Michigan

[b737drvr]

b737 - You don't need roosts in a brooder. Broody hens don't roost, they sit on eggs.

Doh!

Like I said, might be a stupid questions...I am used to feeling like a jacka$$!

 

[Chickmate]

Nova - Thanks for having us over, that was fun! Uh.. I don't get out a lot, unless you count running errands, so talking to real live human beings over the age of 4 is kind of exciting.

Kaia keeps talking about Aiden, (if I am spelling this correctly,) we'll have to get together again soon.

On compost - Straw takes quite awhile to break down, years, but that is okay. You can put it under a good layer of soil in your garden and let it compost there. Pine shavings break down much faster. The chicken poop will be what you need to wait for. It is a "hot" poop, so it will burn your plant roots if you turn it in right away. It needs to break down for at least a year before you add it to your garden, I think some people wait 2. Same with horse and, I believe, cow manure. I know bunny nuggets you can add right away. Anyway, turning your compost regularly will help it break down, and also adding things that break down quickly, like grass clippings.

Thanks Juise! Sounds like I won't be able to use it till next year. I was hoping to get it all picked up and given to someone because it has become an eyesore behind my coop. What do the rest of you urban farmers do with your piles of poop and bedding? I only have one neighbor who can see it until the leaves come out on the trees, but I don't really want to look at it either! Some of you city dwellers must have to get pretty inventive to hide it?

 

[RaZ]

Oooo! I have been wanting some zebra grass!!

RaZ - I'm sure there are plenty of very nice hens out there who would snap you up in a minute. Problem is, you're looking for pullets!

OK, now seriously, I have a composting question. How long does all this straw, pine shavings and poop have to sit before it can be added to a garden? I know nothing about composting. I have been dumping all of it behind the coop and when it gets warmer I'm going to turn it over and mix it up a bit, but is it still too "new" to put in a garden?

Mom - Those chicks are too cute! Also, glad to hear you're having the surgery done!

I'll divide some zebra grass for you and pot it up.

Most of the "hens" I've met lately have been broody and only want a "look-out" roo. The "pullets" aren't even interested.

Generally speaking, I would wait about 3 months before adding fresh compost to a garden.There is a carbon to nitrogen balance to consider. A bigger pile will "cook" faster than small piles but I still like to wait. Again, this is my opinion and you will find folk that disagree with my method. If you can grind up the big pieces and turn it often, then you can use the compost sooner.

When I took the Advanced Master Composter class, I was told that there was no way I could hot compost given the scale of my piles. Even though my pile cooked at 150 degrees for nearly 60 days. Go figure.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Doh!

Like I said, might be a stupid questions...I am used to feeling like a jacka$$!

I am a big believer in there not being any "stupid questions"

 

[Chickmate]

Thanks RaZ! I found some zebra grass at Lowe's but didn't want to pay what they wanted for it. I might also want some of the other grass, but don't know what it looks like. I'll try to find it on the web.

 

[RaZ]

I am a big believer in there not being any "stupid questions"

Are you kidding? I love stupid questions. I try to ask them all the time. Just to PO the intellectuals.

I am a stinker, aren't I?

 

[dascountry]

Yes, it is two levels. They don't really need roosts if they are little or if the bigger ones are broody. If you want a roost it is as simple as an old towel bar. We did this so that I would never have to have chicks in a broody box in the house. Can't believe the amount of dust!

I just finished cleaning out the work room in the house that had the brooder in.

I never knew they created so much dust! Next time I'll know better.

 

[Juise]

This is good to know because I was just asking my DH....what or where are gonna put the straw from the pen?

I am putting in a "lasagna" bed this year, which I am too lazy to explain right now, so here's a link if you are interested.

I'll divide some zebra grass for you and pot it up.

Most of the "hens" I've met lately have been broody and only want a "look-out" roo. The "pullets" aren't even interested.

Generally speaking, I would wait about 3 months before adding fresh compost to a garden.There is a carbon to nitrogen balance to consider. A bigger pile will "cook" faster than small piles but I still like to wait. Again, this is my opinion and you will find folk that disagree with my method. If you can grind up the big pieces and turn it often, then you can use the compost sooner.

When I took the Advanced Master Composter class, I was told that there was no way I could hot compost given the scale of my piles. Even though my pile cooked at 150 degrees for nearly 60 days. Go figure.

And some plants like a lot of nitrogen, and some hate it. I fried a couple plants before I realized I really need to find out which ones wanted it instead of dumping coffee grounds on everyone.

I think it's fine to add compost in general sooner than a year, it's just the chicken poop specifically that I would wait for. Aside from the good possibility of burning your roots, if you are using it on food plants, bacteria can also be a problem.

P.S. you took a what class!?

I mean, really, I would probably enjoy it, but I had not heard of an "Advanced Master Composter" class. And then I would fail it because that's how I roll.

 

[Chickmate]

I am a big believer in there not being any "stupid questions"

You are SO right about that HH. You don't know or learn if you don't ask!

 

[teeville5]

Teeville stopped over this afternoon and picked up my roo Neil. Sad to see him go but I'm glad to know he is headed to a good home with girls to love. Thanks Terri. I hope he's as good a boy for you has he has been for me.

No, thank you! He's great! He's so calm and gentle and doesn't mind being held at all. He's even won over my youngest daughter. She has been volunteering to take care of him all day and has no problems holding him or picking him up. She won't do that with Red or Newton. DH likes his looks, too, and is glad we chose to get him.

BYC hates me! At least this time it was a short message and not one with a bunch of quotes to look back up. I'm going to try again.

I was going through some of my pictures from last Fall, and thought I would share this one, it cracks me up! Poor baby is always trying to catch a chicken, never can, and can't keep hold of one if you hand it to her.

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Juise- the look on her face is priceless. Come here, chickie! Too cute!