Should chickens have access to compost bin if their own manure is in it?

[Janines chicks]

Hello All,

I was thinking of building a 3-sided compost bin with a 4th short side, so when my chicks grow up, they could hop in, enjoy pecking around, and also spread the contents.
I was wondering if I could also put their manure and old bedding in it as well, or will I, for their hygienic and sanitary reasons, need a separate compost bin for that? And if a
2nd bin is needed, how do I keep the chickens out of it? I would think it would be tempting as well with bugs, etc. in it. Would it need to have a lid?

Thanks so much for any input!

Janine

 

[nova022]

Hello All,

I was thinking of building a 3-sided compost bin with a 4th short side, so when my chicks grow up, they could hop in, enjoy pecking around, and also spread the contents.
I was wondering if I could also put their manure and old bedding in it as well, or will I, for their hygienic and sanitary reasons, need a separate compost bin for that? And if a
2nd bin is needed, how do I keep the chickens out of it? I would think it would be tempting as well with bugs, etc. in it. Would it need to have a lid?

Thanks so much for any input!

Janine

I am no expert but it would seem to me that it would be okay for them to scratch around in the compost bin. After all they scratch around and eat things they find in the coop and run which has their waste in it. If you add lime or anything to help break down the decomposing material then I would not let them in it,

 

[kannna]

My girls go in the compost all the time. It's one of their favorite spots.

 

[Janines chicks]

Thanks for the timely reply. I'm supposed to meet my son after work today to get the materials to build compost bin, and I didn't know if I should go ahead with my plans!!!

 

[coopscritters]

We dump the old bedding in a corner of the coop and the girls go through it daily kicking it around looking for bits of corn and catching any bugs that move in. In about a week it is close to perfect compost and can go into the bin to be used in the fall or used as a layer of soil for my potato planter. We call it chicken work and they seem to love their job.