Compost containers/bins

[Agilityscots]

Hey everybody, I'm loving all this free chicken litter compost material. Having chickens has inspired me to finally make compost and I love throwing all my veggie scraps in the bin instead of a landfill...and I can't wait to add this stuff to next year's garden!

I started by making a nice big Rubbermaid garbage can tumbler. Well, that was great but it filled up WAY too fast. I filled up a second garbage can quickly, too.

I want to make LOTS of compost; how do you all contain it? I'd love to see pics. I don't want to go buy a bin or container, and I don't want an unsightly pile in the yard. Any cheap, easy ideas to create my Compost Palace?

Amy

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Four t-posts in a square with wire fencing around it works great. Or just form some fencing into a free standing circular bin.

 

[Country Gal]

I made a very simple one using free pallets...

I got (7) of them and essentially made a "double bin" forming them into 2 squares next to each other, sharing the common wall. I wired them together.

I've found that they are not filling up too fast (especially since each bin is 4'x4'x4') and that with the "double bin" concept, when I need to turn it, I just grab a pitch fork and flip it from one bin into the next. Obviously, if you have the room, you could make more bins, and after the original "construction," it's pretty easy to add more bins if they do start to fill up quickly.

I haven't had a lot of experience with compost yet, this is my first year, so I'm not sure how quickly to expect it to finish. I don't pay too much attention to the "green to brown" ratio either, so I expect that my pile will compost more slowly.

Also take into consideration (as far as how quickly it fills up) that I'm doing the deep litter method in the coop, so I don't have all the coop litter going into the compost pile on a regular basis.

Good luck!

 

[Agilityscots]

Hi CountryGal, I don't pay attention to that green-to-brown ratio either. I just dump in chicken litter and then fruit/veggie scraps, eggshells, dog hair and dryer lint. When I built the first bin I did layer it, but after that, all bets were off!

Mac, thanks for the idea on wire! Excellent! I think I might just pick up a roll of chicken wire today and do that; I'd love to do pallets, but DH is "projected out" after the coop and run. And with the wire I can change its shape any time. Do you enclose it entirely (make a cylinder) or make a semicircle and leave it open?

Amy

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Grass clippings make a nice green addition and you can get quite a bit of it at one time. You'll know if you're putting in too much green if your pile starts getting slimy or smelly.

 

[homecatmom]

Amy, I don't know about where you live, but here in Los Angeles County you can go online and the county offers composting bins and worm bins really reasonably. They are trying to get to a "greener" attitude. I have the composter and am going to get the wormer (it includes the worms) at the next seminar. I'm sure the chickens will LOVE the worms as a treat.

 

[peacebird]

I also have a used pallet bin - and when it overfilled I just started a fresh pile next to it... LOL! It's all good! I toss the veggie scraps, coffee grinds, egg shells, and yard clippings in with the straw from the coop.

Think I turned the pile once last year...maybe? I just dig down to the bottom for compost when I need it. I am definitely in the simple "let it rot" category of composters! I never worry about green/brown ration, or turning, or anything else.

Of course I live out in the country - might be more of a concern if I were in a neighborhood or something.

 

[Agilityscots]

Hi Homecatmom, that's a great idea on calling the county extension service! Although I bet if I tell them that I want an industrial size compost bin, they'll send me packing!

I'm going to make a quick chicken-wire bin and then see if I can convince DH to hook me up with some pallets. Can't you get them for free from home improvement stores?

Also, does it matter if the pile is in total shade? The place I want to put it is behind our shed and under a pine tree.

And will it cook during the winter? Can I continue adding to it during winter?

Amy

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Quote:
You are so lucky! I don't think that Orange County is doing that yet but I hope that they do. I would love to do the worm composting as well.

 

[Country Gal]

And will it cook during the winter? Can I continue adding to it during winter?

Yes you can add to it during the winter, and I'm pretty sure that it will still cook... maybe not as quickly, but it should still cook.​