I didn't think I would ever buy hatching eggs either.............. but.......... there are so many wonderful breeds and colors that I don't have!!Hatching is the most addictive part of having chickens! There's always something else to try
What is this 3 bin system you speak of? That seems like something I have heard before... They were all very apprehensive at first to mess with it, so I made them a ramp... they just hop in and out like you say. I think they were apprehensive about letting the human watch them!
That was the reason I couldn't get my finger on right then- that it will never finish! Makes sense. I can very easily add more boxes, just attached to each other... I hate having them get closer to their outer fence, for fear they will use it to hop out, but in reality, a 4ish ft fence isn't going to hold them in anyhow, so they only really stay in because it is home and they have what they need inside.If you have only one bin and keep adding stuff to it, it won't all ever get to "done" and you have to do what you can to separate out the oldest stuff.
A 3 bin compost system lets you put new stuff in one bin, start on the next when the first is full, and again with the third. The first should be ready to use by the time you fill the third (if not before) so you have an empty bin again. There are other ways to use a 3 bin system, but this is the basic concept. If you have a lot of stuff, you can have more bins. Just remember when making them that if you are standing there with a 3 tine pitch fork (much easier than a shovel) to turn the contents, you don't want the bins too big. Three "ganged" (where the sides of bin 2 have a common side with one side of bin 1 & 3) 3'x3'x3' bins is pretty standard. I found one with Google where a guy made 4 bins from concrete blocks, 4'x8'. But he cheats, he is an excavator and uses the machine to turn the stuff in the bins
In any case, you want to put some "done" stuff in the "new" bin to help get it started. Toss in the chickens' contribution from the coop as well.You can't use chicken manure directly in the garden, it has too much ammonia and will "burn" the plants, killing them. However, it is not a problem if they naturally spread some if it themselves as they forage, assuming they aren't in a small area.
Bruce
That was the reason I couldn't get my finger on right then- that it will never finish! Makes sense. I can very easily add more boxes, just attached to each other... I hate having them get closer to their outer fence, for fear they will use it to hop out, but in reality, a 4ish ft fence isn't going to hold them in anyhow, so they only really stay in because it is home and they have what they need inside.
I think my bin ended up quite a bit bigger than 3x3x3, because I used the full breadth of the wood panels. I can easily change it though... well, not easily, since I then have to move the pile they have going, but you get the idea.
Thanks!
I know that but something about them being fertilized and out in the warmth freaks me out so i put them in the fridge.
