Since I use wood chips (same wood chips as in the run) and hemp, I just rake it out directly into the run. It does double duty as it becomes part of the deep litter there.
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What do you use on the coop floor? I have pine shavings and do the same with the garden - I even bury the bedding and mix it around with the soil to speed up its decomposition - but it’s never ready for spring planting I don’t use poop boards, so what I bury is shavings+poop, not just shavings, so the balance should be even better in terms of browns vs. greens, and there’s no identifiable poop left by springtime, but the shavings are still there… They seem to be gone only at the end of the growing season when I bury the next load.The stuff on the droppings board goes in the compost. The stuff on the coop floor goes in the garden in the fall so it is ready for spring planting.
What do you use on the coop floor? I have pine shavings and do the same with the garden - I even bury the bedding and mix it around with the soil to speed up its decomposition - but it’s never ready for spring planting I don’t use poop boards, so what I bury is shavings+poop, not just shavings, so the balance should be even better in terms of browns vs. greens, and there’s no identifiable poop left by springtime, but the shavings are still there… They seem to be gone only at the end of the growing season when I bury the next load.
Ditto!The stuff on the droppings board goes in the compost. The stuff on the coop floor goes in the garden in the fall so it is ready for spring planting.
I also use pine shavings and usually till it in. I'll get a bit more specific on "spring planting". This is when I was in Northwest Arkansas so a different climate than you or down here.What do you use on the coop floor? I have pine shavings and do the same with the garden - I even bury the bedding and mix it around with the soil to speed up its decomposition - but it’s never ready for spring planting
Must be the climate then. Though I’ve read about people doing it here too (NY state etc.), but maybe they do it earlier in the fall and plant later the following year… or have a smaller amount… or something. I don’t plant anything until end of May, and the tilled shavings are very much still there. I may need to rethink my strategy.I also use pine shavings and usually till it in. I'll get a bit more specific on "spring planting". This is when I was in Northwest Arkansas so a different climate than you or down here.
I typically planted the cool weather crops like beets, carrots, turnips, cabbage, broccoli, potatoes, green peas, and such in February. I did not plant these where I'd spread the coop bedding. About the first of May is when warm weather crops like corn, beans, tomatoes. peppers, sweet potatoes, and such went in. I planted these in the area where I'd spread and tilled in the coop bedding.
I don't have the experience gardening in your climate. Another example of where location may matter. And an example of what works for me might not work for you. And that details matter.
Its normal and healthy for garden soil to have organic matter in it, it will continue to break down and support colonies of microorganisms that help the soil. The poop will have broken down, that's what you want.and the tilled shavings are very much still there. I may need to rethink my strategy.