Hot composting with chicken bedding and garden waste

[adventerousone]

I am wanting to start composting but my hubby does not want an outdoor pile.. has anyone ever tried the barrel on a stand composter you just rotate it a couple times a day? it is supposed to keep the smell in as well which is another one of his complaints lol

 

[vehve]

I am wanting to start composting but my hubby does not want an outdoor pile.. has anyone ever tried the barrel on a stand composter you just rotate it a couple times a day? it is supposed to keep the smell in as well which is another one of his complaints lol

A too wet compost will smell, but if you keep the moisture level optimal, it won't put out too much of a smell. I like the type of compost that I'm using (check the first post in this thread for details), but some people have good results with the tumbler composts too. Haven't tried them myself though.

 

[adventerousone]

A too wet compost will smell, but if you keep the moisture level optimal, it won't put out too much of a smell. I like the type of compost that I'm using (check the first post in this thread for details), but some people have good results with the tumbler composts too. Haven't tried them myself though.

Thank you I did read the first several pages of the forum .. very informative but not sure my hubby would go for something like that.. I am planning on showing it to him tonight anyway and get his opinion... but he is not too happy with me wanting to compost :/

 

[vehve]

Quote: Ask him if he hates the nature? Just kidding. Composting is a great, and ecologically responsible way to get rid of spent bedding, garden waste and chicken manure. It saves money on the garbage collection bills, and means you don't need to buy as much, if any, soil. It makes your garden grow better. Also, if done together with chickens, it saves on the feed bill, and provides entertainment for the chickens. You could look into that too. You could research the pros and cons of it together, although personally I haven't really run into any cons apart from the smell it produces when I water it too much. But it really is satisfying when you see something that's basically garbage turn into wonderful soil.

 

[lazy gardener]

What specifically is his complaint about composting? Concern about odor, insects, rodents? Concern about a compost container messing up his landscaping? Tell us about your gardening, how much area does that take up? And assuming that you have chickens, how big is their run and coop area? If he doesn't want an outdoor compost area, perhaps he'd be happier if you kept a vermicompost bin in your kitchen??? Perhaps if you ask him for that, he'll see the wisdom in having an outdoor compost bin! A good bin needs to be a minimum of 3' x 3' x 3' in order to have enough mass to cook effectively. And a well managed pile does not smell! As a matter of fact, i'd venture a bet that the kitchen trash in many homes occasionally smells riper than a well managed compost pile! If he's dead set against a compost bin or pile, and you have enough garden space, can you spare a 3' wide bed? You can do sheet or trench composting right in the garden.

 

[Bens-Hens]

I have a tumbler, it works well but I have learned there is more to composting than just chucking stuff in.

Early on we had something in there that attracted flies, but once whatever it was broke down, we started to get good material from it. Almost no smell (unless the lid was open with your head over it).

Where it lacks is in capacity, it only holds so much, where a pile can be adjusted, grown and changed to suit needs, the barrel takes time to process a single batch.

 

[scottcaddy]

What specifically is his complaint about composting? Concern about odor, insects, rodents? Concern about a compost container messing up his landscaping? Tell us about your gardening, how much area does that take up? And assuming that you have chickens, how big is their run and coop area? If he doesn't want an outdoor compost area, perhaps he'd be happier if you kept a vermicompost bin in your kitchen??? Perhaps if you ask him for that, he'll see the wisdom in having an outdoor compost bin! A good bin needs to be a minimum of 3' x 3' x 3' in order to have enough mass to cook effectively. And a well managed pile does not smell! As a matter of fact, i'd venture a bet that the kitchen trash in many homes occasionally smells riper than a well managed compost pile! If he's dead set against a compost bin or pile, and you have enough garden space, can you spare a 3' wide bed? You can do sheet or trench composting right in the garden.

Yes, This will help alot, very good points here!

Scott

 

[adventerousone]

My yard is fairly large.. not sure about actual square footage though.. my Chickens have full range of the backyard.. I have a spot I can compost in the far corner my hubby is just not liking the idea.. He is worried about the smell the most from what I am getting from our conversations.. my Dad has always composted and his does stink at times .. I am going to do raised garden beds next year at my house because I have gofers in the backyard that will be troublesome... and would like to use my compost for those.. This would be my frst time doing a compost so I am sure I will make a few mistakes at first... he knows this lol

 

[vehve]

The smell is caused by anaerobic breakdown. If you don't water the pile too much, and turn it every once in a while, you'll be fine. Too much nitrogen can also lead to a smelly compost, adding carbon helps in that case (leaves, bedding, sawdust). Composting in a pile can get too wet when it rains, putting a tarp over it will help keep it a bit drier, and will also help it retain heat. But a bin is easier to keep clear of rodents, and if it has a lid, that will let you control the moisture too. Giving chickens the opportunity to go through the compost will let them eat any edible scraps, plus all the bugs that will form in a compost. And they will take care of turning it too. I don't have experience with the chicken composting myself though, but I don't see why it wouldn't work. You'd get healthy and entertained chickens that help you with your gardening. Might keep them away from your vegetables too.

 

[adventerousone]

Ok ... I am still trying to get him to where we can discuss the composting topic but our work schedules are not cooperating Hopefully I will be able to start a pile in the next couple weeks.