Chicken Compost - Adjusting the layout and sharing notes

[@billhiggins3845]

Man them chickens are happy

[@LaVikinga108]

My cat was as mesmerized as I was by watching those happy chicks!

[@ZombiesCometh]

Getting my long awaited 20x Welsummers at the end of this month. Already have the run and compost area laid out (inspired by you both) and a local restaurant giving me all their veg scraps. So happy to have found you all years ago and have loved learning with you all along the way.

[@ruabadkitty]

I am a country girl and I have seen many chicken yards. Never have I seen the chickens as happy and calm as here. Blows my mind every time I see them. You two have done a wonderful job with everything!

[@edibleacres]

So great to get this feedback.

[@karissa9111]

I've used your ideas from past videos to basically create something like this on a smaller scale for my 6 chickens. I've been able to do it in a back corner of my chicken yard using a 3 pallet system. so it's definitely doable on a smaller scale! All my chickens have access to layer feed, but run towards the compost pile when I open the run door every morning

[@edibleacres]

Lovely to hear about a system like this working at a smaller scale. I feel like we can all incorporate a little of these ideas into whatever context.

[@MrBeSmArTNRuN]

Hi folks. I was watching one of your Q&A's yesterday and have a couple of questions / video suggestions. 1) Essential / best purchases to make when just starting out a basic soil building system working with chickens. 2) bulk buy ideas for items which you guys use a lot of (or find extremely useful) which saves money long term e.g. Chicken feed, crocodile clips for greenhouse, milk crates, ibc totes, types of seed, seedling trays etc etc. Love the content, truly inspirational. If only our farmers were astute to the principles which underlay the practises of Sean & Sasha. True stewards of the land. A beacon of light which illuminates our path through the cyclical nature of hardship, disease and suffering. Thank you!

[@MrBeSmArTNRuN]

Question 2 is in the context of running a homestead in general.

[@edibleacres]

Wow, very kind words and much appreciated and great thoughts here. I will keep these ideas in mind for future videos...

[@yolylacy5416]

Those are happy, great looking chickens! It's funny, they associate you with food. I love how they are so comfortable with your company. Great teaching! Thank you.

[@charlesherrington63]

Start a garden people. Learn from your mistakes. Get better. Meanwhile everything you remove from the garden feeds the birds. You can make the soil to thrive in the garden. Never ending cycle. If youre already here , youll love it

[@trains4ourkids]

We only have a few chickens (was about to say 4, but we lost one a couple weeks ago RIP), so all we do is keep a compost pile near the coop and run. We scoop hay or pine shavings out of their run, add grass clippings and fall leaves and generally do the bare minimum of effort. It pays off here in the fall as now we will use that for winter mulch and fertilizer in the garden, throwing down some inoculated clover with no tilling and covering with well worked compost. :)

[@edibleacres]

Sounds like a really straightforward and low fuss system.

[@suebonett4987]

I don't have a lack of carbon problem but a moisture one. Where I live it is hot and dry and keeping the compost flow moist is difficult. We are going into our rain season so I'm hoping that will solve the problem for now. Our winters are cool but also dry. Love you system and have implemented it successfully. Am giving a demo of my system in 2 weeks time to friends who also want to get their chickens composting.

[@forestdog]

Absolutely LOVE this! I have my hens pen divided into two pens...one is half the size....I believe I'm going to start playing with this technique. Thank you!!!

[@VickyHafler]

Love your system. Happy Chickens 😊

[@infopubs]

Always a pleasure to see your fluffy, healthy dinosaurs!

[@SuperCmireles]

I love this so simple!

[@krzysztofrudnicki5841]

Im going to do a similar setup for my small market garden operation.

[@edibleacres]

Awesome!

[@antiowarr9467]

Love all the vids you guys make, and this vid is awesome also and very informative for those who are interested. thx...

[@susangray5561]

Have you ever encountered issues with residual herbicides in your straw and/or scrap hay? I’ve used both for making compost and mulching but suspect herbicides are stunting plants.

