficulties.

Main parameters of the project

Type of activity: animal husbandry, breeding of worms for further sale and obtaining biohumus.

OKVED: 01.49.7 "Cultivation of other animals, including earthworms on farms."

Location of the worm farm: a village in the countryside. The property has a land allotment on which special equipment will be placed. You need to build a hangar. An affordable and quick option for a room for breeding worms can be a polycarbonate greenhouse. You will need heating and lighting equipment. Plumbing is also necessary to maintain the humidity of the environment in which the worms live.

Regulatory form of activity: IP focused on agriculture.

Taxation: ESHN.

Schedule

Daily, irregular work hours. Shipment of products from 08:00 to 19:00 on weekdays.

Service list

• Breeding of various types of worms for sale in live weight to trade organizations.
• Sale of worms to private buyers in a small volume.
• Sale of fertilizer obtained in the process of life of pets.
• Cultivation of special types of worms for pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies.
• Sale of worms to farms engaged in crop production, poultry farming, fish breeding.
• Cultivation of worms according to individual requests from terrariums, zoos, nurseries, where invertebrates are the main food for animals, birds, reptiles.

Starting funds

Even a small vermifarm requires certain investments at the initial stage. Funds are needed to purchase the first batch of animals, special containers, feed, and equipping the premises.

Serious equipment, as is the case with poultry, pigs, dairy farms, is not needed. Worms can breed and grow even in open ground. The conditions of our climate and pests do not allow such a business to be carried out all year round. And also the inhabitants of the soil will be difficult to collect and track their numbers. Requires a fenced area or boxes with a side up to 35 cm high. We will reflect the estimated investments in the table:

The amount of investment can be lower if you buy not vermicomposters, but ordinary boxes. Wooden containers are easy to assemble from improvised materials. The cost of a container will be significantly lower than that of a composter. Savings can reach 150 thousand rubles or more. No need to skimp on accommodation and food. The activity of worms and the further profitability of the economy depend on these indicators.

Frames are not needed

The specifics of the activities of the worm farm are so simple that it is not worth "inflating" the staff. The business owner can independently cope with all the stages alone. Helpers will be needed when the opportunity for expansion arises.

The farmer must monitor the indoor climate, lay the next portion of feed several times a week and water the compost with clean water without any impurities.

Salary and employee fund contributions are excluded. The entrepreneur only needs to pay contributions for himself and comply with the deadlines for paying taxes to the state budget. The income of the entrepreneur is the profit received from the turnover. What contributions does the IP make, we will reflect in the table:

Income taxes will be reflected in the material part of the business plan.

Project start time

The peak of consumer activity for worms or fertilizer occurs in the spring season. By this time, the businessman must equip the vermifarm to obtain the first "harvest". In winter, invertebrates reduce their activity and hibernate. But with the correct organization of the conditions of existence, pets will retain their activity. Experienced vermifarmers recommend starting in business in the fall, gradually acquiring clients. By spring, the first result will be received.

If distribution channels are found before the worm farm is up and running, there is the possibility of small batches of orders from autumn. There should be no delays in meeting calendar deadlines.

Benefits of the project for the owner

To assess the profitability of a business idea, it is necessary to understand how much revenue the farmer will receive after the sale of worms and biohumus. Profitability is determined by the number of contracts that an individual entrepreneur can conclude before receiving the first "harvest".

Worms need time to reproduce, grow and process waste into bio-fertilizer.

The products will be sold wholesale to large customers and retail to private buyers. In the table, we indicate the cost of goods and the sales plan for the year:

It is possible that there will be more sales or the cost of goods will increase. But for calculating profitability and payback periods, we take the annual income of a worm farm in the amount of 510 thousand rubles.

Now let's calculate the possible costs and derive the amount of net profit for the year. In the table, we will enter the cost indicators for utility costs, food, advertising, updating worm species, and consumables.

If we divide the income by 12 months, then the average monthly revenue was 30 thousand rubles. The amount of investment in the project will be 414 thousand rubles. In 14-16 months, worm farming will reach self-sufficiency and begin to generate net income. The profitability of a worm farm can be 300% if properly organized.

