chickens and composting

[minamisfit]

Hello! This is my first post on here so I hope I do it right. I just bought 6 baby chickens. We had chickens when I was little but this is my first time owning them on my own. I recently started a compost pile and I'm new to that also. Although I've been gardening my whole life. I'm really excited to see the benefits from the chickens and the compost! Anyway back to my question(s). I was wondering if I could just throw the compost into the run and let the chickens go at it? If there is anything in there they shouldn't eat will they know not to? We compost all kinds of vegetables, no meat or dairy but we do compost the eggs shells. Is that okay for them or will that make them want to eat their own eggs? We also compost cardboard, teabags, coffee grounds and filters. Should I have a separate pile for those things or will it be okay to just put in the run too? Thanks!

 

[TwoCrows]

Lots of people ask this question and I think you may get different answers. I personally think it is best to keep it out of the run. Compost needs to rest to be at it's best. A compost pile in the run will attract mice and rats. It is great to feed table scraps, and yes, chickens love meat! I give my girls a tiny bit each week because not only is it very high in protein but it is great for the feathers. Especially during molting season...they need tons of protein. Anyway, I think you might do best to compost outside the run, you can let them dig around in it, but I wouldn't put it inside with the chickens near the coop.

If you need any tips and hints on raising your new flock, stop by our learning center here on BYC for lots of good reads on all the aspects of keeping poultry...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

Great to have you aboard and enjoy BYC!

 

[minamisfit]

Thank you! I didn't think about the mice getting in. I could let them out and let them scratch about in the pile? I worry about hawks though, we have a bunch where I live. I see them flying everyday so I'm kind of afraid to let them out of the run when we get them out there.

 

[TwoCrows]

I have a lot of hawks as well as other things lurking in the bushes. But I let my girls out and sit with them while they are out. As long as you are out there with them, you shouldn't have too much trouble with predators. I have never had any issues when I am there supervising. Just don't wander off too far if hawks are a huge problem. And yes, they would love to scratch around in the compost pile! You could always bring a small shovel full into the run for them to scratch around in.

 

[minamisfit]

Thanks for the advice! I also read somewhere that hawks don't like reflective or shiny things like CDs.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Hawks can be a real problem, unless you are right there supervising (and that isn't 100% safe either), there really doesn't seem to be a really good way of dealing with them besides covering the run/coop.. if you want to do search there are quite a few threads on how people have dealt with them https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/717891/hawks and https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/741631/hawks-and-how-to-stop-them We usually compost outside the runs, but do toss in things in moderation that they will eat like veggie peels, meat etc to give them something to do... it does depend on how much you have and how big the run is etc, and how often you want to clean it out. We do feed egg shells back but make sure they are crushed up really well so they don't look like eggs. Not sure if you have seen the Chicken Treat chart, but it also has a list of things not to feed near the end https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-treat-chart-the-best-treats-for-backyard-chickens

 

[gander007]

 

[scoutmaster]

I have my compost piles in my run, but they have wire around them. That way it is easy to put the droppings from the coop in there, along with yard and kitchen waste, but the ladies can't mess with the piles. I have to lay some wire on top to, or they jump up and dig in it. The worms in the compost pile help with the process. If the ladies are in the pile, there won't be any worms.