They found my compost pile

[BigBassLJP]

I started letting the chickens out to free range and now if I don't let them out the rooster crows at the gate until I give in. Yesterday they found the compost pile for the first time and they keep shredding it. They were literally tunneling into the bottom. Will this hurt the composting?

 

[sawilliams]

No it should be fine, they are doing the mixing and airrating for you, but unless you want compost all over your lawn i would put boards up in front. Many people start giving their compostables straight to the chickens, though then you don't have the dirt to use later unless you want to dig out the run

 

[Mrs. K]

If all of a sudden you get an egg drop, I would look there, sometimes they will get a notion to make a new nest.

 

[lazy gardener]

I do most of my composting right in the run. That might be something to consider if you have bare soil in your run. Chickens and compost go together like ham and eggs. They compliment each other. The chickens aerate and mix and add their own high nitrogen input to the compost. The compost gives them lots of beneficial bacteria and fungi to improve their gut health and immunity. They also eat lots of insects, weed seeds and worms. Your feed bill will go down, your compost will mature faster.