Hens in the Garden Compost/ Black Soldier Flies

[Phoenixheart14]

Does anyone else let their girls play in the garden compost? My girls absolutely love it although I do lose a lot of material!
I was wondering if anyone has ever tried raising black soldier flies on the garden compost for their chooks? It sounds like an amazing idea, but I have know idea where to start!

 

[Foster's Freehold]

I watched a Youtube vid where this guy just puts his compost stuff straight into the run. Once my new coop is finished, I'm going to make a hoop coop with about 2 ft sides. I'll put my compostables in one end of it, let the chickens have at it and move it on down a few feet. By the time it gets to the other end, it should be almost ready compost. I'll let it age out a few months, to make sure the new poo has cooled down enough to not burn plants.

This will keep me from having to build a compost heap and turn it. You can't beat free chicken labor!

 

[Phoenixheart14]

What a great idea!
Some stuff I compost isn't chicken friendly (potato skins, coffee grounds, avocado peel, etc.) so I do like to have an actual separate pile.

 

[Foster's Freehold]

Chickens will usually leave things that are not good for them alone, so I'm gonna try not having a separate pile. Selling compost is part of my business plan, so I need it turned and ready as quickly as possible. What the chooks don't eat up, they will at least turn often.

 

[Phoenixheart14]

Chickens will usually leave things that are not good for them alone, so I'm gonna try not having a separate pile. Selling compost is part of my business plan, so I need it turned and ready as quickly as possible. What the chooks don't eat up, they will at least turn often.

That's why I was thinking of the soldier flies. I've heard they can produce garden ready compost in just a few days.

 

[Foster's Freehold]

I haven't read a lot about them, but what I have makes me think they would be a great addition. I gotta get this coop built before I try to add anything else. Chicken math got me again. My last flock was decimated about 5 yrs ago, so I'm just getting back in. Currently have 3 adults, 5 juvies, 6 chicks with another 21 chicks headed my way in April. Current coop is 4x8, holding for now, but seams will begin bursting soon lol.

 

[RWise]

I used to do a compost pile, my girls acted like I was steeling from them, jumped the fence and took it back! So I just toss whatever out and they dig through it. I still have the poo for their garden, but they also want the rabbit droppings,,,,which are scattered on the garden now, the girls are scratching,,,

 

[aldarita]

I have been feeding BSF grubs to my flocks for 4 years now. I have 2 bio-pods love them because the grubs harvest themselves and I just have to pick up the container and take them to the chickens (they love them) it is an excellent source of animal protein, they have a lot of calcium for the layers and a lot of good nutrients.
There is a lot of info online to raise them. Some time ago there was a thread about BSF in BYC you should be able you find it if you do a search.

 

[Boonie Stomper]

I have been feeding BSF grubs to my flocks for 4 years now. I have 2 bio-pods love them because the grubs harvest themselves and I just have to pick up the container and take them to the chickens (they love them) it is an excellent source of animal protein, they have a lot of calcium for the layers and a lot of good nutrients.
There is a lot of info online to raise them. Some time ago there was a thread about BSF in BYC you should be able you find it if you do a search.

Can you start the BSFL bin up from a few bought live larvae (kept away from the chickens)?
I'm ready to try if so. Read a lot on it last year but no luck getting wild caught adults or eggs.