The farming of small animals is increasing in popularity as traditional farmers diversify from typical income streams. Minimal space is required for small animals compared to larger grazing animals or broad acre cropping.
Common small animals include Rabbits, Quail, Chickens, Ducks and other small species grown for meat and by-products.
Worm farming is an ideal sideline when raising these types of animals as there is ample supply of manure, old nesting and food scraps to feed your worms with. Worms are equally as beneficial for eliminating waste in these situations as they are practical and profitable.
Rabbits are perhaps the easiest to establish a joint worm farming operation due to the practical way the rabbit cages are set up. Commercial rabbit cages are around 500mm (or more) from the ground allowing worm bins to be set up under the cages so that manure, food and bedding waste falls through to the worms. This is a seamless operation with the only ongoing maintenance being the emptying of the bins when the worms have finished.
Alternatively, regular cleaning under cages will provide ample food for traditional worm farm set ups.
Poultry such as Chickens, Quail, Ducks and other bird species have high Ammonia manure which may require prior partial decomposition before feeding to worms. Some growers are happy to feed it straight to worms but I have experienced worms spilling over (evacuating) a worm bed when they experience high ammonia feeds.
The size of your worm farming venture should be in line with the size of your small animal production. Too many worms and not enough feed and your worms will suffer. Too much feed and not enough worms and you will have a pile of rubbish with a potent odour waiting to be fed to the worms.
Worms will typically eat their own body weight in food each 24 hours. Translated to a larger scale 10kgs of worms will consume an average of 10kgs of food in the same time frame. This is handy to know when working out how many worms you will need to consume the amount of waste your small animal farm produces on a daily or weekly basis.
As your worms breed and numbers increase you will have to either expand your food source or sell your excess worms to other breeders, farmers or as fish bait.
In addition, to selling excess worms you will also have worm castings you can either use on your own property or bag and sell as a natural fertiliser, soil conditioner or potting mix additive.
The same principle could apply to larger animal farms with the only difference being the collection of manures from paddocks and manually feeding to your worm beds.
? Eric J. Smith
Eric J. Smith writes about his interest in many areas of Environmental concern including the Health impact of Toxic Chemicals in our Community. As an experienced Horticulturist, Eric has a passion for Organic Gardening and Permaculture with an emphasis on the sustainable use of environmental systems. Becoming a representative for ONE Groups Certified Organic Miessence range of Skin, Body, Health, Oral and Home care products was a natural follow on from his interest in Organics and The Environment. Miessence Representative enquiries are welcome by visiting http://www.lifestyle-advantage.com/ or for product enquiries visit http://www.buy-organic-products.com/.
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