Fleas! Can I use bedding in garden?

[Peony7]

We've got fleas in the coop. After I deal with clean up, wondering if there's a way to still use the bedding in my garden? Can I put bedding in black plastic garbage bags and seal them up for awhile, then compost or does it all need to go in the garbage? Hate to waste the poop goodness.

 

[azygous]

Fleas need a warm blood supply. They won't get it in a compost pile. Keep the chickens out of it for a while though.

You should treat your coop with a premises spray or powder for parasites. You can also treat the compost pile with it if you wish. Be sure to use a non-toxic treatment such as permethrin or spinosad.

 

[Sara Ranch]

I bagged the pine shavings and poopies from this spring. Set it out in the yard, in the warm sunshine. Had temps over a 100F in the shade.

This fall, like this month, I opened the bags and dumped them at the bottom of 40 gallon buckets and planters. Their was little to no composting. I added a bag or two of dirt on top and planted.

My lemon tree struggled a bit in the beginning. After a few weeks, I saw new leaves coming out.

The pine shavings in the black, covered compost bins still have not composted. The pine shavings that were dumped far, far away on the ground are still there.

*****

My suggestion would be to put it in an area there will be a future garden, like next year. Cover it with dirt or mulch and wait until spring to work with it.

Edited to add - I only use pine shaving with babies. I use sand method in my animal houses. So easy to clean!!

If you are using the deep liter method, the stuff you pull out will be magic sauce for your garden.