Ever since I've had chickens (2+years), I've been wanting to compost but never really knew how.
This summer I finally got a composter from Sam's. It's on a stand & easily turned. Here's the one I got:
http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=prod2550111&navAction=
Well, hubby wanted this as far away from the house as possible so that it wouldn't smell.
Now, I know the waste will reduce, but I've already got the thing filled up! Between cleaning out the coop & hatching a couple batches of chicks & cleaning their shavings out of the brooder, it fills up QUICKLY!
I've even got a trash can full of poopy shavings right now that won't fit in the composter.
Also, as soon as hubby gets finished with the new coop (hopefully this weekend), I will be cleaning shavings out of the old coop & I have nowhere to put them!!
Can I just make a compost pile? An actual pile that is out in the weather & all? Can it be in the enclosed yard close to the coop for convenience & for the chickens to dig in some? Will it stink too bad (cause it's pretty close to the house)? Will it possibly attract predators?
Should I make the compost "pile" out there where my composter now is & bring that composter close to the chicken coop (the chickens couldn't dig in it & it doesn't seem to stink since it's closed up)?
Also, I'm not sure about the shavings & poop ratio in it. There seems to be A LOT more shavings in it than poop. I do have some vegetable scraps in there every now & then (hubby doesn't eat veggies & the few leftovers I have usually go to the chickens). There are some coffee grounds & filters, tea bags, & a few egg shells in it.
Plus, I have a TON of leaves that I've raked up & bagged from the yard & piles I haven't yet bagged & tons more that are falling & I have nowhere to put them!!
Also, I have a coffee can under the kitchen sink I was keeping coffee grounds & egg shells & such in to eventually take out to the composter when it's full. Well, I opened it up & it's got mold in it. Is that still ok to put in the composter? What about worms I find in the yard while raking under the wet leaves (from rain the other day)...can they go in there...will they help break the material down faster?
Thanks for any & all composting advice/tips.
This summer I finally got a composter from Sam's. It's on a stand & easily turned. Here's the one I got:
http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=prod2550111&navAction=
Well, hubby wanted this as far away from the house as possible so that it wouldn't smell.
Now, I know the waste will reduce, but I've already got the thing filled up! Between cleaning out the coop & hatching a couple batches of chicks & cleaning their shavings out of the brooder, it fills up QUICKLY!
I've even got a trash can full of poopy shavings right now that won't fit in the composter.
Also, as soon as hubby gets finished with the new coop (hopefully this weekend), I will be cleaning shavings out of the old coop & I have nowhere to put them!!
Can I just make a compost pile? An actual pile that is out in the weather & all? Can it be in the enclosed yard close to the coop for convenience & for the chickens to dig in some? Will it stink too bad (cause it's pretty close to the house)? Will it possibly attract predators?
Should I make the compost "pile" out there where my composter now is & bring that composter close to the chicken coop (the chickens couldn't dig in it & it doesn't seem to stink since it's closed up)?
Also, I'm not sure about the shavings & poop ratio in it. There seems to be A LOT more shavings in it than poop. I do have some vegetable scraps in there every now & then (hubby doesn't eat veggies & the few leftovers I have usually go to the chickens). There are some coffee grounds & filters, tea bags, & a few egg shells in it.
Plus, I have a TON of leaves that I've raked up & bagged from the yard & piles I haven't yet bagged & tons more that are falling & I have nowhere to put them!!
Also, I have a coffee can under the kitchen sink I was keeping coffee grounds & egg shells & such in to eventually take out to the composter when it's full. Well, I opened it up & it's got mold in it. Is that still ok to put in the composter? What about worms I find in the yard while raking under the wet leaves (from rain the other day)...can they go in there...will they help break the material down faster?
Thanks for any & all composting advice/tips.
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