Too many worms?

ice

I'm home with my parents and just emptied the kitchen waste into their well established compost heap. Its in one of those council offer black bins and been going for years (probably mainly kitchen waste and greenery) I opened the lid and nearly screamed as hundreds of worms toppled out over me I've put in the compost and left the lid off for a banquet for the birds. Why are there soooo many and is it bad? I know worms are good but the whole top was writhing with them

GemmaJF

Hi Ice, there will only be as many worms that fit the container. They often come to the top like that before rain, they seem to sense it and rise to the top. I expect in nature it is to avoid being drowned in their burrows. 

Palustris

You can't have too many worms in compost. They are primary agents in the decomposition process. The more there are, the faster the material is broken down and the better the finished product.

ice

Good plenty in once I'd recovered from women's in my shoe! Could do with some more in mine then

Hostafan1

I'm with Berghill, " you can never have too many worms"

Bilje

Although my main bins are wooden last year I transferred some nearly cooked ie not quite crumbly compost to an old plastic dustbin with lid. A few days later I lifted off the lid and the top of the compost, top of the bin and the lid were covered in brandling worms. In my case it was because the whole bin was too hot and they were trying to escape. If your parents bin has a plastic lid maybe that's what's happened if the weather has warmed up.

You can't have too many..I rescued the seething masses and but them into my old wooden bin.

Susan Hughes2

Ice, I could have done with all your worms over the past few months.  Had a badger digging up the bottom of my garden which I had re done last year for worms.  Love wildlife but was a bit miffed after all my hard work last year.

 

buckbba

I have so many worms in potting compost and in plant pots, is this a problem?