[@edibleacres]

I have had issues with that in the past, so now I know to ask farmers if they spray before I buy any mulch from them. I try to get only hay at this point from local organic farmers.

[@whereisangie]

this is such a great design! your chickens are so happy❤

[@tiffanyclark-grove1989]

This is just my style and so helpful 😊

[@edibleacres]

So glad!

[@alicenakajima6014]

Thank you for sharing this simple way of composting. I had spread out some nearly done compost for my 3 chickens to pick through. I notice the hens leave behind droppings while scratching through the pile. Besides following them with a poop scooper, how can I prevent having the fresh manure burn my plants when I go to add it to my raised beds?

[@joshuaaldrich1540]

Love this channel. I’m am just getting into the chicken life for mostly soil revitalization as well as eggs. What kind of seeds do you use for sprouting?

[@susanclark3517]

I would like to know also.

[@edibleacres]

Look up kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqjVZGmXl8aknsU as we talk about it in more detail there.

[@michellealmonte6595]

I am enjoying your channel. I have had a hard time finding compost from stores etc. would you please share- how do you work out those deals?

[@healthyhappyholyhomesteadi8302]

We're planning on getting chickens in the spring, but we're also trying our hand at gardening and growing our own food now too. I am going to attempt to create a similar system in our chicken yard this Fall/Winter. Thanks for the walk though. I'll take your advice and give it a shot.

[@renaissancewomanfarm9175]

Good morning! And as always, I just love your chicken videos. A couple of questions. You said the basic chicken composting area was 20x20 but I was wondering how large the entire chicken yard was, including their winter hoop house. Also, I don't see much around here in feed stores for grains to sprout. Would like to know what you thought the best, most accessible grain would be. Thanks!

[@adelebezzie1]

I would also like some ideas on the grain/seeds you use for sprouting 😁

[@edibleacres]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqjVZGmXl8aknsU - That covers what we try to do with the sprouting, hope that is helpful... The total area for the chicken yard is maybe about .1 acres or so, probably a bit less, but the main action happens in 1/4 or much less of that space as you see. Best of luck!

[@renaissancewomanfarm9175]

@@edibleacres I wish we had some of the outlets that you have! I have looked at some of the seeds that you recommend and they are mostly available at the farm store in the section for feeding wild birds and can be a bit pricey, plus they do not sell by the bag but you have to get it from the hopper into a smaller bag. I cannot think of a source for wheat grain around here, but I can get oats in the form of horse feed. I could reasonably try that one. I might be able to find bags of beans to sprout at the asian food store an hour from here. I am feeding mine scratch grains currently, but they are discarding the majority of the corn. Far too wasteful!

[@salmeli5886]

wondering what type of seed you're soaking and adding to the middle sections of the process?

[@sharicampbell9068]

I have begun composting with My chickens in a cattle panel greenhouse for this winter. Experimenting with how hot it will get & storing some straw

[@edibleacres]

It can be amazing how much warmth can build up in a structure like that.

[@DonnaDavisArt]

I'm excited for this one, as I really want to up my chicken compost game. Have you ever used direct chicken house clean out on the garden or is it best to let it compost first? Thanks. I'm always struggling with our little place as we live on the sea and the wind and salt is ALWAYS a challenge, but I've joined the ranks of you KZbinrs and decided that by making my own videos and recording my progress it also pushes me on to get more done! Haha Thanks for your channel.

[@PaleGhost69]

Pretty sure you need to compost it or salmonella is an issue. Geoff Lawton has a video on 30 day chicken coop compost where you flip it every other day. I can link the video if you like

[@mister-action1]

Chicken poop is to hot. You can add Rabbits poo straight to the garden.

[@DonnaDavisArt]

@@mister-action1 I've considered rabbits, but I don't think I have it in me to 'harvest' them. Haha. Though I've plenty of wild rabbits that eat up the garden. That's good to know, thanks.

