Update on GROUNDS Coffee Ground Bedding for your coop!

[humblehillsfarm]

What’s a poop board?

Here’s my poop board. It catches droppings for you to scoop the morning after. I’ve found it far easier, cheaper, and cleaner to use this method over deep litter composting where it was difficult with so many birds to manage moisture and enough carbon. I was constantly adding more straw and turning the litter but the smell and moisture was just too much. It worked well when I had 4 birds but then I had 11 and it wasn’t as effective. 18 was a crapshoot (haha). I added the poop board Thanksgiving 2019 and switched to pine shavings and it was a game changer. Still, the pine shavings needed replaced every two months or so because of dust so I switched to coffee grounds this February and have yet to replace them and they are scoopable for any stray poop.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

As you are actively composting

Well the chickens are doing most of the work . I went 2 1/2 years before I scooped out the compost last fall and let it sit in a pile out of the coop until spring. Best compost ever, my tomatoes are loving it.

G

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

smell and moisture was just too much

I live in a dry climate, from time to time I go in the coop with a hose and soak everything or it would never compost.

G

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Here’s where I am drying the new grounds

And here is the current coop grounds after five or so months of use. I keep pine shavings in the nest box so those get mixed in a little.

Well the chickens are doing most of the work . I went 2 1/2 years before I scooped out the compost last fall and let it sit in a pile out of the coop until spring. Best compost ever, my tomatoes are loving it.

G

Do you have a floor in your coop? That was another issue, after months of adding material, there was simply no more room in the coop! I don’t have standing room anyways which is a problem.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Do you have a floor in your coop?

Dirt floor, and my coop is really big/high ceilings it was designed for DLM

G

 

[RebelEgger]

wouldn't coffee grounds be bad for them if they eat it?

I thought the same thing!

 

[RebelEgger]

I am loving this thread. I may have to try the coffee grinds. I’m in Canada so I may have to hit up Tim Hortons for their grinds. At least I’d finally have a use for their coffee! Because to drink it -

 

[reddogmaster2]

Excellent ideas! I always spread coffee grounds in my compost bins or my raised beds but never thought about it for the coop.

Anything to help the smell!!

PS I grow a ton of Basil and tossing some Basil sprigs into the coop is always a welcome event for the girls!

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I thought the same thing!

Nope, not bad for them at all!

 

[drinkoj]

I thought the same thing!

They are not bad at all. The caffeine has been extracted during the coffee brewing process and little if any is left in the grounds.