Coffee chaff! I did it!

[Princess Lay-a]

I read about using coffee chaff instead of pine shavings on Mother Earth News

:

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Happy-Homesteader/Coffee-Chaff-Chicken-Coop-Litter.aspx

I called our local roaster and picked up two bags that they were happy to get rid of. I dropped a few pans full in their brooder and watched the antics. This smells SOOO good! It's fluffier than pine shavings, so be ready for puffs of coffee chaff & smells to fly through the air. They went to town! They were dust bathing and now smell like mocha Java!

I'll give it a few days and see what "cons" there are. I did see some beans that they carried around, though no one was eating them. I wonder if when they are bigger and eat the beans and then lay eggs I would get my caffeine rush without drinking my coffee???

LOL!

 

[Downshifting]

Quote:
I love it! Talk about making the perfect food even better!

 

[Princess Lay-a]

I just went back in there and all I can smell is coffee!

Such a treat compared to chicky funk! They are hunkered down and rolling in it. Like cats in cat nip....chicky java junkies??

 

[gryeyes]

Well, I'm GOING to try it - I found a coffee roasting company that has a list of folks who come get the chaff in 55 gallon barrel amounts, and they'll add my name to that list. Can't take small amounts, gotta take it in the huge, hunkin' container size. Now I just have to scramble my own container.......

Thanks SO much for posting this!!!

 

[dragonchick]

Watch for mold in the big containers.

 

[PortageGirl]

I searched out for a few places to call within reasonable driving distance. Wish me luck!

 

[ozark hen]

If I did that you wouldn't be able to get me out of the coop!!

Sounds wonderful!

 

[Zahboo]

Is the smell overpowering, like would it be okay for freshly hatched chicks? I hate straw and shavings here are expensive, so maybe a possiblilty?

 

[Princess Lay-a]

I so hope you guys can try this!

Best of luck!
I think it's great to reuse something rather than it heading to a land fill. It'll be in my coop, then directly into the garden or composter. The roaster guy said he had chickens and I told him about this article, I think he may try it too!

I find so many wonderful ideas at

Mother Earth News!!

 

[Zahboo]

How do I find my local roaster