[@Leo-nine]

Donna Davis Art I always laugh out loud when I chase the bunnies out of my garden. I can't help but picture myself as Old Farmer Brown from the Peter Rabbit Tales. Lol

[@trains4ourkids]

I commented above, but we just leave an open pile next to the coop/run. We scoop it out occasionally and toss it in, along with grass clipping and fall leaves. Turn it and pile it very intermittently and let the chickens work it as well. Very low effort, haven't checked for nutrients or ph or such, but it ages all summer and doesn't stink/seem bad. Then just incorporate with new garden beds or lay down as a winter mulch. Hope this helps.

[@kylecrusch2804]

I have 20 hens and I feed them anything that I can get, waste grain from the elevator, sugar beets from local farmers during harvest weed seeds from a local grain cleaner and scraps from a local butcher, I just dump it all into the run as it becomes available, the grain I scatter for then every evening when I gather the eggs

[@R_Ski]

Great videos, as usual! Where do you get the bulk inputs? If it's from restaurants/offsite biz/dumpster diving/etc, how do you approach this with them?

[@R_Ski]

I found this video of yours! kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2bUqn2Zp5uKgNU

[@edibleacres]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2bUqn2Zp5uKgNU - I delve into that subject in this video...

[@BarryFresh]

I absolutely love your system and and definitely going to give it a go. ONE QUESTION Is there any issue with compost getting waterlogged from rain, i live in Ireland and we get an awful lot of rain? Thanks keep making awesome content.

[@edibleacres]

That is possible I suppose... BUT, if you have enough bulk carbon in the mix it should be OK... get lots of chips, sawdust, leaves, etc and keep it coming to add aeration and looseness and it should all work out.

[@sharicampbell9068]

Luv this!!!

[@craigglover7288]

Hi. I love your videos. I have recently started with 3 chickens in a deep compost run. My girls have no care for the kitchen scraps, love looking for grubs etc. But not really into eating like your girls. The run is quite large with plenty of food. I'm wondering if there just isn't enough competition for resources? Anyway I'll keep trying to get them to turn compost for us. Cheers

[@heritagefamilydental]

I really enjoy your videos. Could you define “soaked seeds”. ? And any particular type of seed?

[@edibleacres]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqjVZGmXl8aknsU - This video explains in detail what we're up to with that aspect of the process. Hope it is helpful.

[@TheWombatSlayer]

Do you have a separate waste stream for the manure? These videos inspired me to start building a food forest. I've learned so much over the last year. Just wanted to thank you for that.

[@fourdayhomestead2839]

The compost is the manure stream. The chickens mix & help turn their waste with the other compost materials.

[@Michael_McMillan]

Great video as always

[@DEWW]

Well obviously it works, or the chickens wouldn't be there working it... Well done.

[@zadokmotorfreight2423]

This video really helped me, thanks!!

[@edibleacres]

I'm so glad!

[@abdelwahabdir9615]

thank you verry much for all that information i really injoy your videos and i have one question : do you add water in that process and how many time watering the pile at the last step of composting

[@edibleacres]

We live in a pretty moist environment so we don't water much at all.

[@abdelwahabdir9615]

​@@edibleacres thanks for answer . from your prospective do you think two times at the week enough

[@acsoul1]

I’m curious of how you think this would look like if you were trying to make it mobile on a much larger scale, say 2 acres? Say you move to an empty space and want to rotate your chickens on it with the intention being leaving behind a huge pile of compost to shape into beds for food forest succession.

[@edibleacres]

That would be, in many many ways, the most ideal way to do this. Much less total labor and moving and more newness for the hens... We have limitied space but your suggestion woudl be what I'd explore if we had the area for it.

[@eulerizeit]

Are there any seeds you wouldn't use to sprout? Particularly I was thinking of using this system to compost around orchard trees and I'd like to start more orchard grasses.

[@edibleacres]

I wouldn't feel too concerned about it, but I'm not very informed so you can use your judgement. I'd say if you incorporated that very early in the system and it ran pretty warm the seeds wouldn't spread much, if that was a goal.

[@dande9981]

very informative. Thanks for posting. Do you use Diatomaceous Earth in your operation at all?

[@edibleacres]

We have it, and try to remember to put some under the coop once in a while so the hens can fold it into their dust bathes. Thanks for reminding me!

