Making Nutritious Worm Chow For Thriving Red Wigglers

One of the key aspects of raising energetic, healthy, productive worms, especially red wigglers, is to supply them with the right food. But store-bought option costs can add up quickly, not to mention are often hard to find sold in bulk. They also tend to be packed with ingredients not ideal for long-term use. That is why making your own worm food is an option that is not only smart from a financial perspective but ensures long-lasting compost.

As someone who raised many red wigglers, I have put together a recipe for worm chow that is both affordable and reliable. This simple mix of three ingredients will deliver everything the worms need for optimal growth and nutrient-rich castings. Let’s take a look at the recipe, the ratio of ingredients used, and why those proportions make sense.

My Simple Worm Chow Recipe

This homemade blend requires just three ingredients: whole dried corn (sometimes sold as deer corn), alfalfa pellets, and dried rolled oats. The ratio of these is 60%, 20%, and 20%, respectively. Each ingredient supplies an essential component of a healthy red wiggler diet. The corn provides energy-rich carbs, the alfalfa supplies minerals and proteins, and the oats help bolster bulk and digestability. 

Once the worm-chow is mixed, it needs to be correctly stored to prevent contamination by insects and rodents. While I use a galvanized metal can with a tight-fitting lid, as it keeps the mixture dry and safe, any airtight container, including a heavy-duty plastic bin or sealable food-grade bucket, will also work. Most importantly, the worm chow must stay dry, as moisture can lead to mold growth and spoilage that will be detrimental to the nutrition content of the feed. Make sure to always store the mix in a dry, cool location.

Be Careful About Using Chicken Feed For Worms

When worm chow isn’t readily accessible, some worm keepers turn to alternative feeds, including layer crumbles and chick starter. These options are fine temporarily but should not be used as long-term feeding solutions, particularly in infrequently harvested worm bins. That's because one of the ingredients in chicken feed is salt, which isn't outright harmful in small doses but, when regularly used, can build up in the bedding. Ultimately, this salt becomes a toxin that makes worms ill and causes them to die, a fact that most new worm owners don’t realize until the damage is done. 

If chicken feed must be used for a time, make sure to remove the castings consistently to prevent the salt from building up in the bedding. If you can avoid it, staying away from using chicken feeds is preferable, using a homemade worm chow option instead. 

Preparing The Worm Chow Ingredients

The ingredients, particularly the alfalfa and corn, need to be ground down to a fine meal to make food easy to consume for red wigglers. The smaller the bites the worms feed on, the faster and more efficiently they digest it, helping worms stay healthy while speeding up composting. I prefer to use a heavy-duty grinder for pulverization (Electric Grain Mill Grinder, 3000W 110V Spice Grinders, Commercial Corn Mill with Funnel & Switch).

This machine helps to crush the corn and alfalfa to a cornmeal consistency, which the red wigglers prefer. Other models can accomplish the job fine, but the key is to have a grain mill powerful enough to handle hard kernels and produce a fine, even grind.