Eventually

A business in the field of worm breeding can bring a certain income to the owner. For solid capital, a large number of wards and appropriate areas are required. Worm farming can be an additional activity for an existing agrarian who grows vegetables in greenhouses and has a free area. Business is also relevant for people who have income, but who want to increase it. Then it makes sense to write your business plan for breeding worms and look for distribution channels.

Fishing enthusiasts are well aware that an indispensable condition for a good bite is the right bait, which today can be purchased in specialized stores. Professionals use Californian worms for this purpose. However, not everyone knows that they can be used not only as bait.

Earthworms: varieties

Worms are the most common type of invertebrates. Their habitat excludes only Antarctica. There are many types and subspecies of these creatures.

Depending on the behavior in the natural habitat, biologists distinguish three types:

• epigeic.
• endogeic.
• Anecic.

Worms, which belong to the latter type, live on the surface of the soil. They dig holes only vertically, and feed on organic matter. The activity of this category instantly fades away in case of moving from the habitual habitat. That is why they are difficult to breed. This type of worm plays an extremely important role in the process of soil formation. Their practical use is limited to soil formation. They can also be used as bait for fishing.

Worms of the second type live in soil rich in minerals. To ensure their vital activity, they require less organic matter. Burrows dig horizontally, but do not like to be on the surface. They process the soil and thus saturate it with various nutrients, and also enrich it with oxygen.

Epigeic worms are very tolerant of artificial living conditions, so they are most often used for breeding for economic gain. This type of worm prefers topsoil rich in organic matter. They thrive in the remains of bark, trees and leaves. The conditions for breeding the California worm provide for a number of subtle points.

Worm farming business

To understand the basics of worm breeding, you must first understand the main concepts used by professionals. Compost is a fertilizer made from organic waste. It is obtained with the participation of microorganisms. The most common sources for the production of this fertilizer are manure, peat, foliage and bird droppings. The product of compost processing by earthworms is called biohumus. California worm at home can be used just to improve the quality of fertilizers.

Worms breeding: main activities

One of the main business areas for breeding the Californian worm is the creation of biohumus. This product is in high demand among both farmers and private households. This type of fertilizer is in demand even abroad. Agree, there is something to think about if you plan to expand your business in this area. Biohumus today is a fairly profitable investment.

Vermicompost

This fertilizer is actively used for growing various vegetable crops. This applies not only to greenhouse vegetables, but also to root crops, such as carrots or potatoes. When using vermicompost, you can increase the yield by 40%. Biohumus is incredibly effective when growing berries such as wild strawberries or strawberries. This fertilizer is in high demand today. This means that you can make a good business on its sale. Biohumus importers are currently quite rich countries, such as the United Arab Emirates.

The use of this fertilizer allows even in fairly aggressive climatic conditions to obtain a high yield several times a year. Quality fertilizer is appreciated. For a ton of products today they can offer about $ 2,000. Of course, in Europe it costs not so much, but the price of 600 euros is also pretty good. This means that with a competent approach, you can make good money selling vermicompost. In order not only to get into this market, but also to gain a foothold in it, you will have to try hard.

Economic expediency

This review mainly deals with how to breed California worms. First of all, you should study the main advantages of using this type from an economic point of view.

Many believe that Californian worms have some incredible characteristics that distinguish them from other varieties. It is believed that they can live for 15-16 years. This is wrong. Life expectancy is exactly the same as that of their domestic relatives, and the maximum is 6 years. There is also an opinion that California worms are able to survive at extreme temperatures (from 2 to 40 degrees). This is also not true: the worms begin to die when it gets below 4 degrees outside, and in hot climatic conditions over 35 they lose activity. However, despite the huge amount of false information, this type has certain advantages.

Positive points

The real pluses that distinguish California worms include the fact that they remain active even in the cold season. It is also worth emphasizing the compactness of the populations and the high level of reproduction compared to simple earthworms. Here, the numbers indicated in the advertisement do not lie at all. So there are obvious advantages to using this kind.

