composting with chickens

[johari]

My chicks aren't ready to go out in their yard yet. But I was wondering at what age would it be ok to start doing a compost in their pen? I read the article about composting with chickens and it sounded wonderful. But then I also don't want to hurt the babies.

 

[bHen]

I would begin when they are completely frathered out. This is the time that mine seem to find the manure pile on their own and should I say, 'let the stuff fly!' They love it! I would start offering small bits of east to eat table scraps or hay chaff now so the can learn what to do with the stuff.

 

[johari]

Ok. I was kinda thinking of waiting, but I'd really like to move my compost pile soon. Hmmm. Is there anything that I shouldn't put in the compost that the chickens can't have?

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Quote: Why not just let the chickens have access to the pile where it is?
Trying to "compost" IN the pen means you'll have a higher moisture level than you should, and your pile won't be deep enough to really "compost" at all

 

[johari]

The way I have it set up I think that it will compost quite nicely. At least I'm hoping so.

My chicks aren't ready to go out in their yard yet. But I was wondering at what age would it be ok to start doing a compost in their pen? I read the article about composting with chickens and it sounded wonderful. But then I also don't want to hurt the babies.

Why not just let the chickens have access to the pile where it is?
Trying to "compost" IN the pen means you'll have a higher moisture level than you should, and your pile won't be deep enough to really "compost" at all

 

[aggiemae]

If you want you chickens to work your compost you will need to establish a petty good pile first and keep it in an area where it can be somewhat contained because they will scratch it flat and all over in no time.

We keep two of those bottomless can types and layer in poop, lawn clippings and garden and kitchen leavings and water to keep it moist but not wet When one is cooked I remover the container and leave the pile and the chickens go at it and we use the container to start a new pile.

After a day or tow we sift the pile the chickens are working on, add the big stuff to the batch in the 2nd can so it can keep cooking and add the rest to the gardens.

As for what we put into compost...I try not to over do the citrus since our soil is already acidic but the only thing I never put into the compost is meat, dairy products or avocado shells and seeds.

 

[johari]

This is the area that will become my chicken compost. There is only one opening into the pen. Though I do need to get more hardware cloth or some plastic sheeting to protect the fence.

 

[Hayduke27]

I built an area into my chicken run for composting as well. I had read about using the chickens to turn the compost piles, and liked the sound of it. Just last night I introduced my almost-6-week-old chickens to their first pile of weeds I had pulled from the garden. They had a great time ripping them to shreds and scattering them everywhere. I figure I'll just rake them back into the area when the chickens are done eating and playing with them, and I am just going to keep a chunk of my large run for the compost pile. I was picturing just raking all the poo and whatnot from the run into the pile every now and again, and other than that, just letting the chickens have their way with it. They do appreciate the pile to dig in!

 

[nellynelly]

we have a chicken moat that leads to the compost area, works great. the only downside i have seen, the chickens spend so much time in the compost area, they have not killed all the grass in the moat.

because we want to harvest finished compost, we cover the pile with plastic after 6 weeks or so.

 

[johari]

Can you post a picture?