Why are the compost worms collecting on the underside of my compost bin?
By Jennapicton
United Kingdom 
Why are the compost worms collecting on the underside of my compost bin lid? I forgot to mention that they are collecting in the lid!
30 Oct, 2011
Answers
Do you mean on the inside of the bin lid? If so likely looking for warmth.
30 Oct, 2011
This often means conditions are inhospitable in the heap itself and the worms are trying to escape death. Maybe its too dry, or completely waterlogged, or very, very smelly? Or too hot? Is the bin standing on soil or on a hard surface?
31 Oct, 2011
Gosh all good points I had not thought of when I replied Bamboo...
31 Oct, 2011
Hmm, I thought, being mobile, they could find their way in and out of the compost bin when conditions are to their liking - or not?
31 Oct, 2011
Not if its sitting on concrete, Beattie... or if the conditions are so bad they just naturally head up to get out rather than ploughing through to the bottom.
31 Oct, 2011
It is one of the reasons I advocate against putting a compost bin on concrete.
31 Oct, 2011
I have thin little red ones under the lid of my compost bin all summer and was told these were good ones.
31 Oct, 2011
But they need to be in the compost itself to be doing any good.
31 Oct, 2011
Ha ha, they certainly do need to be in the compost, not writhing about in the lid, Moongrower, you made me laugh out loud with that comment...
Might be they're in the lid when you look in summer Drc because its too hot in the heap? Maybe they're not there at night...
31 Oct, 2011
Glad I made you laugh Bamboo... we all need to laugh more!
31 Oct, 2011
The last time I roared with laughter was 2 weeks ago - when the cardiologist said to me that he didn't think I'd got this particular heart problem, but even if I had, he'd just be telling me to not turn my head to the left, then it wouldn't happen. He was somewhat astonished when I collapsed with laughter... I thought that old joke about the doc saying something like that was just a hoary old chestnut, said I, once I got my breath back. He didn't appreciate that much either...
31 Oct, 2011
Lol!
31 Oct, 2011
Made me laugh though, so ridiculous...
1 Nov, 2011
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They go where they wanna go,
Do what they wanna do-oo-oo...
If they're near the bin they'll get in if they want to. Are they on the underside of the lid? Surely you haven't tipped the whole bin up to find them? :-)
30 Oct, 2011