dessicated

I had an unhappy surprise this morning- dried things like little vanilla sticks on the kitchen floor. It was my worms, a few that had crawled out of the bin and died making their way across the floor (they didn't get very far). I opened the bin to investigate- lots of worms had crawled up the sides, onto the lid. It's been a long time since I saw any trying to escape like this. Not sure why. I haven't fed in a few weeks- getting ready to start a new bin and harvest again. There is still plenty of cardboard bits in there, and it hasn't dried out. I turned it all over and fluffed with my hands- it was a bit compacted on the bottom, but not badly.I can only think they were hungry, or got too cold? (I have turned off my thermostat and it was colder last night). Maybe the bedding environment is getting unhealthy for them since it's mostly vermicompost now, but they still look plump, moist and squirming (not thin, dry and tired like last time I withheld food). Regardless, I'm preparing the new bin with shredded cardboard, hopefully they will be encouraged now to move into new quarters with fresh food!