I know peat moss is the ethical evil of evils...

[raroo]

But I love it!

I switched to peat moss from shavings because I suspected some shavings eating was going on. And I just love it! It absorbs the poop and dries it out instantly, its always fresh and clean smelling, and the ladies love to take dust baths in it! It gets stirred and fluffed up constantly, and when it needs to be changed its fertilized with chicken poo and I can use it in my vegetable garden.
It stays clean and dry and fresh way longer than shavings, and costs less, and uses less too.
Why are the bad things always so good?

 

[Emzyyy]

why is it even bad?

 

[hikerchick]

It's bad because it is not a sustainable resource. When it's gone, it's gone/

 

[mrsengeseth]

hmmmm peat moss you say.... like in the bags from the garden center? Un treated...organic....what kind?

I saw one person here was using soil as their substrate and taking it to the garden too.

OT, does chicken poo need to age before it's used in the garden or is it safe to use fight off without burning the plants?

 

[TipsyDog]

Are you using peat in the brooder or in the coop? Isn't it very dirty and dusty?

 

[raroo]

Its bad because its a non renewable resource. Once the peat moss is taken out of peat bogs, that's it. Its like extracting oil out of the ground, there's no way you can put it back in!

 

[TipsyDog]

Quote:
I didn't know that! Better go get me some more before it all gone!!!

 

[raroo]

I'm using it in the coop. I will still use shavings in the brooder so I can keep an eye on poops and have it less dusty.
It is dusty, that is one drawback, but not so bad! If they kick up a fuss and flap their wings it creates a good cloud, but it settles down right away.
Yes, its the kind from the garden store. Its untreated, no fertilizer or perlite. Peat moss by itself is completely inert, which is why you need to use fertilizer with it as a growing medium.
I'm not 100% sure about the poop needing to age first! I have yet to put it in the garden, but I was just going to mix it up with my good soil from the compost and add it right in. I think that the problem with chicken poo is that if there is too much or its too strong, it will burn the plants, just like other fertilizers. It is especially hot and needs to be diluted.

 

[SproutGirl]

I wonder if you could use coir instead. It's totally renewable, super cheap, and has many of the same qualities as peat moss--absorbent, light weight, etc. It's basically the shredded up hair from coconuts, and a lot of nurseries and hardware stores sell it.

 

[Emzyyy]

shouldn't we stop using it then? I don't want the PeatBogs to diee!