COMPOSTING

[RichnSteph]

And so your addiction to composting begins...

Indeed!

 

[vehve]

I've had my compost bin covered for the last week and have watered it and turned it 3 times. When I came home last night I opened the box to check it and all the ants are gone. There were still a few little black roaches in there but they were high on the sides of the box and not in the compost. Once I stuck my hand into the pile I figured out why, it's dang hot in there! I've got way more green in there than brown so I've got to rake some leaves after work to put in there, then tomorrow I mow the lawn and add that, then more leaves...... I'm going to need a second bin at some point I think.

Oh, I meant to ask. Are you using spent chicken bedding in there? And when mowing the lawn, you could throw the clippings in the run for a week to mature a bit and provide funtime for the chickens before it's thrown in the compost.

 

[RichnSteph]

Oh, I meant to ask. Are you using spent chicken bedding in there? And when mowing the lawn, you could throw the clippings in the run for a week to mature a bit and provide funtime for the chickens before it's thrown in the compost.

Unfortunately we don't have chickens yet. We're still trying to get the land cleared and a coop built. The land we are on has never been improved so there are dead falls (and wasps) everywhere. I've been working a little at a time on it but with work and the constant stream of relatives wanting to come hang out "in the country" it's been difficult to get any serious time outside. I do throw all my yard trimmings in the compost though.

RichnSteph

 

[vehve]

Unfortunately we don't have chickens yet. We're still trying to get the land cleared and a coop built. The land we are on has never been improved so there are dead falls (and wasps) everywhere. I've been working a little at a time on it but with work and the constant stream of relatives wanting to come hang out "in the country" it's been difficult to get any serious time outside. I do throw all my yard trimmings in the compost though.

RichnSteph

One part of the genuine country experience is the farmer handing you a pair of rubber boots, overalls and a shovel and saying "Dinner's at seven. I expect this to be cleared by then."

 

[RichnSteph]

Wanted to drop in here and update some information. Several days ago our compost bin was invaded by black soldier fly larvae and by invaded I mean you can hear them in there if you listen at the top of the pile and the entire pile seems to be moving. So far they've taken what was 18" of grass clippings, oak leaves and kitchen scraps and turned it into 10" of a more compost looking material. The one issue I have now is keeping enough green stuff in there to keep them happy.

RichnSteph

 

[karen18]

okay, that explains the horrible smell comming out of my rubbermaid compost garbage can!
absolutely putrid....It has cow/alpaca manure, veggie/fruit scaps, news paper. coffee grounds, etc. The more liquid I add, the stinkier it gets. I was thinking of assembling 4 wooden slated palets into a compost box with a removable front to put in the back of my yard. I think the air, rain, and drainage will help. Any Ideas????

 

[3forfree]

karen18, I can smell it here in michigan. The pallet idea is lots better than the rubbermaid tub. Besides all the greens and browns in the compost, you also need some air. I hope you have a strong stomach, when you dump that rubbermaid tub you'll get a ton of maggots with everything else you've thrown in it.

 

[AxisOfBeagles]

The chickens will love those maggots!

 

[vehve]

okay, that explains the horrible smell comming out of my rubbermaid compost garbage can!
absolutely putrid....It has cow/alpaca manure, veggie/fruit scaps, news paper. coffee grounds, etc. The more liquid I add, the stinkier it gets. I was thinking of assembling 4 wooden slated palets into a compost box with a removable front to put in the back of my yard. I think the air, rain, and drainage will help. Any Ideas????

Does it have drain holes in the bottom? And are you adding any other dry stuff apart from the news paper?

 

[roerinaci]

Good Morning everyone

I'm loving this thread..I don't have chickens yet trying to get all my info together I'm hoping for next Spring

..I do have 2 compost bins next to my Veggie Gardens and they work out great..My question is how long does it take for the Chicken poo to break down I'm thinking of letting the chickens go into my garden at the end of the season to eat what is left in there and to scratch and move thing around a bit

I'm thinking of have 12 chickens to start my 2 gardens are 15x20