chickens and compost?

[weaselslucks]

So i just spent 45 minutes turning my compost pile over. Its hard work and a large pile. Ofcourse only compost safe things go into it nt meats or oils or anything like that. Could my chickens help me with the turning? With all the bugs I bet they would like it but could they eat too many bugs from the pile or catch something from it ,or would it be just a fun experience for them every six months? I would not care about how much mess they made

 

[tomjoad]

I used to have a compost pile... until the birds ate every last bit of it

 

[weaselslucks]

hmm I would have to separate them most of the time.how long would say 10 hens take to decimate the pile?

 

[losvegas]

My 2 Polish hens love our compost! In fact they have done a wonderful job "turning" it. They do make a mess but they enjoy lookin for bugs.

 

[annep]

Mine's in a bin, and they've decided it's a nice place to lay an egg...

 

[cowdogcadillac]

Quote:
Me too!!!!

 

[galanie]

Mine have access to all 3 of my piles. Two of the piles are in bins and so they can't spread it all out but one is in a 3 sided bin with an open front and they turn it a lot by basically scratching it all out of the bin, and I put it back in after dampening it again (drought here). So they wont' make your compost maintenance free probably but they get the best buggies and things! That's why I left them one they could scratch all out. Same with the mulch under the apple trees. They spread, I rake back, they spread, I rake back. It's being turned and is composting wonderfully and there are no weeds or grass under there either hehe.

 

[Mrs. K]

mine turn it and scratch through it, and spread it out. My theory is that they have eaten every weed see and bug egg in the pile. I am using what is left as mulch as we speak. mk

 

[weaselslucks]

awesome anyone have pics?