Let chickens turn compost?

happylittlehens

Songster
6 Years
Mar 19, 2013
247
133
166
Utah
Have any of you made a compost pile and let your chickens turn it? I’ve heard of people doing this but my chickens just want to kick my pile out into a nice flat layer. Which pretty much defeats the purpose. Has anyone had any luck with this?
 
My composting pile is round. I used chicken wire hoop it in a circle. I stop filling it when there’s about a foot of wire left. Yes they get in and scratch around kicking things up but it’s never much to rake up. I also ring it with cut firewood at the bottom. We lift up the firewood when we hunt for bugs. And yes my chickens ARE spoiled. :celebrate
 
My run is the compost pile. Have you considered using the deep litter method?
I have tried deep litter. My chickens push it ALL out the coop door and into the run! So I guess tecnically I am composting in the run right now. I’m just worried about throwing kitchen waste straight out into the run and not in a specific spot that I can turn and water to keep the bugs down...

I just went and raked some of it into a pile to put in my garden beds. It looks like it’s actually breaking down pretty well so maybe I’ll stick with it.
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If you don't mind scraping it back periodically let them do some yard work for you. In the past I have made a 3 sided compost bin by standing pallets up and driving t-posts down through the middle to hold them up. When the pallets weather down and aren't useful anymore you can lift them over the posts and drop new ones on.
 
I have tried deep litter. My chickens push it ALL out the coop door and into the run! So I guess tecnically I am composting in the run right now. I’m just worried about throwing kitchen waste straight out into the run and not in a specific spot that I can turn and water to keep the bugs down...

I just went and raked some of it into a pile to put in my garden beds. It looks like it’s actually breaking down pretty well so maybe I’ll stick with it.
View attachment 1501763

I use deep litter in both coop and run. I also throw kitchen waste directly in the run and I encourage bugs to come in-- that's extra protein and fun for the chickens! The birds turn it. It works really well.
 

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