Composting in the Run

[Mama Chicky]

I have 6 chickens that free range during the day over our property. They also have an enclosed run outside the coop that leads to the free range yard. I live in north eastern WA and we get up to 3 feet of snow in the winter and some rain in the fall and spring. I am wondering if I could turn their entire run into a compost pile. My questions are: Would having only 6 chickens be enough to work the compost for a run that is about 8 x 10 ft? Also, the run is currently not covered. Does it need to be covered to keep out the rain and snow for the compost to work properly? Since they are able to leave the run at any time to free range would the compost still get enough attention or do the chickens need to be closed into the run for certain times of the day?

 

[Mama Chicky]

My husband is also concerned about smell and attracting rodents or other pests. Any experience with this?

 

[bigmrg74]

You might want to go with a smaller compost set up inside of the run. think maybe more like 3' by 3'. have the top of it open to where your girls can pick out whatever scraps they want, and eat whatever bugs they can find in it. stuff that you wouldn't want them to eat would either have to be buried deep inside of the compost, or you would need to set up another compost pile outside of the run as well.

 

[vehve]

If you get much rain, it's going to be too wet and will smell more easily if it isn't covered. Also, excessive rain will wash out nutrients from the soil-to-be.