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rotate litter into run?

Discussion in 'Coop & Run - Design, Construction, & Maintenance' started by polychickens, Sep 17, 2007.

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  1. Sep 17, 2007 Post #1 of 15
    polychickens

    polychickens In the Brooder

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    Does anyone toss their old pine shavings from the coop into the run for some more mileage or to ammend the soil in the run. My run is hard dirt and there is hardly a spot where the chickens scratch.

    On the other hand, the corner of my garden where the poop and litter get composted is loaded with grubs and is a rich soil.

    WHat if I toss the old litter from the coop into the outside run and try to develop some worm hunting/scratching area for the hens? The shavings are usually loaded with dried poop and the whole works is half dust when I refresh the coop. Is that fine to throw in the run?

    Thanks!
    Polychickens
     
  2. Sep 17, 2007 Post #2 of 15
    featherfooted

    featherfooted Songster

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    I often put the old shavings in the run. I don't even spread them, just pile them up. The Girls love to go scratching in them. It gives them something to do when they are in the run. It also helps dry it out after a rain. They help soften up and enrich the soil also.
     
  3. Sep 17, 2007 Post #3 of 15
    AK-Bird-brain

    AK-Bird-brain I gots Duckies!

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    I do it with my turkey coup/run helps to dry up after it rains after awhile it can also be shoveled out of the run for compost.
     
  4. Sep 30, 2007 Post #4 of 15
    Wolfpacker

    Wolfpacker Songster

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    I did this yesterday. My compost pile is teaming with large maggot-like grubs. I think they're the larva of the soldier fly. When you open the lid, the whole top layer is moving.

    I threw a shovel full in the run and the girls went crazy scratching and picking out the grubs.

    No problem with this, I assume.
     
  5. Sep 30, 2007 Post #5 of 15
    chickenfeathers

    chickenfeathers Songster

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    Quote:[​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  6. Sep 30, 2007 Post #6 of 15
    Wolfpacker

    Wolfpacker Songster

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    It's not as disgusting as it sounds. And I think it's neat that they're feeding on the nitrogen in kitchen scraps and the litter from my chicken run and then my chickens feed on them. A little ecological circle.
     
  7. Sep 30, 2007 Post #7 of 15
    chickenfeathers

    chickenfeathers Songster

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    Yes, I think it's neat too.

    Just joshing you! [​IMG]
     
  8. Sep 30, 2007 Post #8 of 15
    Nifty-Chicken

    Nifty-Chicken Administrator

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    My Coop
    I was going to start putting the shavings from the coop to the run for the same reason you mentioned, but people told me that when it rained and the ground / air was really moist the soiled shavings would start to smell REALLY bad.

    Any thoughts on that?



    Um... speaking of grubs:

    I guess you shouldn't look at this then:

    Thousands of Grubs in Compost ( picture and video )
     
  9. Sep 30, 2007 Post #9 of 15
    featherfooted

    featherfooted Songster

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    I've been putting the shavings from the coop in the run for awhile and I've never noticed any order. By the time the chickens have them all spread out there is little left to cause a smell.
     
  10. Sep 30, 2007 Post #10 of 15
    Nifty-Chicken

    Nifty-Chicken Administrator

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    My Coop
    The more I think about it the more I don't want to do this. [​IMG]

    I'd have to shovel it out of the coop and into the run, then eventually shovel it somewhere else.

    Right now it is just eaiser to shovel into the compost bin then use it as I need it.

    Maybe when I build my super coop I'll add a quick drop mechanism to allow me to drop all the shavings from the coop floor directly into the run with one quick lever action.
     
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