Breeding

Why are Californian worms so good? Breeding at home usually takes place on the territory of a simple garden plot. In this case, this work can be a good source of additional income. In order to properly breed worms, it is necessary to organize activities in a certain way and strictly follow the instructions. Consider the main features of creating a business within the framework of a private economy.

How to breed worms in a summer cottage?

Many today are interested in such a topic as breeding Californian worms. Households will be quite enough to start this kind of business. You must first purchase adult worms or fry. It all depends on your financial situation for the most part. For breeding on the site, it is necessary to prepare a square-shaped pit. Its depth should reach approximately 70 cm, and dimensions - a meter per meter. So that the worms do not spread to the rest of the dacha society, the lower part of the pit is covered with boards and well tamped. After that, the nutrient medium falls into the pit. To obtain vermicompost, extract the worms. In order for them to process the nutrient medium, several weeks must pass.

Under the hood they mean the introduction of a layer of substrate and its loosening. The worms will then crawl out to the top layer. This saturated material must then be transferred to a new pit to continue the vermicompost cycle. On average, it takes about 3-4 weeks. The compost processed in this way is sifted and dried. In this form, it can be sold. At the same time, the worms can safely continue their work in the next hole.

What is the substrate made from?

For this purpose, any waste at hand is suitable: straw, paper, tops, organic filler. This mass must be placed near the pit with worms and poured with liquid manure. Loosen the substrate once every two weeks.

The California worm, whose photo is probably familiar to many, has a special investment appeal. It does not require large investments to breed it. It is enough to show a little patience and interest in this activity. After all, not everyone will like to deal with unpleasant smells and creatures swarming in the ground.

Breeding on an industrial scale

When it comes to the preparation of biohumus in large volumes, a number of nuances appear. If for a private economy you need Californian worms in the amount of 10-20 thousand individuals, then on an industrial scale, a population of at least a million is usually taken. Also in this case, you will need a room with an area of ​​​​10 to 15 squares, with artificial lighting and a constant temperature of 15 to 30 degrees. It is also desirable that the room has a natural water supply system. Particular attention should also be paid to protection against rodents. To accommodate colonies of worms, you will need to organize racks.

Conclusion

Breeding California worms is a profitable business with a number of features. Despite the fact that it requires minimal investment, you still need some degree of preparation and the desire to be directly involved in the production process itself.

Earthworm breeding is one of the most promising options for starting your own business, due to the fact that with minimal 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 worm breeding can be done in the basements of private houses or on plots, and the technology of growing them does not require highly specialized knowledge, so that minimal investment in such a 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 properly feed and breed them.

What does a novice earthworm breeder need to know?

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

Earthworm

A worm that lives in your area. Perfectly adapts to the soil, quickly adapts to the conditions of the nursery, effectively multiplies. However, the earthworm has a low vital activity in comparison with other species.

Red Californian

Among the owners of vermifarms, this type of worm is very popular due to its unpretentiousness in food, high vitality, and rapid reproduction. It is worth noting that the standard number of red worms reaches 1500 units. When choosing a family, attention should be paid to the color and mobility of individuals. A distinctive feature of red worms is an increased amount of vermicompost formed as a result of vital activity.

Prospector Worm

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

It is recommended to start a worm business with “pedigreed” species: their efficiency and productivity are much higher than those of ordinary earthworms living in local soils. At the same time, these varieties are distinguished by an increased amount of by-products, which is also one of the most important conditions for keeping a vermi farm.

Secrets, nuances and subtleties of breeding earthworms

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, conditions of detention and temperature conditions.

Earth in a nursery

The high vital activity and normal life activity of worms, especially thoroughbred species, requires the provision of the most optimal soil conditions by dividing the soil in the nursery into three main zones:

1. The lower layer, in which side worm tea and biohumus are formed and accumulate;
2. Middle layer, the main habitat of individuals and families;
3. The top layer, with which the worms are fed. The choice of soil for the top layer must be given special attention.

