OK to put compost bin into the chicken run?

[comp6512]

I'm still in the planning stage. Chicks scheduled to arrive September 28.

Here's my train of thought: Compost bin produces worms (treats for chicks); Chicks love to dig (aerate the compost). Sounds like a win-win situation. But... are there any downfalls to having a compost bin accessible to chicks at all times?

Thanks for listening.

 

[Imp]

My compost bin is not in the run, but the chickens spend a lot of time in it. I would only be concerned if there is moldy rotten food, that might make them sick. But with chickens you shouldn't have leftovers to throw out. Mine is only yard waste and it's a great worm bed most of the time.

Imp

 

[Coldspringchicken]

The only problem i see is thst the birds will most likely eat most of what goes into the bin. Not a bad thing at all.

 

[Le Canard de Barbarie]

You would run a risk of avian botulism.

 

[LynneP]

You should keep compost bins and discarded bedding at least 50' from your coop and run. As mentioned above, the problem is that compost is designed to activate molds and bacteria. Many danger signs, especially for respiratory disease among your birds.

 

[CrazyFowlFreak]

Not safe at all. If you want to give your babies some of the edible food you're wanting to compost, do that, they'll love it. But don't put the bin anywhere near the chickens, as LynneP said.

 

[bufforp89]

I have what might sort of be a compost in my run. I add all of the leaves and grass clippings into the yard and let it stay in there all year. I just keep adding on top of it and they scratch it all up. I throw rabbit poo in there occasionally too. I dont think that it gets to moist or there are to many bugs in it. Between the 19 of them it stays all light and fluffy and scratched up. In the fall I rake it into a pile and let it sit the winter. Then its pretty much dirt at thet point. I add it to the garden and on occasion I have put it on bare ground and started a new garden right on top of it. It has been a great system for me.

I also must add that I have a very large run and the chickens have a choice to be in that area. I think that if they were on it all the time it would get to moist and wet and possibly harbor bacteria.

 

[OrpingtonManor]

My chickens have been playing in the compost pile since they were just a couple months old (now over a year). Maybe it is because we don't get much rain, so I control the moisture level, but it is rare to get mold in it. When I built their run, I put the compost bin in there. When I turn it, they act like it's Christmas. I do feed the compost both yard waste and kitchen scraps. I don't use chemicals on my yard at all. The kitchen scraps are things that the birds won't eat. When I turn the pile, I put those in the bottom. By the time I turn the pile again, there is no sign of the kitchen scraps. I never thought about the chickens getting sick from it. I might have done it differently if I had thought about molds in the beginning. After a year, I don't think I will change it. Just my experience.

 

[Davaroo]

Hmm, interesting topic.

I'm always interested when there are the, "NO! dont do it!..." posts, side by side with the "I've already done it, with no ill effect..." posts.

It makes for an interesting contrast, and I always wonder where the middle ground is.

 

[Garden Gal]

There was an article in "Hobby Farmer" recently which encouraged a small "compost" pile in the chichen yard. The chickens' scratching would keep things turned and would aid in decomposition. Perhaps the happy medium between a "regular" compost pile and one in the run would be regular human intervention... turning more often, watching for molds, etc... or simply not letting things get too out of hand? Maybe smaller is better for once?