Can I compost the pine shavings from the brooder?

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cleoandtheo

cleoandtheo

Songster
9 Years
Feb 23, 2010
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Orange County, California
I hope this was the best place to post this question. Please forgive the rookie mistake, if not.

I know I could usually add wood chips to the pile, and I definitely want to add the chicken droppings to the compost pile. But I thought I better check with the experts!
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Seems like I'm changing their chips frequently, as they get wet & smelly, and I hate to throw stuff in the trash.

Would this be "brown" stuff in the compost, or "green" since it's wet?
 
I use my shavings to put around my trees. Maybe, someone that uses them in a different way will come along and give you some good advice.

I don't see why they couldn't be used.
 
Chicken poop is GREAT compost additive. Lots of nitrogen, and will make a nice hot pile. Heck, that's part of the reason I wanted chickens! DON"T put fresh poo near growing plants though. It will actually burn them. Composted up though, it is brown (and white and green) gold. Let it compost and then age a month or so, and you're good to go. The shavings are "brown" (carbon) and the droppings are "green" (nitrogen) as far as your composting ratios go, but remember that those are "rules of thumb" only.
 
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I actually waited about six months and then layered it in my cold frame for additional heat. Shavings (and poo) from the brooder first, then finished compost, then garden soil. So far its working great! My lettuce, broccoli, carrots, spinach, onions, and garlic are thriving!

When I do my change out cleanings during brooder season I usually just add it right to my compost pile. I have had awesome results with it so far.
 
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Chicken manure is high in N (Nitrogen) and pine shavings are high in C (Carbon), so they should compost on their own. If it starts to stink, you can add more C- matter. If it's not composting, you can add more N

I have found that by the time the wood chips compost the chicken manure is next to dead so I use builders sand in the brooder and in the pens rather than wood product.

As for your question "Would this be "brown" stuff in the compost, or "green" since it's wet" I would consider it brown...

Chris
 
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I agree. Consider it brown. The poo adds nitrogen, but the mixture is usually really high in carbon.

As far as I am concerned, composting is the way to go. I would never put in the trash. It is too valuable as compost.
 
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What a find! I'd been wondering about the composting. What is builders sand and where would one get it. Would one just rake the poo. Back to the compost. Is it ok in regards to vegy gardening?

This is not the right place but I have been changed to a Golden Feather. Do you know who bestows this as I didn't ask. I'm not understanding what it does for one. Let me know if you know. Thank you to whom ever!
 
I just put shavings on the corn this morning...and they seem to be ok, since I've done this for a few months in a row...happy gardening!!!
 

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