[@teleioswonder]

Thanks for this beautifully informative video! This might seem like a dumb question - but what are the chickens eating besides the fermented seeds/grains and bugs once the compost "comes along"? When the fresh leftovers get poured on to the heap, are they able to actually ingest the fruit and veg or does it have to disintegrate towards compost before they can take in the nutrients? I ask because my chickens seem to only be able to eat foods that I've chopped up into tiny blended pieces, ex. a strip of carrot peel they won't eat or touch. My concern is they wouldn't be getting enough consistent food this way but I'm sure I'm wrong! Your chickens look so happy, healthy, active and stimulated, this is what I want for mine for sure!

[@edibleacres]

They love to eat freshly deposited kale and lettuce, fruits, breads, rice, etc etc... They love it and eat it actively through every stage! I think they've gotten used to the idea that it is how their food comes so they just get on board...

[@Thatguy42994]

What is the purpose of having the compost in the overturned milk crates? Does letting it rest like that have any effect of the compost or just the amount of sprouts and grubs in it?

[@edibleacres]

Helps promote sprouts and brings in a great amount of soil life.

[@leahfrakes9546]

We are in South Texas where it’s hot and wet most of the year and are really struggling with smell and intense flies. Watching your inspiring and informative video I wonder if we just aren’t providing enough dry compost material. I’d love to hear your thoughts on managing flies and moisture in the run when using this system. Thanks!

[@edibleacres]

Sounds like you could definitely use a LOT more bulk carbon like sawdust, woodchips, etc. to help absorb some of the excess. It is incredibly easy to have a nutrient overload with these systems.

[@YouButter]

@@edibleacres they have a lot of sand. Could that be used in place of hay?

[@SPACEBAR13]

I really like your videos. What would you recommend when composting in a dry environment?

[@edibleacres]

Food scraps have a lot of moisture which may help, and rain water collection or grey water from sinks could help massively.

[@nymbeats]

my birds are still young, 20 weeks or so, but they seem disinterested in most of the food scraps that I pile in. they also aren't interested in worms right now. they love the grains/sprouts, ground hamburger, and any insects I bring them, but I think they have a ways to go towards eating the food scraps. that said, the system still works amazingly well, and hopefully they'll get hungrier as they age.

[@blue_boy8621]

There nutrients need is not up just yet! They need energy to grow, fat, protein, carbs. From the moment they start laying they give away nutrients via their eggs, then they should eat the greens..

[@nymbeats]

@@blue_boy8621 thanks! that makes sense, I'll be generous with the sprouts.

[@edibleacres]

Just provide them constant flows of freshly ground hamburger :) Ha! I suspect they'll adjust and shift over time, and it's good to remember that every food scrap you bring in that they don't eat directly starts to get broken down by worms, pill bugs, etc etc and will be even higher quality future food for them. If you reduce their sprouted bits a bit they may work harder for the other parts, but for now it makes sense to give them lots of options and see if they start evolving in the right direction. I bet they'll get it!

[@nymbeats]

@@edibleacres no problem, as long as this country maintains its wasteful ways, I'll have more free hamburger than I can reasonably feed them. and yes, these scraps break down so fast even on the outside of the gizzard - and it's so much more rewarding to turn compost with my small friends cheering me on. gone is the lonely chore of turning a slowly disintegrating static pile, Berkely style.

[@joshualawson7604]

What trees/shrubs would be good to plant in a run that has full sun? The run is east/west zone 6. I could plant inside the run or outside on the north or south sides.

[@edibleacres]

Too many options! Some favorites would be mulberry, elderberry, currants, goji berry, goumi, seaberry, honeyberry... .

[@abc_cba]

Does having chickens 🐔 in the garden mean depleted earthworms from the soil ? Thanks for the wonderful video.

[@kerem7546]

how long do you let the compost rest before it's ready for use? how can you tell when it's no longer "hot"?

[@edibleacres]

We'll often add it as a mulch around plants without letting it rest, and it can slowly break down over time. Makes a great fall mulch in a garden that's been put to bed so the earth worms can enjoy it all winter.

