HELP--compost pile REEKING!

[dchickenman]

Now THAT'S an education in composting! Lots of stuff I didn't know

 

[augustmomx2]

I allow my girls access to my compost pile. They turn it a lot for me

I will state that I do not have any food scraps (the girls eat it all), so its mostly; pine shavings, chicken poo & DE.

 

[Boo-Boo's Mama]

Possible you need more carbons such as leaves, shredded paper.

 

[jennh]

They DO sell a compost accelerator. That would really help also.

Jen

 

[sheaviance1]

I always bury any of my new nitrogen containing materials (greens) in the middle of the pile and cover with more browns (carbons). Usually, piles will only stink if they are too wet or have too many greens. If you had a lot of spilled feed and a lot of droppings, then you had lots of greens in that mix.

You may want to head over to my other favorite forum at gardenweb dot com and look through some of the posts over there. You will find friendly people eager to help!

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Although a shovelful of dirt from the ground works better and is cheaper...

Pat

 

[Trina Bambina]

I know this is an old thread, but I have the same problem...and it seems green (moldy)...is it ok turn it and then let my 8-9 week birds in to feast on the maggots?

 

[BrittBergh]

Yes your birds will enjoy eating the maggots.

 

[drlcb]

I will betcha anything that you had a substantial amount of spilled feed in that brooder litter. Feed does indeed REEK HORRIBLY when you put a pile out to decompose. The only solutions I know of are 1) spread it out more, 2) mix in more carbonaceous material (e.g. shavings, shredded paper, leaves, etc), and 3) mix in several shovelsful of soil to help it break down faster.

Good luck, "have fun"

,

Pat

Very true -wet feed gets smelly very fast. I use it to grow out my BSF larvae - they love it but it smells horrible. I keep it downwind but now and then I see a flock of buzzards eyeballing the Soldier fly bins!
It will compost quickly - give the chickens access to the compost and they will turn it for you and eat the grubs that develop. if you really want to get it going add some redworms to the mix - they love chicken droppings and the chickens love red worms (composting worms)... It is a win win - more protein for your flock and feed cost will go down once everything gets self sustaining.

Good luck.

DRLCB