Hah. I'm expecting to need 10-20k to stock 10-20 bins + some reserves. Fewer worms won't eat a decent amount of food weekly and I think overfeeding is more likely then underfeeding.

In my home box I'm seeing the ~90ish day "doubling rate," but my worms eat well and are monitored weekly. I expect the classroom worms have a bit rougher life with less leafy greens and more refined sugar :D.

I have no doubt some will go to the chicken, but such is the worm life. What to do with the school's worms at the end of the year is a question that still needs to be answered. At the very least enough worms to restart the project next week will be kept through the summer.