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Treacodactyl
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sun Apr 03, 05 6:34 pm Post subject: Garden worms

With the various composting and worm bin posts I thought I'd start one devoted to our little helpers in the garden - worms! I've included a couple of pictures but worms are not that easy to photograph

Brandling Worm (Eisenia foetida)

Our garden is blessed with these little worms that help with the composting process. Frequently found under plastic compost bags, stones etc that have been left on the garden or grass. In the summer the compost bins are literally wiggling with them.

They tend to be very wiggly in the summer, more noticeably flat than earth worms and can be quite red with orangey stripes.

Interestingly our hens are not that fond of these and frequently leave them alone.

Common Earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris)

These worms live in the soil, frequently quite deep down. They don't like the conditions of a fresh compost heap but I have seen them near the base of an old heap. They are very useful for aerating the soil and dragging organic matter down into the soil.

They can be much larger than Brandlings but if you find one that is the same size then the earthworms tend to be rounder and less wriggly, and more of a pinkish colour with less marked bands.

These are a favourite snack of our hens and I try to not let them all get eaten as the worms do so much good to the soil.

judyofthewoods

Joined: 29 Jan 2005
Posts: 804
Location: Pembrokeshire

Posted: Sun Apr 03, 05 6:46 pm Post subject:
The hens probably don't like the foetid taste of the brandling. Its a defence mechanism, isn't it?

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sun Apr 03, 05 6:48 pm Post subject:
Yes, a smelly sort of, well, worm smell. I'm not sure if it is only this or if the hens know the brandling may contain things that could be harmful.

moggins

Joined: 24 Feb 2005
Posts: 942
Location: Gloucester

Posted: Sun Apr 03, 05 8:02 pm Post subject:

I've just shoved loads of the first ones into the garden, I've discovered the perfect breeding ground for them.

Just drag your christmas tree out onto the concrete, ignore it for three months, then lift it to finally take down the tip and low and behold the concrete underneath will be covered with them.

Him indoors face when I picked them all up and put them in a bucket to tip onto the garden was a picture

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Sun Apr 03, 05 8:27 pm Post subject:
And they feel lovely and wriggly in your hand, the brandlings

cede

Joined: 25 Mar 2005
Posts: 62
Location: surrey

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 05 7:41 pm Post subject:
i was told that brandlings don't like living in soil but only in compost bins, either way my hens feasted on them yesterday!

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 05 7:44 pm Post subject:
YUK!!!!! But other than that ..... I could do with a few

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 05 7:46 pm Post subject:

cede wrote:

i was told that brandlings don't like living in soil but only in compost bins, either way my hens feasted on them yesterday!

I've never seen the brandlings in the soil and I've often wondered where they come from when you lay something on the lawn.

I'm sure you can eat them Simon.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Wed Apr 13, 05 12:32 pm Post subject:
Simon (and anyone else short of worms), have you had any luck tracking them down with the plastics/slabs etc trick?

Gertie

Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 1638
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Wed Apr 13, 05 4:07 pm Post subject:
We've got hundreds and hundreds of brandlings in our muck heaps.

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 05 7:07 pm Post subject:
Yes ... the problem is we all need manure worms (not common garden worms) for us worm-bins. All I have here is th latter which is why I am desperate for the former. We don't have a "muck heap" as such so we aren't attracting the right kind of worms. I will have to find an angling shop somewhere near here I think .... Does anyone know what the french for "anglers" is???

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 05 7:10 pm Post subject:
With M. Le Cochon on the case, you will have a muck heap sooner than you think

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 05 7:12 pm Post subject:
pêcheurs

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 05 7:25 pm Post subject:
Thanks for that, Judith Darling .... You don't need to remind me ... He is doing a mighty fine job at the moment digging up next years potato patch! No muck heap at the mo tho' as he is fertilizing the ground as he goes

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 05 7:29 pm Post subject:
My two porkers seem to have enough poo to spare to collect a goodly pile in their house as well. Your French gentleman must be an altogether more refined sort!

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