Composting in the chicken run?

[chicNlove]

Wow! Sounds like you will have some great soil for the garden come spring

 

[nellynelly]

we compost in the chicken run. we bring in waste from 3 restaurants, which includes everything (meet, cheese, coffee, bread ect, ect) and farm waste. we usually have 4 piles. add material to the top pile (twice a week), and turn the piles every couple of weeks. we make a great product in 6 weeks. the bottom pile is covered with plastic , mostly to keep the chickens from spreading the pile, and to help regulate moisture.

i know allot of people would disagree with this approach (some would agree) but it seems to work well for us. we also have a mixed flock of "country" chickens, they are really hardy.

 

[WalterGerhardt]

We are new to chickens too, but this is how we did it in Okolona, Ohio., (between Toledo and Ft .Wayne)

25 each five month old banties and 10 each three month old full size Speckled Sussex.
* 10' x 15' converted horse stall in large barn, (move Sussex in spring)
* Photo door to 1400 s/f fenced run.
* 55 gal water barrel, heat tape for winter attached to 2"; pvc ONLY three watering nipples.
* 5 gallon bucket with four 2" forty five degree elbows for feed.

Base of six inches of pine shavings, 6 inches of finely shredded paper, (added 6 inches of fall leaves which freaked out our birds). Occasionally rake the crusty surface.

but the best $$ we spent was the deer feeder, hung from the rafters, which dispenses cracked corn on a timer. (Randall Burkey). 10 second cycle at 4 pm each day . Birds scratch the surface of the coop even into the next day looking for the "candy" and turn the crunchy surface of the coop.

Now we can leave the birds alone for 3-4 days at a crack. Ironically today we cancelled a trip to Niagra Falls for a 2 day Groupon because of record low temperatures. Worried about the plumbing and birds.

But I digress, "Deep litter method" wicks away moisture and hard droppings seem to disappear into the litter, which will get roto-tilled into the garden in spring. No ammonia smell, (yet).

Other notes:
* NO noticeable difference in temperature in the coop as other blogs claim.
* Separate shoes for the coop is a MUST. One needs to get in the coop and hug your birds, talk to them, especially right before you cut their juggler, skin them and eat them.
* I worry about how the birds will handle the cold. After 20 minutes in the coop with the birds, I'm shivering and they are laughing at me.
* Rollout bucket nesting boxes coming soon , probably in the spring.

 

[smccuen]

We are new to chickens too, but this is how we did it in Okolona, Ohio., (between Toledo and Ft .Wayne)

25 each five month old banties and 10 each three month old full size Speckled Sussex.
* 10' x 15' converted horse stall in large barn, (move Sussex in spring)
* Photo door to 1400 s/f fenced run.
* 55 gal water barrel, heat tape for winter attached to 2"; pvc ONLY three watering nipples.
* 5 gallon bucket with four 2" forty five degree elbows for feed.

Base of six inches of pine shavings, 6 inches of finely shredded paper, (added 6 inches of fall leaves which freaked out our birds). Occasionally rake the crusty surface.

but the best $$ we spent was the deer feeder, hung from the rafters, which dispenses cracked corn on a timer. (Randall Burkey). 10 second cycle at 4 pm each day . Birds scratch the surface of the coop even into the next day looking for the "candy" and turn the crunchy surface of the coop.

Now we can leave the birds alone for 3-4 days at a crack. Ironically today we cancelled a trip to Niagra Falls for a 2 day Groupon because of record low temperatures. Worried about the plumbing and birds.

But I digress, "Deep litter method" wicks away moisture and hard droppings seem to disappear into the litter, which will get roto-tilled into the garden in spring. No ammonia smell, (yet).

Other notes:
* NO noticeable difference in temperature in the coop as other blogs claim.
* Separate shoes for the coop is a MUST. One needs to get in the coop and hug your birds, talk to them, especially right before you cut their juggler, skin them and eat them.
* I worry about how the birds will handle the cold. After 20 minutes in the coop with the birds, I'm shivering and they are laughing at me.
* Rollout bucket nesting boxes coming soon , probably in the spring.

Thanks for that. I plan to use at least one of the cement block 12 ft x 12 ft stalls in my father's barn to help house chickens some day and this deep litter composting method will be something to keep in mind.

 

[surfdok]

Awesome info. I am prepping to start my first chicken run and was wondering about compost. This has exactly answered my questions. Thank you

 

[momofthehouse]

We are new to chickens too, but this is how we did it in Okolona, Ohio., (between Toledo and Ft .Wayne)

25 each five month old banties and 10 each three month old full size Speckled Sussex.
* 10' x 15' converted horse stall in large barn, (move Sussex in spring)
* Photo door to 1400 s/f fenced run.
* 55 gal water barrel, heat tape for winter attached to 2"; pvc ONLY three watering nipples.
* 5 gallon bucket with four 2" forty five degree elbows for feed.

Base of six inches of pine shavings, 6 inches of finely shredded paper, (added 6 inches of fall leaves which freaked out our birds). Occasionally rake the crusty surface.

but the best $$ we spent was the deer feeder, hung from the rafters, which dispenses cracked corn on a timer. (Randall Burkey). 10 second cycle at 4 pm each day . Birds scratch the surface of the coop even into the next day looking for the "candy" and turn the crunchy surface of the coop.

Now we can leave the birds alone for 3-4 days at a crack. Ironically today we cancelled a trip to Niagra Falls for a 2 day Groupon because of record low temperatures. Worried about the plumbing and birds.

But I digress, "Deep litter method" wicks away moisture and hard droppings seem to disappear into the litter, which will get roto-tilled into the garden in spring. No ammonia smell, (yet).

Other notes:
* NO noticeable difference in temperature in the coop as other blogs claim.
* Separate shoes for the coop is a MUST. One needs to get in the coop and hug your birds, talk to them, especially right before you cut their juggler, skin them and eat them.
* I worry about how the birds will handle the cold. After 20 minutes in the coop with the birds, I'm shivering and they are laughing at me.
* Rollout bucket nesting boxes coming soon , probably in the spring.

Fall leaves freaking out birds in a good way or bad? Do they need to be dry?

 

[MEMama3]

Fall leaves freaking out birds in a good way or bad? Do they need to be dry? 

Freaking out good. They love digging. As far as my personal rule of thumb (and I know this wasn't directed to me): Wet is fine outdoors, but must be dry when indoors so you don't raise the humidity.

 

[WalterGerhardt]

Birds just freaked out for 10 or 15 minutes as if they didn't know what to do with the leaves cracking under their feet. Leaves were dry, probably should be dry. Leaves didn't last very long, tampled down into oblivion.

Got out first egg the other day. Kind of surprised. Even got a video of our Braham bantie laying the egg.

 

[momofthehouse]

Birds just freaked out for 10 or 15 minutes as if they didn't know what to do with the leaves cracking under their feet. Leaves were dry, probably should be dry. Leaves didn't last very long, tampled down into oblivion.

Got out first egg the other day. Kind of surprised. Even got a video of our Braham bantie laying the egg.

Oh do post the video! That is cool!

 

[AshleyRae]

I have a pygmy goat, and I was wondering about composting the hay he spreads out all over his pen. I have to periodically rake it out because it gets smelly. Can the chickens help out with that or should I keep it away from them because of the goat pee? Maybe I could just let them hang out in his pen. I'd love to have compost to build a pet garden (all Doc's favorite weeds, a nice place for the chickens to play and scratch in). I don't do vegetable gardens because I have bad luck with it. But I can probably grow ragweed and stuff like that.