Cleaning the coop?

[wally4232]

Hi new here and planning on my first coop this spring! Have been browsing here now for several weeks and love it! My question is if I use the DLM what do I do with the shavings when I do clean the coop out. I live in a rural area with about two acres right now, just so you know my situation.

Thanks,
Eric

 

[chickflick]

Do you have a compost pile? Or spread it in your garden...good stuff.

 

[Barnyard Dawg]

During the winter I spread them around the plants,
fruit trees and in my gardens where I will turn the soil with my chickens help.

 

[wally4232]

I do not have a compost pile yet buy that is on the list. Can I rototill the pine shavings into my garden as well?

 

[pattycake]

Quote:
I've heard -- don't quote me on this -- that putting wood shavings or sawdust into the soil isn't a good idea, because it uses so much nitrogen to decompose that the plants get deprived. It's better, apparently, to compost it first.

I have an old garden plot I don't plan on using next year, so I'm throwing *everything* into it for now. Hopefully, by the time I get around to planting it all the stuff will have composted nicely.

 

[halo]

From what I understand, tilling it in does take nitrogen from the soil to break it down, but spreading it on the top of the soil makes it act like a mulch and it will break down without robbing the soil of nitrogen. So thats what I do.