Tumbler compost bin recomendations

[mlh328]

Hi guys! I looked for something current regarding this topic but only found threads that are a few years old so figured I'd check with you all. I am thinking of buying a compost tumbler. I was looking at the double barrel ones on Amazon and not sure where to start. I have never composted before and would like to give it a try using the coop litter from my 6 chickens. Any recommendations on specific brands/models or advice on which ones to avoid? Thanks in advance for any input!

 

[wyoDreamer]

I have an old ComposTumbler and I really like it even though it is just about rusted through. They are now a Mantis product and last I looked this spring they were sold out. That poor thing is about 20 years old and has had a rough life. I bought it 20 years ago for my garden area in Wisconsin. Absolutely loved it there. Took it with when we moved to Wyoming - where we had bad spring storm a week after moving there and the 60 mile per hour winds rolled the tumbler across the prairie for almost a mile until it go stuck in a fence line. I tried to compost in it in Wyoming, but the high mountain dessert is just too dry. I need to get a couple of vent covers and a new door for it.

I like the CompostTumbler because the gearing makes it easy to rotate, even when it is full. It takes alot of cranks to make a complete turn of the tumbler, but it is easy enough for this old lady to do.

 

[mlh328]

@wyoDreamer
Is that your pup in your picture? I love it! I checked out the mantis composters and they do look nice. I like that they have wheels and the smaller one looks to be the perfect size for my needs. Thanks so much for the suggestion!

 

[wyoDreamer]

Yes, that is my Pistol Pete (named for the U of Wyoming mascot by previous owners). He is a English setter and 14 1/2 years old. He is starting to slow down but he is my lovable old guy.

 

[CovidtimeQuail]

Here's a pic of my tumbler. Here's the model link. I don't think the model matters too much. It has 2 compartments and is large enough that each side holds approximately 3/4 of a trash bin of manure and wood shavings.

I went cheap to begin with and drilled holes into the side of a plastic garbage bin, hoping to turn the garbage bin as a substitute for the tumbler. The hole-filled bin is now where I hold the dry compost to collect before throwing it into the tumbler all at once then wetting.

It makes a BIG difference. With quail manure (about 1/3 of the mix) and wood shavings (about 2/3 of the mix) it heats and composts in about 3 weeks versus much longer without the tumbler.

 

[mlh328]

@CovidtimeQuail
That one looks nice! I do like the double compartment idea. And your set up with the trash bin is pretty clever. Have you had this one long? Thanks for the link!

 

[CovidtimeQuail]

I've had it long enough to run 3 batches or so of compost. That compost is MAGIC. I usually have enough material to run each side about 4 weeks apart from each other so that there's always some compost ready to use.

The compost is what convinced me I need to raise quail forever.