Compost & Chickens

[Neolones]

Does anybody know if its "safe" to let your chickens turn your compost pile? I have a compost bin, that I keep a lid on it. One day I forgot to secure the lid, it came off, and found the girls scathing on it. The girls are fine, but I was wondering if I could let them scratch the top of the pile, year round? The pile has hay with their poop, plus lots of kitchen scraps. Not sure if its safe for them. Does anybody let them?

 

[PirateGirl]

Do a search of the forums on this site on composting with chickens. There is loads of good info. For the most part, it is safe. Some people have their compost right in the run with the chickens and use the chickens to turn it all the time. The danger would be if you have added any foods that are not safe for chickens to eat. Off the top of my head I can think of one thing we routinely throw in our compost that is not great for chickens, and that's coffee grounds. Do a little reading on foods/kitchen scraps that are not safe for chickens, and if you can avoid these in your compost pile, I'd consider letting the chickens turn the compost and pick through it on a regular basis.

 

[PetesChicks]

I personally don't, because my compost pile is too far away from my coop and run. Nothing much in there, though, except chicken poop and shavings. Almost all edible kitchen scraps go to the girls, and they take care of them.

A lot of people here will do their compost pile right in their run, though, and let the girls have at it. As long as there isn't anything in there that they shouldn't have, they will be fine & have lots of fun scratching through it.

 

[jthornton]

Mine turn my compost daily... they scratch it out, I put it back. Mine is located inside the Chicken Yard.

JT

 

[jreardon1918]

This is a daily activity for our now one year olds.

 

[lazy gardener]

I do sheet composting and DLM in coop and run. So the flock has access to good composting when they are penned up, as well as other compost opportunities when they are free ranging. The only concern I might have regarding them working a closed compost bin is the possibility of it being anaerobic in the middle. If it's a well blended compost, all is well.

 

[aquila]

I made an illustrated chart for our kitchen listing what should and shouldn't be added to the compost, so keeping out chicken-incompatible things is easier for everyone in the household, including guests. I should re-do it, it could be more concise, but the doodles do encourage people to read it. We do keep a separate container for coffee grounds and tea leaves, those go directly to the fenced off garden where the chickens are usually not allowed.

Our hens have a "slow turn" style heap in their run but they love to visit our other heaps and bins while out free ranging.

 

[PirateGirl]

I made an illustrated chart for our kitchen listing what should and shouldn't be added to the compost, so keeping out chicken-incompatible things is easier for everyone in the household, including guests. I should re-do it, it could be more concise, but the doodles do encourage people to read it. We do keep a separate container for coffee grounds and tea leaves, those go directly to the fenced off garden where the chickens are usually not allowed.

View attachment 1349492

Our hens have a "slow turn" style heap in their run but they love to visit our other heaps and bins while out free ranging.

View attachment 1349490

I was looking at your list and saw wood ash on there. I am relatively new to composting. How does the ash help? I have never mixed it in my compost, but I do use it in the chickens' dust bath. If it's really good for my compost I'll add it in there as well.

 

[aquila]

I was looking at your list and saw wood ash on there. I am relatively new to composting. How does the ash help? I have never mixed it in my compost, but I do use it in the chickens' dust bath. If it's really good for my compost I'll add it in there as well.

A lot of people are huge proponents of adding clean, good charcoal to compost or using it in other ways to make biochar.

Wood ash, on the other hand, is a little more situational. I do use it in my compost and straight on the garden soil from time to time. It is a very good source of potassium and trace minerals. We have somewhat acidic soil where we are and wood ash is very basic so it helps a bit with the pH. If you have neutral soil pH you might want to be more careful and if it's already basic I wouldn't add wood ash at all. Also, you want distribute wood ash very finely and mixed in with other materials, or make sure to keep it dry - getting a concentrated amount of ash wet could accidentally create lye which you wouldn't want in your compost heap.

 

[Rlmp817]

I made an illustrated chart for our kitchen listing what should and shouldn't be added to the compost, so keeping out chicken-incompatible things is easier for everyone in the household, including guests. I should re-do it, it could be more concise, but the doodles do encourage people to read it. We do keep a separate container for coffee grounds and tea leaves, those go directly to the fenced off garden where the chickens are usually not allowed.

View attachment 1349492

Our hens have a "slow turn" style heap in their run but they love to visit our other heaps and bins while out free ranging.

View attachment 1349490

Are black walnuts bad for chickens? We have several established black walnut trees that are VERY prolific.