Here is one I have used that I haven't heard of any others using. It's heavily decayed dead trees. I have some woods behind my house with several fallen trees. Eventually these old gets soft, crumbly and spongy. One day so just thought "I wonder if that could work for bedding". It works very well. It's obviously full of fungi. And it's free. It's probably somewhat similar to your wood pellets, but with a great deal of fungal activity.
This would be similar to wood pellets and would work great. Only concern would be bringing this into the house if you are composting inside like I do. For outdoor systems I would highly recommend doing this because it is free and a natural food source.
So far it hasn’t been a problem. My bin is in a basement “shop” room. If you get the wood from the top of the log (not touching the ground) it’s fairly clean actually.
I used rotted wood before, worked well but you get a lot of critters with it. Doesn't bother me or the worms. Going to try hardwood pellets with rotting wood added in to get the fungus started, age it for a month and then add the worms.
I’ve used a combination of coco along with hardwood and softwood pellets, peat moss, and shredded cardboard for my initial bedding for my worms. This combo has worked well…along with additives.
A combination is a great way to do bedding as some hold moisture over longer periods of time better than others. Only thing you need to be careful with is peat moss I've heard that can be a bit acidic.
World Composting I only picked up 50 red wigglers. But I’m taking some from my outside compost area and under blocks near the garden. I’ve probably added another 30 in the last two days
World Composting I started my bin about 6-7 days ago. And they’ve eaten everything I put in 👍. Today I put some blended scraps in and noticed the bedding felt a little warm and it felt like it had good moisture. Is that normal? It is not HOT just warm.
They seem to be similar as far as I can tell. Both tend to end up with less sticky castings when compared to cardboard. It is hard to tell but I think the hardwood pellets last a bit longer before breaking down.
Hello, I only use coco choir at the moment and with exellent results. For some reason I have mites in one of my bins not sure why only the one bin as they are set up the same way. Any ways to remove the mites?
Mites typically means the bin is too wet so first try drying it out a bit. If you have a lot of mites I have read you can add watermelon and they will swarm to it. Then take the rind out when they are on it to get rid of them.
...I didn't know hardwood pellets was even a thing. I might need to look into these for my isopods. Do you know what kind of binder is used in the pellet formation? Isopods eat wood and leaves as their main food source and they prefer hardwoods, but I certainly wouldn't want to introduce chemicals or glues into their diets. Any ideas on the processing before I spend 4 hours reading about hardwood pellets? LOL!
Hardwood pellets are supposed to be just sawdust that is pressed together at high temps without any glues or filler. Originally these were only used for heating homes here in the US and I think the regulations were few if any. Now that pellets have expanded into cooking and pet bedding they are food and pet safe. I have another bag that I bought from Tractor Supply that is horse bedding and should be fine for other animals as well.
@@WorldComposting Ohhhhh, I forgot all about those. I remember those from when I was a kid! And yeah I'm pretty confident they are just steam pressure treated. Awesome possum, methinks I'll have to try some for mah rolie polies! Got me a tractor supply here as well so YAyyy!
Tractor Supply Company has pine pellets in 40lb bags for around $6. I have also used pellets for burning in pellet stoves that are around $8 per bag. You can use the type for a smoker they are just a bit expense for my taste!
Liked the video and keep them coming! Maybe a thought for a experiment?? How about a test between these two products and paper and cardboard and any other bedding you can think of. Each bin has only one of those beddings in them. Also each bin has same amount of worms and get same amount of food . Find out what bin the worms are most happy in and what material gets process faster??
Great suggestion! Hardest part is trying to control all the variables especially with how different the water retention is between them. I have thought about doing small bins with each to show the difference between the castings as I think the Coco Coir and Hardwood Pellets have more loose castings and cardboard can end up more sticky.
That I can't really say as I don't have any chickens but I know Tractor Supply Co has pellet animal bedding and I would think it should work fine for chickens. Others would know better than I would. Thanks for watching!
It depends typically I would think the Coco Coir would be more expensive as hardwood pellets are pretty cheap ~$7 a bag but at the end of the season Coco Coir might be cheaper as it goes on sale for ~$2 a brick near me.
I do find that hardwood pellets will continue to absorb water but I'm always shocked at the amount of water I need to add to a Coco Coir brick to moisten it all.
I honestly wasn't expecting to be so excited to see this in my notifications. Keep it up!
Glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for watching!
Here is one I have used that I haven't heard of any others using. It's heavily decayed dead trees. I have some woods behind my house with several fallen trees. Eventually these old gets soft, crumbly and spongy. One day so just thought "I wonder if that could work for bedding". It works very well. It's obviously full of fungi. And it's free. It's probably somewhat similar to your wood pellets, but with a great deal of fungal activity.
This would be similar to wood pellets and would work great. Only concern would be bringing this into the house if you are composting inside like I do. For outdoor systems I would highly recommend doing this because it is free and a natural food source.