[@johnstockman1]

Do you clip their flight feathers ever. I’m new to chicken keeping, and I love the idea of letting them out of their run (which is pretty sizable) to scratch around on fresh grass, etc, but I’m so nervous that they will fly over the fence and go on adventures around my neighborhood

[@edibleacres]

We have not had that be a problem. I thought I'd have to clip wings early on and I think I did that to one bird, but it really doesn't seem to be a thing you'd need to do. It's a backup possibility if it comes to it, but not something to do by default I think.

[@johnstockman1]

@@edibleacres great! Thanks for the response

[@ryankowarsky5086]

We just got baby chicks a few days ago.. started them on organic starter grain.. at what age can we start adding all our food scraps ?

[@edibleacres]

I don't want to provide specific advice, but I can say we started adding little food scraps, greens, etc to their scene a week or two in as a free choice along with standard baby feed.

[@greenriveracres]

I am moving onto a larger property and will be starting my setup for my birds over. I have been obsessed with watching every video on this channel. You Sasha and Juan are a dynamic team 🙏 Is there any benefit to having a system that runs along a gentle slope? The property has an 80 x 80 fenced garden already in place. It is terraced on a slope. I was considering running my chicken composting system alongside it which would be a gentle slope down. Not sure of water drainage yet.

[@edibleacres]

Ideal scenario is to have the chicken system be as high in the landscape as it makes sense to have it, so all excess nutrient flows downward into gardens below. No worries if it doesn't align but that is the best if it can happen. So glad you like the channel.

[@greenriveracres]

@@edibleacres food for thought indeed. Thank you

[@fallenangelwi25]

Such spoiled chickens and they work so hard too. Hearing it's going to be a rough winter they'll love their high tunnel.

[@edibleacres]

I don't think their spoiled so much as they are really incredibly important workers we respect and try to take care of while they do amazing things that we depend on!

[@fallenangelwi25]

@@edibleacres yes I believe you have said it better!!! They've still got an amazing home

[@leegugino1467]

If there are seeds included throughout this system how do you control weeds in the garden when using the finished compost?

[@edibleacres]

It hasn't been much of a problem, but if we're concerned we can make sure the compost gets good and hot at some point in the process first to help burn out weed seeds

[@mbwatch1410]

😻😻😻nice progress

[@muscleswampfarm]

We love watching all you're videos and are eager to try and set up our own chicken compost system. How do you deal with rats? We now have some rats living near our chicken coop and we try to avoid spreading to much food in the yard but i can imagine having an open compost system will atract them a little bit more.

[@edibleacres]

When rats have shown up they have only been helpful... They tend to burrow down and under the pile creating amazingly well maintained channels for air to get under the pile. It's a miraculous additional design element they offer.

[@a123phi5]

@@edibleacres I love your attitude! Every animal has some good attributes.

[@tammymccaslin4787]

I love the milk crate system! I’ll have to work that into my plans. I hope to get a coop and yard set up and ready for chickens by spring 2022. I’d love to do it this coming spring but I’m severely limited in some important areas (funds, a way to haul building materials home, energy) but we are working toward it. I was wondering at what temperature the chickens start to prefer the hoop house compost over the outdoor one? We don’t get nearly as cold as you in Oklahoma so I’m not sure I would need an “indoor” spot like you have. Also, do you ever deal with pests or illnesses with your hens? I read about different herbs and natural ways to control things like mites and such, but if they’re eating as healthily as this, do they even need pest control? Thank you so much for this amazing channel. I just recently found it but I’m learning so much and I get more and more excited about my own homesteading journey with each video I watch.

[@edibleacres]

We have illness here or there but nothing too crazy and mainly in the older hens which is to be expected. The winter run area comes into play once we start getting freezing rains and snow. Without those conditions I don't know that it's 'necessary' at all.

[@edibleacres]

Sasha has tried to treat the hens over the years that have become ill with herbs but in our experience it feels like by the time a hen begins to show any sign of illness they are already quite far gone and it is very difficult to bring them back to health. For the most part the hens are healthy and active but over the years we have had one here or there get ill and die despite any of our efforts. For mites, though, during the growing season we periodically put fresh aromatic herbs- most often lemon balm, because we have a lot of it in the yard - in the nesting boxes, hang some from the ceiling, and sprinkle some on the floor. In the colder months we will sprinkle some diatomaceous earth.

