How to Raise the American Night Crawler

Prepare the night crawlers' breeding container. Select a large plastic tote, trash can or steel trash can that has steep sides. The worms cannot crawl out of steep sides. If the bottom of the container does not already have at least four holes for drainage, puncture holes in the bottom. Spread a thin layer of gravel less than 1-inch deep also to help with drainage and to keep the soil from turning into mud.

Dig up damp soil from a yard on which fertilizers or pesticides have not been used. Fill the container with 1 foot of the soil. If digging in the spring or fall, the chances are high that this soil is already full of night crawlers. If worms are not found, then add worms after putting in the soil.

Maintain good quality soil for the night crawlers. The soil needs to be moist, but not muddy, so the worms can easily crawl around in it. Check the soil every day to see if it needs watering. Every six weeks, add 2 to 3 inches of new soil because the worms will have eaten any nutritious organic matter from the old soil. Replace the soil yearly. Sift through the soil for seed-like objects. These are worm eggs. Place the worm eggs in the replacement soil.

Add kitchen scraps to the worm's container every day. This can be vegetables, meat or pet food. Also add fresh droppings from livestock like horses or cows.

Use a thermometer to take the temperature of the soil. Ideal conditions are 55 to 65 degrees F. Move into the shade if too warm or inside a shed if too hot.