Composting chicken run

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

Moral of the story is to use the chickens to help construct the pile and use the chickens to help deconstruct the pile. Saves your back. Just don't get in a hurry. Or toss their feed on the pile for enhanced scratching.

Yes, the only “turning” my pile gets is that I add materials, the chickens scratch the pile down, I pile it back up.

And yes, I often throw a scoop of feed, whole corn, or BOSS onto the pile to encourage scratching. I figure if they miss some BOSS or corn, maybe it sprouts.

This spring I plan to try mixing in more soaked seeds to get some more sprouts into the mix.

 

[RUNuts]

I put large branches and logs on the bottom for enhanced air flow. Then I don't touch it for 6 months. The yard is decorated with pallets.

My girls love BOSS. I throw it at fence lines so I don't have to weed eat. Works amazingly well.

 

[vpatt]

I took pictures but I've tried for about an hour to post them and I cannot get it to work.....But we put in the run one scoop of mulch, one bale of straw and what was scooped out of the coup, which was very dry. I do have another bale of straw. I bought a humongous sack of boss. I was so excited to buy 2 tarps, lol. What does that say about me? But the run is about 20'x 20'. I think with five or six chickens that will work. what do you all think? Too small for six chickens? I am going to need at least one more scoop of mulch and more straw, too. Everything is heaped here and there. I'm excited to get started. Grandson #1 came and helped. There were more leaves than I thought also.

 

[Sally PB]

But the run is about 20'x 20'. I think with five or six chickens

20x20 is 400 square feet. The rule of thumb for run area for chickens is 10 square feet/chicken. Your chickens have plenty of room to run, scratch, peck, play. Lucky chickens!

 

[RUNuts]

I took pictures but I've tried for about an hour to post them and I cannot get it to work.....But we put in the run one scoop of mulch, one bale of straw and what was scooped out of the coup, which was very dry. I do have another bale of straw. I bought a humongous sack of boss. I was so excited to buy 2 tarps, lol. What does that say about me? But the run is about 20'x 20'. I think with five or six chickens that will work. what do you all think? Too small for six chickens? I am going to need at least one more scoop of mulch and more straw, too. Everything is heaped here and there. I'm excited to get started. Grandson #1 came and helped. There were more leaves than I thought also.

66 square feet per chicken. Plenty of room. think they will be very happy there.

 

[jthornton]

But the run is about 20'x 20'. I think with five or six chickens that will work. what do you all think?

That will be chicken paradise for sure, lots of room to roam and get away from the top head pecker.

Think about chicken furniture too...

JT

 

[vpatt]

At the time when I had more chickens I was free ranging and then we added a fence probably close to double the 20'x20'....as the chicken population went down we moved that fence and used it for the new dog who turned out to be a runner. She is inside most of the time but I can't chase her if she gets loose. I bet she would like rolling in the compost. I will try pictures again tomorrow.
Ah what kind of furniture do you think they would like? They can get under the coop. I could add a large branch or 2.

 

[vpatt]

chicken Run Compost Day 1....These two are not very interested in the new mulch and straw.

You can see there's plenty room for more compost stuff. On the top of that mountain is the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail.

 

[Sally PB]

what kind of furniture do you think they would like?

A table, a chair? Stuff to climb under and perch on. A bale of straw, logs, stumps.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

A table, a chair? Stuff to climb under and perch on. A bale of straw, logs, stumps.

I have an old wood bed frame I plan to set up in my run this spring for the flocks roosting and hiding pleasure.