Compost Pile and Chickens

[Ladyhawke1]

I have been working on my compost pile to keep the chickens out of it. This is an old swing set that was there when I bought the house. I think I am building Stalag 13 for...for ...poop. Anyone who says chickens are stupid is not paying attention. Where there is a will there is a way, and they have the will and they will find the way.

I always knew I would do something with this thing and it is now it will house compost. This will have two bins. I have to run another lattice down the middle of the structure and then the contents can be turned from the left bin into the right bin. Then back and forth as needed. In front are two gates. Each gate is attached to the opposite metal posts. They are supported in the middle by rebar.

I just took down my Mr. Stripy tomato. I used the left over vegetable netting to make the barrier higher for the chickens.

Somehow, some of my fat little darlings have floated over the 24-inch fence and mucked it all up. They are supposed to be too heavy to do that. I will think of something prettier and more flexible later. :mow I hope no one hangs themselves. !@#%^&*$#@! Chickens! But I l-o-v-e them.

 

[HiDelight]

that is great actually!!!!

just curious you do not let the chickens in the compost? is there something I should be worried about ..mine feast in there!!!
I always thought they were my built in compost turners now you have me worried!
I have only let them into the vegetable compost

but do keep them off the flower one because of the dog poo I know that can not be good for them.... although my dogs eat a virtually raw diet so there is little poo at all to deal with and mostly it is the bonemeal they do not digest

tmi for dog poo I betcha

 

[journey11]

Great job repurposing the old swing set, Ladyhawke! It looks very sturdy.

I let mine into the compost too, out of laziness mostly! They do a good job turning it, but they make the biggest MESS. But my compost pile is behind the barn, where nobody sees it...so there ya go. I am sure you don't want them stringing compost all over your yard. They probably tried to hop over it. My big ol' Brahma hens can hop about 2'. They weight about 8 or 9 lbs each. I wouldn't call it flying, anyway..hehe. Their roost is at 2.5'.

 

[Ladyhawke1]

I should think there is nothing wrong with letting them in a compost pile. They are great at turning it over. However, my girls spread it all over the yard and I mean ALL over. It would never get a chance to decompose or cook. Another reason I want to keep it in one place is since I am in the city, people get nosy and I want to maintain the "appearance" of order and cleanliness. :/

People in their ignorance may think it is just a pile of manure. The product compost does not register with city people. They equate it as poo. If you were to go out in my back yard right now you would be hard pressed to find any conspicuous signs of chicken poo. No piles, no flies. I only have four girls and they seem to do a good job of spreading that so that it is not obvious. Believe me I do not follow them around with a dustbin waiting to catch the stuff, that is unless they stand at the back door too long.

 

[HiDelight]

we love poo here on the TEG

I am glad it was just about the mess I was a bit worried I was letting my chickens do something not good for them!

but they do whatever the heck they want anyway ..I just like to think I am in control is all!

 

[Ladyhawke1]

HiDelight said:

"but they do whatever the heck they want anyway ..I just like to think I am in control is all!"

Oh...there are days...they are soooo in trouble.

 

[ducks4you]

I was re-reading gardening articles I have saved, and I thought I'd share this one:
Compost Article
Topic: Compost advice
Posted: Saturday, August 30, 2008 11:41 PM
http://www.gardeningclub.com/community/forums.aspx?g=profile&u=98022

The best recipe for fast compost I've ever seen was one that I found in an Organic Gardening magazine in the early 70's: Set up an area where you can make four circles on level ground all in a line. Each circle will be about 5 feet in diameter, and the circles will be 2 feet apart. In the first 3 circles build pyramid like piles of alternating layers of material: first, about 1 foot deep of shredded plant fiber, leaves, seaweed, veggie scraps, etc. Second, 1 ft deep of your choice of manure - cow, horse, sheep, chicken . . . it doesn't matter, but get it as fresh (hot) as you can right from the animal. If you use chicken, get it from a hen laying house where it is not mixed with straw, etc. Third, 1 foot deep of dirt. Good top soil would be nice. Then, start over, and keep building the piles until you get to the top. It doesn't matter if you have equal amounts of stuff. Then, make a depression in the top and pour in about 3 gallons of water. Then cover each pile with black plastic, (a large heavy duty Hefty, cut down one side and across bottom, works nicely) with no holes in it, held down by rocks around the sides. After the piles have spent one full day in direct sunlight, take the plastic off, and move the piles (a pitch fork is nice). That's right, #3 goes to the empty circle #4, and #2 goes to #3, and #1 goes to #2. Thereafter, each day after one full day in direct sunlight, move the piles back and forth. The piles will get very hot (like a bonfire) for a few days. Then you will see lots and lots of bugs you have never seen before. Then all the bugs will die. Then a white fungus or whatever will pervade your piles. About a week later, your compost will be ready to use. You can break up 1 - 2" branches, and put seaweed in this and you won't be able to find anything of any size when it is done. If you are ambitious, you can start another set each day. Forget tumblers, bins, all that stuff. This is the only way to go!
**********************
Happy composting, all!

 

[SarahFair]

Have you tried clipping their wings?

I have a flighty rooster and I clipped his wings.. He doesnt go very far anymore

 

[Ladyhawke1]

Have you tried clipping their wings?

I have a flighty rooster and I clipped his wings.. He doesnt go very far anymore

Personally, I would not touch a feather on their tiny little heads. I have raised birds all my life from big to the littlest finch. When their feathers are not right, they are so demoralized. They need their balance and confidence under certain conditions, especially chickens such as in hawk attacks. I would that they had rather had their whole persons intact than make it easier for me.

However, this experience has come from a long time of much observation. Observation is 90% of any successful endeavor.