[@tammymccaslin4787]

From what I’ve read, it seems herbs are best used as a preventative. My goal is to grow a variety of fresh herbs in grazing boxes (a square box low to the ground with chicken wire or hardware cloth over the top so they can graze without killing the plants) so they can eat what they want when they want.

[@emmaf7383]

Great system! My only concern would be rats. Do you have a problem with the vegetable scraps attracting rats?

[@edibleacres]

Nope. In the past some rats came once in a while but were actually beneficial as they burrowed down into the compost and helped aerate!

[@Dom10Sage5]

We have 27 hens. Weve been keeping chickens since 2014. Can't beat fresh eggs. Also we split our compost scraps between the garden bin and the chickens, but once we get set up on our new property, we would love to create a flow that can be easily dispersed into the garden and other crops. Love the videos. On the topic of eggs; Do your hens just lay everywhere or do they have a designated nesting spot? With as many hens as you have, do you sell the eggs that are surplus? We either hatch ours(when we do have a rooster;currently we do not) and what we don't eat, we sell.

[@edibleacres]

They mainly all lay in the coop in nesting boxes made of milk crates. We sell a few but mainly just share with lots of folks.

[@annapry6470]

What is the tool you use to turn your compost? I've tried a garden fork and a couple different shovels and it's always so hard to do! I must not be using the right tool for the job.

[@edibleacres]

I love a 5 tine manure fork. 6 tine is great too, but 5 tine has been ideal for us. You can find them at garage sales sometimes. I'd like to do a video sometime on the various tools we use for this but this is the main one by a LONG shot.

[@annapry6470]

@@edibleacres thank you, your channel inspires me in so many ways!

[@H2Dwoat]

Hi, I heard you mention bones when talking about larger ‘bits’ of compost. Do you feed meat scraps to the chickens?

[@edibleacres]

Yes we do

[@darnbunny1]

Chickens are carnivores. We toss raw and cooked poultry and other meats into the run. If visitors express shock at seeing chicken bones in the run we tell them, "It's no one we knew."

[@jennleighwesson6089]

Does your compost include bones, skin, meat or dairy?

[@edibleacres]

Yes, all those things.

[@davidschmidt270]

I really like the flow you have...but how do you know that the compost is done??? My Dad said chicken manure takes a year of sitting before it can be used....you put your hands in the soil without gloves.... aren't you worried about e.coli ?? I don't ask these questions to be a jerk or anything..I just want to learn, thank you

[@edibleacres]

Good questions and reasonable. I am not worried about e.coli at all, but that's just me... I think compost that isn't 'finished' is still very reasonable to add to gardens, just not till directly in. The soil life will take it in as ready and it will integrate in a gentle way. Consider unfinished compost a rich mulch...

[@davidschmidt270]

@@edibleacres now see I like that....that makes a lot of sense....if you don't mind me prying, but..how is it that your not worried.... again,not trying to be a jerk....I would just like to here your opinions and thoughts, also.... because I live in zone 9 b Phoenix AZ....I would imagine that if I implement your system my compost shouldn't take to long before it's done....if you were in my zone how long would it take before it would be considered okay to use in the garden? Again....just seeking your opinion..thank you for answering

[@duartemarco]

incredibly entertaining

[@benscottbongiben]

I am thinking to add black soldier flies and worms along with the half rotten mouldy food they are currently eating into the chicken pen. Would it be a better idea to add that material underneath existing hay in the chicken pen. Is it dangerous for the chickens and the eggs if they eating potentially mouldy food and effluent from the black soldier fly boxes? Would a better idea to empty the food into another area of the garden and let the chickens into the area in the spring?

[@edibleacres]

Moldy isn't ideal but we don't get too worried about it, they can eat around it. If you have a way to send that all to a worm bin or soldier fly area that would be the best...

