Traveling and cleaning

My worms have recently returned from a 1500 mile trip from North Carolina to Boston and back.  I was a little worried since these drawers are more shallow, and I was afraid that the stopping and starting of the vehicle would shift the bedding and let the worms or beetles get too close to the top so they could crawl out.  Since I now have six drawers, I really need the more shallow drawers, though.  I put wide shipping tape on the front of each set so the drawers couldn't slide open.

I sifted and cleaned two drawers of worms and gave them new bedding before we left.  I took some fresh wheat bran with us, and I did have to clean one of drawer again while we were at a campground.  Since it rained a lot and we spent more time than usual sitting in the motorhome, I didn't have trouble finding time for that.

I've got more worms that I know what to do with now, and lots are turning into pupae.  The worms in my drawers are more uniform now.  If I sift the beetles out about every three weeks, they seem to make worms a pretty uniform size.

I don't have enough to supply our wildlife clinic, but have more than I need to feed my outside birds or the babies I'm raising.  I've given some to my neighbor for her bluebirds.

When I sifted the beetles tonight, I found a couple dozen dead ones.  I've found a few before, but am really surprised that I went this long before finding more dead ones.  I didn't think they lived this long!

I finally made my chart showing which bin was sifted and cleaned when.  Hopefully, it will help me plan and figure out what works the best.