Rules for the use of soils

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

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

In addition, special attention should 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. In case of detection of dead worms, it is necessary to measure the level of soil acid. It is possible to increase acidity through impurities from straw or sawdust, while chalk, eggshells or limestone helps to reduce the indicator.

room

The choice of premises also needs to be given special attention, because the high rate of reproduction over time will require the expansion of the vermi farm. Any heated room with high humidity is suitable for breeding the worm. As a location you can use:

Basement or cellar;
Garage or outbuilding;
Attic space.

With the development of business, most vermifarmers are faced with the need to expand. It should be noted that a separate room for the farm is relevant only when it is required by a high volume of products sold.

Temperature regime

With a sharp decrease in temperature to + 4C, some individuals die, the rest fall into sleep. That is why the most acceptable temperature for maintaining the activity of earthworms is considered to be + 15 ... + 25 degrees. Nevertheless, on modern markets there are species whose peak activity falls on temperatures from + 8C.

Equipment for breeding earthworms

In the initial stages, a worm farming 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 transportation of containers;
4. 10 l. bucket for soil transfer;
5. Shovel, pitchfork and rake;
6. Devices for measuring soil indicators;
7. Room and soil thermometer;
8. Racks for storing containers.

Container for breeding worms at home

As a hotbed at 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 the container to collect the liquid.

2. The chamber of the old refrigerator

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

3. Cardboard boxes

The least expensive option for organizing a nursery. In addition to being one of the most environmentally friendly and breathable materials, cardboard is also used by worms as food. In case of soaking or thinning, it is enough to bring a new box, a little larger than the one used as a nursery.

4. Plastic container

Plastic is one of the most popular materials for making a worm bed. At the same time, both ordinary flower pots and large containers can be used, however, in both cases, ventilation of the container must be ensured.

5. Professional vermicomposter

One of the most expensive and effective nursery options, which has a lot of advantages. The tiered design, including multiple waste compartments, a liquid sump, soil moisture maintenance, and an advanced earth venting system, ensures maximum worm breeding efficiency.

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 most optimal food for an earthworm is dead or rotting plant debris. To increase vital activity, worms are recommended to be fed:

plant residues;
food waste;
stale pastries;
eggshell powder;
residues after washing containers from kefir or sour cream;
fermented cattle dung or bird droppings.

However, some feeds can lead to a decrease in worm activity, an increase or decrease in soil acidity, as well as the death of certain species. Thus, it is forbidden to use as food for worms:

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

It is important to remember that a new portion of food should be added only after the old one has been eaten. In the presence of excess, the process of fermentation of the soil is activated, due to which a significant increase in pH values ​​\u200b\u200bis observed.

Earthworm breeding business scheme

The scheme for breeding a worm for further sale is as follows:

1. Site preparation;
2. Acquisition of breeding stock (family);
3. Settling in the nursery;
4. Processing of compost into humus;
5. Reproduction of individuals;
6. Collection of soil, liquid and worms for sale;
7. The introduction of nutrient litter for further reproduction.

After that, the cycle can be repeated.

Sales of finished products

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

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

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

• Fishing store owners. Based on how much fishing worms cost, modern fishermen prefer to purchase them in specialized stores. The rather long lifespan of the earthworm ensures a constant demand for these products;

• Pet shop owners using worms as food for animals, fish and birds. It is worth noting that pet stores prefer to buy worms in bulk;

• Owners of fish farms in need of huge amounts of feed. Unlike pet stores, representatives of fish farms buy worms in bulk in large quantities from several suppliers at once.

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

Breeding worms is a cost-effective and profitable business

With minimal investment during the year, growing worms as a business allows you to get up to 40 thousand rubles on worms alone, because today the cost of one individual fluctuates within 2 rubles, and 2 cubic meters. m. the nursery has the potential for 15-20 thousand individuals. In addition, about a ton of biohumus 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. It will take 1-3 families to populate 1m3 of soil.

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

Absence of production waste;
minimal feeding costs;
fast reproduction;
low production costs;
availability of materials;
extensive markets;
steady demand not only for worms, but also for fertilizers.