[@benscottbongiben]

Thanks I will let the food rot down with the bsf and add that nearby underneath some cover for them to nibble at later. It’s about to start getting cold and they are about to exit the bsf box for winter

[@xiaoboliu1910]

Does this system attach a lot of flies? Thanks.

[@edibleacres]

Flies show up sometimes, but then they lay eggs and the chickens adore the larvae, so it is a win win when it happens

[@conteamezzaluna]

Food scraps are organic or restaurant waste?

[@edibleacres]

It's a mix but as much as is possible they come from organic waste streams. We don't get crazy about it, but it's what we try to do.

[@aaronbaron3155]

I know a farmer that feeds his cattle huge gaylords of peppers. That is some tasty beef

[@kellymorgan4783]

@EdibleAcres I have a sick chicken question which Google is giving no answers - I'm hoping you've come across this and successfully saved your chook? Yesterday her voice sounded "off" and quieter than normal. Today she has no sound coming out and a slight rattling. Her bum is always a little poopy but it's caked today. I admit I've never felt a crop so I have no idea hope to find it let alone see if it's normal. :( Other than that she's relatively active, walking around, scratching the ground. Her crop and eyes look normal. She ate a few pieces of olive oil soaked bread, a few pieces of Scoby. I've given her kelp and sulphur. And put her inside a pallet sized box to keep her separate (but it's inside the run so not quarantined) I just can't wash her butt (not without excessive throwing up myself) but I'll have my partner do it when he's home from work. Anything else I should or could be doing? Ever come across this? THANKS for any advice ☺️

[@edibleacres]

Sorry, just seeing this now. We have had a chicken with "sour crop", In the morning their crop should be empty, if it's not, then it indicates sour crop, and there are various ways to attempt to treat this, we tried isolating the hen who was afflicted but things had already progressed too far. You can try your best and that's all you can do.

[@joannthompson765]

What type of soaked seed do u offer the girls

[@edibleacres]

Wheat, Millet, Sunflower and some weed seeds... kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqjVZGmXl8aknsU - explains in more detail.

[@MERobinson1000]

Do you ever have problems with rats? If so how do you control it?

[@edibleacres]

Rats and mice come once in a while but they have never created a problem at all.

[@MERobinson1000]

@@edibleacres I've had 2 friends who had a lot of problem with rats in their coops and I wondered why... I just want to stay ahead of that problem. We have only had our hens for about 2 months and all is well so far... Maybe it's because you always keep 'brown' compost on hand all the time to keep the 'green' in balance? If you could comment on that too (thank you)... and a 2nd question, have you discussed protection from predators in a previous post? I'm looking for more tips on that too. Thank you for all your posts, I am thoroughly enjoying them. I'm finding all your information super helpful. :)

[@cecilitaH]

Will this sistem attract predators??

[@edibleacres]

It may, but we have been OK so far.

[@cecilitaH]

@@edibleacres thanks 🙏

[@LWeideman1]

We give our 6 chickens all our kitchen scraps, but it all gets eaten. There’s not enough left over to compost. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@nymeriagloves3957]

well. i mean they will poop it back out right. and that will compost your browns lol

[@edibleacres]

It all works out, their manure can be folded back in later to create rich compost so it's still always worth while.

[@sdtancock]

In the UK it is ILLEGAL to feed scraps 😭 it's ridiculous.

[@edibleacres]

I've heard this before, what a shame.

[@foodsgoodfarm2429]

do you know anyone who does this sort of thing with ducks?

[@robertmcauslan6191]

If you do it with ducks you need to do a lot more of the turning work because the ducks don't scratch. I keep Muscovy with my hens the muscovy keep flies down and pick lice out of the hen's backsides,at least i think that's what they are doing sifting through those feathers. The ducks compact the compost so either you or hens need to be there to loosen it up.

[@edibleacres]

Thanks for these notes.

[@foodsgoodfarm2429]

@@robertmcauslan6191 we just got 7 buff orphingtons and the folks we got them from said they loved to eat food scraps....the only thing so far (3 weeks) that they seem to like are kale and chard. we will keep trying though