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- #31
MaggieRose2001
Songster
I didn't know I could throw husks and such in there - I've been putting them in the trash. So pretty much anything that is organic goes to the run. I am definitely going to have to get used to this - it just seems like it would turn into a rubbish bin with flies. But I'll trust you guys and give it go.Like 3KillerBs I just toss any food scraps directly on the floor. Even if I put them in a pan the chickens will drag them from the pan onto the floor anyhow.
I sometimes go back and pick up what they don't eat, depending on what it is. Anything that might attract flies or other pests I'd pick up. Other items get left in and will eventually break down and become part of the run litter - examples would be green leafy plants (as I throw in whole plants that are spent, i.e. cauliflower and cabbage once I've harvested the vegetable part) and corn cobs/husks.
Shouldn't be any need to remove hay/straw as they should compost down in the run but straw can mold, so if it turns out your environment is conducive to moldy straw I'd use a different material.
If you ever get mud/smells in established deep litter that was working fine previously, it's generally a lack of aeration so add in more wood chips instead of matter that tends to mat or compact down like grass, leaves, hay, etc.