It is worth noting that worm breeding as a business pays off by optimizing 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 drawbacks. Starting with a small home farm, using an old refrigerator, cardboard box or plastic utensils as a hotbed, you can master all the nuances and subtleties, gaining a client base. Over time, the cultivation of earthworms can be expanded, but this will require more serious investments. However, statistics show that the worm farm passes the break-even point quite quickly, so worm breeding, a business plan drawn up by a specialist, is able to attract serious investment.

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

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

Below we will tell you in detail how to breed worms, how to care for them and earn a good income.

To be able to work with large wholesale buyers, your business must be formalized. The most common options are IP and LLC.

In our case, the simplest is IP, registration will take about a month and require a minimum cash investment (70-90 dollars).

Worm breeding technology

It is necessary to organize the cultivation of worms in several stages:

• Preparation of the premises in which your "wards" will live;
• Acquisition of livestock for rearing;
• Preparation of "housing" and settlement in it of the purchased "family";
• Caring for "pets";
• reproduction;
• Collection of biohumus, vermichaya, sale of adult worms.

Then another layer of nutrient bedding is added and the whole process starts all over again.

Is it worth buying worms

You can buy invertebrates at any worm farm, which is not difficult to find via the Internet. The average cost of a thousand heads is 22-40 dollars, depending on the chosen type and volume of purchase. For a business to be profitable, you need to start with at least 2-3 thousand worms.

If you are going to breed ordinary rain, you can not even spend money on a purchase and take them in the yard of your own house. First you need to dig a not very deep hole and fill it with manure or moistened rotting leaves. Then the "bait" is closed with a board or cardboard. In a week, the first invertebrates will start in this place. They must be transferred to the box along with the soil in which they lived.

The best types of worms

Each type is good in its own way. By providing proper climatic conditions and good nutrition for your wards, you can breed several species at once.

Earthworm

He has the best adaptation: both to climate change and to life on a closed farm. But his activity, in comparison with other "breeds", is somewhat lower. It gives less offspring and forms biohumus more slowly than its "brothers".

California red

One of the most popular species due to its mobility and rapid reproduction. California red gives excellent vermicompost and is not very picky about food. But it is sensitive to temperature. If it drops below +10 degrees, you may lose livestock.

worm prospector

An excellent choice for beginners. This species is active, quickly processes food and substrate. Prospector feels good at a temperature of +9…+28 degrees.

Room for breeding worms

For a vermifarm, you need a minimum of space, literally a few square meters. You can equip it in a garage, cellar, attic or in an outbuilding.

Even a dacha can become a springboard for growing invertebrates. In this case, it is necessary to comply with some requirements:

1. So that in winter the business does not “freeze”, you need to take care of heating in advance;
2. The room should not be too humid, but not dry;
3. The farm should be located in a quiet place, away from the road, noise, vibrations.

housing for worms

For comfortable keeping of pets, it is best to build special boxes. They can be made on your own from wooden or plastic containers.. The wall thickness of the wooden box must be at least 25 mm. The standard parameters of the nursery are 1x2x0.5 meters. From the bottom of the box, you need to make holes to collect humus and tea, put a tray. From above, the nursery is covered with a lid with holes.

To save space, boxes are installed on racks that can be made from metal profiles.

There are several more ways to build a home for worms with your own hands:

• From an old refrigerator. It is necessary to remove the internal contents from it, make ventilation holes in the walls and the door, install the refrigerator with the door up and at a slight slope.
• From a cardboard box. The simplest and cheapest option, plus in the box, due to the natural thin material, there is very good air circulation and enough oxygen for invertebrates. As soon as the "creeping workers" began to eat pieces of damp cardboard, the box must be replaced.
• From a plastic container. Any plastic container can become a “house”: from a flower pot to a basin. The main thing is not to forget about ventilation and collection of humus and vermicai.

If desired, you can purchase a fully equipped vermicomposter, its cost is about $ 200.

