Composting in the chicken run?

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chicNlove

chicNlove

In the Brooder
6 Years
Oct 28, 2013
81
5
38
Connecticut Shoreline
I read somewhere that one can compost right in the chicken run year round. They mentioned it keeps the hens busy and working a "job" will keep them happy.

Has anyone done this? What do you add in?

When do you remove the compost?

I am new to farming and chicken raising, first chicks arriving in April.

Thank you!
Cathy
 
welcome-byc.gif


Glad you joined us.

Personally, I will put lawn clippings and fallen leaves in the run and they will shred and dig it into the dirt mixing it with their poop. It's a great way to compost that stuff if the size of your run allows for it.

I personally would not compost any food scraps that the chickens would not eat right away. My concern would be attracting rodents.
 
I have two bins going. I open one and pretty much anything compostable goes in it. They girls eat what they like and scratch up what's left. I've never had a rodent issue because they are happy to eat the rodents (and snakes) hat try to take up residence. Halfway through the year I close up the one so it can "cool" and I open the second one. I take from the one that they chickens haven't been in for 6 months so it isn't hot and won't burn the plants.
 
MEMama3 said:
I have two bins going. I open one and pretty much anything compostable goes in it. They girls eat what they like and scratch up what's left. I've never had a rodent issue because they are happy to eat the rodents (and snakes) hat try to take up residence. Halfway through the year I close up the one so it can "cool" and I open the second one. I take from the one that they chickens haven't been in for 6 months so it isn't hot and won't burn the plants.
Click to expand...


Thank you so much for the info...what are the items you avoid putting in the compost?
 
chicNlove said:
Thank you so much for the info...what are the items you avoid putting in the compost?
Click to expand...
the only things I don't put in are avocados and coffee grinds and occasionally I will have plant clippings that I know are super toxic, not just to chickens, but in general. Toxic Plants get tossed over the fence and avocados go in the garbage. Coffee grounds get put into a tightly lidded bin and when I close off the old compost and open the new one I stir in the coffee grinds into the old pile.
 
MEMama3 said:
the only things I don't put in are avocados and coffee grinds and occasionally I will have plant clippings that I know are super toxic, not just to chickens, but in general. Toxic Plants get tossed over the fence and avocados go in the garbage. Coffee grounds get put into a tightly lidded bin and when I close off the old compost and open the new one I stir in the coffee grinds into the old pile.
Click to expand...


Thank you, I appreciate the help...
 
MEMama3 said:
the only things I don't put in are avocados and coffee grinds and occasionally I will have plant clippings that I know are super toxic, not just to chickens, but in general. Toxic Plants get tossed over the fence and avocados go in the garbage. Coffee grounds get put into a tightly lidded bin and when I close off the old compost and open the new one I stir in the coffee grinds into the old pile.
Click to expand...

Apparently I'm not as smart as I thought. Why don't you put avacadoes in there? I've done it and now I'm kicking myself thinking it might be dangerous. And why do you wait on the coffee grinds? Just so the chickens won't get into it or another reason?
 
Lizard Lady said:
Apparently I'm not as smart as I thought. Why don't you put avacadoes in there? I've done it and now I'm kicking myself thinking it might be dangerous. And why do you wait on the coffee grinds? Just so the chickens won't get into it or another reason?
Click to expand...
several parts of avocados can be toxic (pit I know and maybe peel). Most chickens will leave it be out of some sense they have, but there's always that one... as far as coffee grinds go, there is no logic behind that choice at all. It's just habit. I guess I just feel it has no benefits for the chickens, but lots for the plants, so I add it just before it goes in the beds.
 
I added 30 garbage bags of leaves to my run. I garbage picked from my neighbors in the fall.The chickens just loved it. They shredded it up but the problem is I dont know where it all went to. LOL I guess if I want compost for the garden I should just dig up the top layer of soil.
 

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