So far it hasn’t been a problem. My bin is in a basement “shop” room. If you get the wood from the top of the log (not touching the ground) it’s fairly clean actually.
I used rotted wood before, worked well but you get a lot of critters with it. Doesn't bother me or the worms. Going to try hardwood pellets with rotting wood added in to get the fungus started, age it for a month and then add the worms.
I’ve used a combination of coco along with hardwood and softwood pellets, peat moss, and shredded cardboard for my initial bedding for my worms. This combo has worked well…along with additives.
A combination is a great way to do bedding as some hold moisture over longer periods of time better than others. Only thing you need to be careful with is peat moss I've heard that can be a bit acidic.
I just made my first vermicompost bin with red wigglers. I used coconut coir, some mulch, and shredded news paper. So I will see how it goes. 👍
Great mix of bedding material! How many worms are you starting with?
Thanks for watching and let me know if you have any questions!
World Composting I only picked up 50 red wigglers. But I’m taking some from my outside compost area and under blocks near the garden. I’ve probably added another 30 in the last two days
World Composting I started my bin about 6-7 days ago. And they’ve eaten everything I put in 👍. Today I put some blended scraps in and noticed the bedding felt a little warm and it felt like it had good moisture. Is that normal? It is not HOT just warm.
How is the quality of the compost different between the two in the end
They seem to be similar as far as I can tell. Both tend to end up with less sticky castings when compared to cardboard. It is hard to tell but I think the hardwood pellets last a bit longer before breaking down.
Very interesting experiment
Thanks for watching!
Hello, I only use coco choir at the moment and with exellent results. For some reason I have mites in one of my bins not sure why only the one bin as they are set up the same way. Any ways to remove the mites?
Mites typically means the bin is too wet so first try drying it out a bit. If you have a lot of mites I have read you can add watermelon and they will swarm to it. Then take the rind out when they are on it to get rid of them.
@@WorldComposting thanks Noel will try to dry out a bit and see water melon season is over ☺
I think I am more familiar with wood pellets. Very interesting comparison.
Thanks for watching!
...I didn't know hardwood pellets was even a thing.
I might need to look into these for my isopods.
Do you know what kind of binder is used in the pellet formation? Isopods eat wood and leaves as their main food source and they prefer hardwoods, but I certainly wouldn't want to introduce chemicals or glues into their diets. Any ideas on the processing before I spend 4 hours reading about hardwood pellets? LOL!
Hardwood pellets are supposed to be just sawdust that is pressed together at high temps without any glues or filler. Originally these were only used for heating homes here in the US and I think the regulations were few if any. Now that pellets have expanded into cooking and pet bedding they are food and pet safe. I have another bag that I bought from Tractor Supply that is horse bedding and should be fine for other animals as well.
@@WorldComposting Ohhhhh, I forgot all about those. I remember those from when I was a kid! And yeah I'm pretty confident they are just steam pressure treated. Awesome possum, methinks I'll have to try some for mah rolie polies! Got me a tractor supply here as well so YAyyy!
Wood pellets are held together with steam and the lignin in the wood. Press it through a die and you have pellets.
Where do you purchase hardwood pellets? Are they the type you would use ina meat smoker? Yes, I know they are not the same as stove pellets
Tractor Supply Company has pine pellets in 40lb bags for around $6. I have also used pellets for burning in pellet stoves that are around $8 per bag. You can use the type for a smoker they are just a bit expense for my taste!
Use warm water next time a lot faster
Liked the video and keep them coming! Maybe a thought for a experiment?? How about a test between these two products and paper and cardboard and any other bedding you can think of. Each bin has only one of those beddings in them. Also each bin has same amount of worms and get same amount of food . Find out what bin the worms are most happy in and what material gets process faster??
Great suggestion! Hardest part is trying to control all the variables especially with how different the water retention is between them. I have thought about doing small bins with each to show the difference between the castings as I think the Coco Coir and Hardwood Pellets have more loose castings and cardboard can end up more sticky.
So is it good for chicken bedding
That I can't really say as I don't have any chickens but I know Tractor Supply Co has pellet animal bedding and I would think it should work fine for chickens. Others would know better than I would. Thanks for watching!
My thoughts as well, looking for a dust-free alternative that can be sifted and composted. And non toxic 😅
Thank you for sharing great video!
Thanks for watching!
i use pellets as cat litter and it turns in to saw dust can I use it as bedding for my worms?
should of watched other videos before asking dumb question hehe
Don't worry happens all the time 👍
What is the price difference between the two?
It depends typically I would think the Coco Coir would be more expensive as hardwood pellets are pretty cheap ~$7 a bag but at the end of the season Coco Coir might be cheaper as it goes on sale for ~$2 a brick near me.
The Coir absorbed more water faster. What happens over a few days, to a week. More or less expansion or retention?? 🤔
I do find that hardwood pellets will continue to absorb water but I'm always shocked at the amount of water I need to add to a Coco Coir brick to moisten it all.