Newbie question about egg shells

[Becky]

Hello! I am preparing for my worms. Do I need to wash or rinse the egg shells, or are they OK right from cracking? I've Googled, but I can't find a definite answer.

Also, I'm getting a Worm Factory 360, and we produce pounds of waste each day since we eat healthy. I read the unit could hold up to 8,000 worms. Is it a bad idea to get 3,000-6,000 right away?

Thank you,

Becky

[Nick Briere]

I've burned out 3 coffee grinders so far... I like the Fine Dust but it seems to kill my grinders... and since i've got one coffee grinder left i've been using a food processor instead haha.. I find eggshells still in my vc so thats why i prefer finely ground up shells..

[Harry Lightball]

I put my egg shells on a cookie sheet and lightly scorch them in the oven. This makes them brittle and then they get crushed in the mortar and pestle.

[stefaan walleghem]

I'm happy I read this thread, I didn't know eggshell dust was harmfull. (considering I'm an asthmatic, it can't be really good for me either)

Thanks for the information. I'll start grinding them outside from now on.

 

greets,

 

stefaan

[George]

I usually wash them immediately after using the contents. They leave a bit in the shells and it's like a strong glue.

I too was using a coffee grinder but got worried about the dust so I tried smashing them in a bag. The particles don't get as fine, natch, so subsequently there are bigger pieces floating around with the worms. I think I am going back to the coffee grinder method and being very careful re the dust.

[ProgressivePete]

Wow, a lot of hassle to prepare egg shells! 

 

My philosophy on vermicomposting is to have it be a low-effort, low-energy, clean way to keep our food scraps out of the landfill. The fertilizer is an excellent side benefit, and, of course, I like fooling around with the worms.

About the most I'll do is cut melon rinds into smaller chunks.  The eggshells I just lightly crunch up with my hand as I'm cooking, and into the bin they go.  They disappear eventually.

[Ar-Pharazon]

I'm with you, Pete.  I'd like to add "low-cost" too!  :-)

[KEITH SHUMAKER]

 I am with progressivepete I just add them back when I screen my vc I use 1/4" to screen and add back what ever is left to the bin

[Allison Jack]

Wow, I must be a lazy vermicomposter. I just throw the full egg shells in. Anything that doesn't go through the sieve goes back in the bin, so they eventually get broken down. The worms like to hang out in them and reproduce. Just like in corn cobs. So I don't want to get in the way of their special time together :-).

[Becky]

Thank you all! My worms are happy!

[Adam]

Egg shells should definitely be rinsed before being added to the worm bin unless the shells come from hard boiled eggs. I put mine in the food processor after rinsing and drying them and mix with Azomite and other ingredients to use as grit for their gizzards. The smaller it is the faster it will be eaten. If you want a better castings quality use a 1/8" screen. This will let fewer worms and unfinished material into the castings.

Hamilton Organics

[ProgressivePete]

Why do the eggshells need to be rinsed? 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I dunno, I've never rinsed them.