Composting bedding

[southernmama47]

I'm not sure if this is posted in the right place, please move if it's not

I am so confused on how to go about composting my chicken poo (when I get the chickens next week!) I think an enclosed composter is my best bet, as I live relatively close to neighbors and don't want to deal with flys. Any suggestions?

Also, do newspapers compost as brown materiel?
Can you use composted chicken poo in the vegetable garden? I've heard yes and no.

 

[allaboutdemchicks]

This works for ME and my large scale garden:

Yes, I place chicken manure directly into my compost bin with good results by using garden lime sprinkled directly over the composting waste to cut down on smell. This garden lime may be purchased at your feed store and is a powder.

Keep your waste turned. For me I use a shovel to keep the waste rotated.

Yes, paper will compost with best results when shreaded.

The final composted product will result into a super dark soil material that will please you, as well as your tomatoes, when added to your garden. I simply use a trowl to mix into the existing soil around your plants.

What you do want to be cautioned with is the direct contact of fresh chicken poo simply placed around a plant. This will simply "burn" up your plant in a relatively short amount of time.... so, the process of composting is required.

AND.... just a note, rabbit poo.... incredible!

Hope this helps!!

Claudia

 

[southernmama47]

Anyone with suggestions on compost bins?

 

[jeb251]

have you considered the deep litter method, I use it and put the compost on the garden in fall when I clean the coop and the garden is done, I then till it in and anything that has not composted by that time will do so over the winter

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Hi southernmama47, You're probably getting ready to plant your winter garden, so composting it in place in the garden might not be an option for you. Northerner's might not know that we are about to come into our best season for gardening. Check your local organic gardeners' group, they often sell bins. I have two different types. They're all O.K. Allaboutdemchicks gave good advice on composting. If you get a bin, buy a compost crank: http://www.arbico-organics.com/product/Compost-Crank-compost-turner I compost about 20 large bins worth every year and I couldn't do it without the crank. It makes it easy to turn.

 

[mmaddie's mom]

Quote:
Perfect Fall method, imho.
Other times of year, I place deep litter in a rotary-type composter with cut grass and other kitchen scraps. Love my rotary composter!

 

[jeb251]

ha, I didn't even notice you from Ca, that's funny because I am from Bakersfield originally, so Gallo hit it on the head, I don't know if you guys have Menard's there but they have a composter that you just put on the ground and roll it around, I think it like $50 bucks, sounds like a good price to me if you don't have a huge flock

 

[palochknldy]

I bought a composter online from Home Depot on sale for $50. It's somewhat flimsy plastic, but it has worked great so far. We put in the chicken poo along with the wood shavings that we get when cleaning the coop. Wow, it breaks down everything in the composter fast!! Like the other posts, don't put it directly on your plants. We have a chicken tractor that we move every couple of days and where the poo is still on the ground is where we have bare spots, so it will burn it put on something directly. Can't wait to spread the compost on the garden! The compost needs to have a moisture content of a wet sponge to break down.

 

[fratermus]

I've tried a few methods and have come to love a simple wire bin like this .

A roll of the material is like $27 at Lowes and makes about 5 bins. Split the cost with neighbors?

 

[addictedtochickens]

One thing you could do is purchase one of the big plastic garbage cans from Home Depot. Make sure it has a lid and then all you have to do is roll it around. In three weeks I managed to create twice as much compost as I ever had using a pile. If you are always working it is easy to manage and you don't really have to worry about rolling it every day.

p.s. it works best if the garbage can is black, but mine is green and it works fine.