Chicken and compost piles

[jdgbirds31]

Right now I have my compost pile fenced off to keep the kids, dog, and chickens out. We are adjusting our chicken setup this spring to make a fenced area around the coop/run for the birds to forage in. I was wondering if I could/should but the compost pile in the new area for them to dig through... I saw somewhere that people do this but I'm worried about the rotting kitchen scraps. Thx!

 

[MyTMo]

I am no expert but from what I have read your chickens and compost pile should work very well together. I wouldn't worry about the decomposing material. My ladies seem to love the pile I have and the compost looks great. Hope this helps you.

 

[RonP]

My secured chicken run is my compost pile.

14'x14', 8 to 24 inches deep of pure black gardeners gold!

If it's biodegradable and not poisonous, it goes in the run.

 

[Monstro]

I plan on setting up a chicken compost area this spring also.
My understanding is most chickens wont pick at something bad for them, with exception of avocado, I think i read. Also to sprinkle scratch or simular every so often so they work it up better, which should help with the rotting factor.

Ive been wondering about the set up of it also. If its the entire main run, or a fenced off area to help contain it? If the composted stuff should be moved to a cooling area outside of run before being used on the garden? Also if coop clean out (pine shavings) goes into run compost, or outside to mix with possible cooling pile.

 

[attimus]

my chickens love the compost

 

[RonP]

Do a bit of reading on deep litter for the run.

This is essentially a working compost pit for the flock.

Lots of great info on this site.

 

[azygous]

Compost piles are to chickens as mud is to a pig, or a dead seal on the beach is to a dog.