Deep Litter Method and Attraction of Wild Animals

[dominiques]

Hi, I've been feeding my chickens leftovers from our kitchen and garden. Mostly veggies with a little rice, pasta, bread. I heard that you leave it in their run and it will compost adding a nice layer of warm bedding. I was wondering won't that attract wild animals such as racoons and rats? When I go to close them up in the evening in their coop there is often food left over in their run. Also, I wonder about their hanging tray of store bought chicken food and attracting unwanted critters. What do you all do/think? Thanks! Mary

 

[J-Sanders]

Might but if the rodents are there when the chickens go out in the AM they won't live long enough to worry about. If the coons can get in you won't have chickens to worry about.

Jim

 

[donrae]

Might but if the rodents are there when the chickens go out in the AM they won't live long enough to worry about. If the coons can get in you won't have chickens to worry about.

Jim

Nicely put!

All my food scraps go to the chickens, just on the floor of the run. They eat what they want and scratch the rest into the ground. My dogs look longingly into the run but can't get in. Same should be with coons. If they can get in, they're not going to eat the scraps when there's chicken dinner to be had.