Conditions for growing worms

Pets should be settled based on the norm of 1000-1500 individuals per cubic meter. This will ensure optimal nutrition and processing of the substrate. There are certain requirements for the maintenance and care of these creatures.

The soil

The substrate should consist of three layers. The top one is the most nutritious, that is, the soil must be enriched with organic matter. In the middle layer, invertebrates spend most of their time.

And in the lower one accumulate worm tea and biohumus. Worms will breed well only in high-quality soil. How to prepare it?

1. Choose a container for maintenance and fill it with humus by half, add a little shredded newspapers. The mixture needs to be moistened a little, the total humidity level should be no more than 80%;
2. A few days later, depressions are made in the soil, where individuals are settled along with part of the soil in which they lived before transplantation;
3. The soil is leveled, moistened, the dwelling is covered with cardboard and left for a couple of days;
4. When the "residents" adapt, you can add food to the soil.

There is a great way to check the quality of the substrate. Place 50-100 individuals in a small container with prepared soil and watch them during the day. If they are alive and remain mobile, then the acidity and moisture of the soil suits them. The required level of acidity is 6.5-7.5 pH. Tops, straw, sawdust increase the level of acidity. Lower - limestone, chalk, ground eggshell.

Temperature for keeping worms

Best of all, these creatures feel at a temperature +15…+25 degrees. Critical indicators: +4 degrees (individuals will hibernate or die), at + 36C and above, invertebrates also die.

At the right temperature, your wards will multiply well and produce vermicompost.

Feeding the worms

Feeding should be done once a week. Food is placed on the ground with a thickness of 10 centimeters. Lay a piece of newspaper or toilet paper on top of the food. Once your wards have started eating it, you can re-feed them and lay down a new layer of compost.

These creatures feed on decaying organic debris.. The diet of worms must be formed from the following products:

• Plant residues: skins, vegetables (boiled), potato peelings, etc.;
• Bakery;
• ground eggshell;
• Food waste;
• Water with the remains of kefir or sour cream;
• tea leaves;
• Straw, leaves, grass;
• Cow and horse manure, chicken droppings. It is important that the manure is of medium freshness, containing a lot of nutrients. Very fresh manure will increase the temperature of the soil, and the livestock will die.

Do not under any circumstances use meat waste, citrus fruit residues, peels from fruits and vegetables.

Reproduction of worms

Proper maintenance of worms implies the creation of favorable conditions for their reproduction. They begin to give offspring at the age of two to three months.

For 4 months, cocoons are formed, ripening in a few weeks. One cocoon is 15-20 new worms. If we roughly calculate the dynamics of reproduction, it turns out that in six months the number of invertebrates in one box will increase 50 times.

It is very important to regularly seat individuals in new containers.. With a high population density, they simply stop multiplying.

Worm breeding equipment

Equipment needed for growing:

1. boxes or other containers;
2. Shelving;
3. Sieve;
4. Wheelbarrow, shovel and pitchfork, bucket;
5. Scales, thermometer, a device for measuring soil temperature and its acidity.

Sales of worms

Your farm on several points at once: from the sale of live individuals, the sale of biohumus and vermicai. "Young growth" and biohumus for sale are collected every month and a half. To whom to sell?

• Live individuals to pet stores for animal feed, fish farms, for breeding;
• Biohumus and vermichay for farms for soil fertilization and plant nutrition.

You can create your own website and do retail on your own.

Costs and profits

If you equip grow containers yourself, then the main costs will be inventory (no more than $ 100) and the purchase of three thousand individuals ($ 80-100) to start.

Materials for "houses", food, soil will require no more than $ 50. Cooking food does not require special expenses. In total, together with registration, the amount of investments will be about 350 dollars.

For 3 thousand individuals, two or three cubic meters of soil are needed. Every month and a half they will give about 30 thousand worms for sale (900 dollars) and approximately 1000-1500 kg of biohumus (700-800 dollars). You can earn about $600 more by selling vermicai. Monthly income will be 1500-2000 $.

Growing worms is quite simple and very! These creatures live a long time, are largely unpretentious, and the cost of arranging a worm farm is minimal.