Chicken Compost - Summer System Flow

[@K1LD3R]

"free": Eggs, high quality Compost, high quality Occasional chicken meat, high quality Rescueing chickens, very nice Helping local area deal with waste streams, very nice Getting excersise and doing a days hard labor - you are awesome people for sure. Spreading this message is such an important job, and you guys are doing it great.

[@michaelcarey1040]

Sometimes I get overwhelmed just imagining your workload. You guys remain an inspiration to us permy junkies.

[@erikasanchez7972]

I can’t imagine getting that much abundance. I live in a scarcity country where you don’t get anything for free. Folks don’t understand barter or helping each other out. Super sad.

[@KristinGasser]

I thought just the same! 🙏💕

[@CanadianPermacultureLegacy]

My goodness that first minute of this video was beautiful. We are thankful to have you as part of the human collective. Such genuine kindness. Those poor hens have been saved from a terrible life and are now in such a wonderful place.

[@davidschmidt270]

Couldn't agree more....they are precious and absolutely do not deserve to be treated as though they were just trash🐔🐓🐣🐤🐥

[@slaplapdog]

I love that you're systems are integrated with your greater community. So many permacuture influenced people aim to withdraw to their own piece of ground and be self sufficient. By networking with restaurants , sawmills, neihbors and farmers you make everything more sustainable.

[@yolylacy5416]

Thanks, Sean! I'm glad you rescued those chickens. They are beautiful and will look better from now on.

[@TheIntuitiveBodyFoodieNetwork]

I'm learning & relearning so much from watching your channel. God bless you & thank you!!

[@shreshthmohan]

Hi from India! I am hoping to try and replicate parts of this system once I have a piece of land to work with. Thanks for all of your videos.

[@KylePierpont]

This is incredibly helpful to see. In large part because of your videos I have incorporated the system you use with our 19 hens. I transitioned them over from bagged feed to working a 20x40 run and compost flow system. I have agreements with two local restaurants to get fresh food scraps. I also have plenty of carbon. Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge so people like me can start much further down the road on things like this! You have helped our 19 hens have a better life as well! 🤙🏻🤙🏻

[@edibleacres]

So exciting to read this! It makes me so so happy to know folks are exploring composting with their chickens. VERY rewarding way to raise these friends!

[@edibleacres]

@KDC - We have been doing this system for 6+ years... 50-70+ hens through most of that time. We only bought a bag of organic layer pellets once, and they didn't care for it. Soaked grain, ample free choice on decent quality compost, meat when available, raw milk sometimes... Our hens have thrived without purchased bagged pellets/feed. You can explore it without going all in and phase them over if you need...

[@KylePierpont]

Also, I’m curious if you get a lot of flies on the compost piles? Especially the first stage where you dump the food scraps? Wondering if I need to worry about that?

[@SarahPerine]

@@edibleacres Me, too... my chickens have you to thank! And we are making amazing compost and sourcing free food at least 50% of the time!! They just love the work and I love them to be happy! I want to get some rescue chickens, too, but I wanted to find out if they could potentially make my chickens sick. Or maybe once everyone is an adult...there is less of a chance of getting each other sick. I also wondered about how you said not to chop up greens. I was advised to cut up things like carrot greens and weeds so that the chickens didn't get impacted crops. Have you ever run into issues with that? Thanks :)

[@snackymcgoo1539]

I can't explain it. I spend a lot of time learning about gardening, composting and chickens. I like watching chickens.... dunno why.

[@greenriveracres]

I am getting giddy watching these videos of yours as I move onto a larger property. Thank yall for taking the time to learn it, build it and share it.

[@hugshoney3409]

Misses Ladies.. 😆 🤣 😂. Your working crew are so relaxed while getting the job done. I am so at school here. Teaching and learning can be expressed in so many different forms. ❤️

[@edibleacres]

Thanks Violet

[@StillSwirling]

How wonderful you gave those hens a new life. I love seeing our hens roaming about our yard looking for grass and bugs. They are definitely happiest then! I'm havong to work outside the farm now, so they don't get out as much as they like I'm sure. Hopefully soon we'll have enough fencing material to expand their run for the warmer months.

[@cherishloveart]

earned yourself a subscriber! Nice video...and you have a super chilled-out calming voice!

[@edibleacres]

Welcome, thanks for joining us :)

[@acebilbo]

Ha ha ha! They offered to wash the buckets! Sweet. Thanks for the pictures of happy chickens!! Don't work too hard!

[@stormyic]

Today is our girls first day out, it’s been a long time coming but you guys have been a big inspiration. Thanks for all the great videos.

[@chantaltulliez8066]

Delightful to see these contented chickens...heart warming that some people do care about their animals...congratulations for your kindness towards your gorgeous creatures...

[@sarajamesaerial]

You guys have the best channel on applicable permaculture. Thank you so much for your content and your "fast and thorough" sharing of your designs and processes.

[@edibleacres]

Quantity over Quality is my motto :)

[@jingles1963]

Love this! It’s so fun to watch the happy chickens and how fabulous that you are taking what would end up in a landfill and using it to feed your chickens, provide them a job to do, as well as feed your garden. So satisfying! I want to see the video where they wash the buckets for you. 😆

[@edibleacres]

Wouldn't that be amazing... We need to get little scrubbers that slip over their feet :)

[@buttercuptime]

100 % free is so satisfying , very happy chickens, healthy beautiful compost. Thank you.

[@jasiucasic]

A nourished hen is a happy hen. Love the vids, extremely informative! Can't wait to expand my little chicken coop. Going to work on it this summer once the rest of the work on the property is finally done

[@christineortmann359]

I talk to our chickens too, they love seeing what I bring them 😁

[@angelaberni8873]

No way are there any other chickens in the world more loved or cared for than yours !!! 👏👏👏

[@edibleacres]

Kind words! I'm sure there are many many folks out there taking good care of their chickens.

[@spazhomes7545]

this is great love your videos and the chooks in the car regards from new zealand

[@davidd2285]

What wonderful happy ladies you have!

[@MattrixNY]

Your channel is absolutely awesome bro!!! I recently started an urban homestead on my property in NY. I have a couple rabbits, a garden and 7 chickens, not to mention the dog and kids! Its alot of work but me and the wife love it! Good to teach the kids useful information and methods. I think we are going to model our composting system similarly to yours, only much smaller. Thanks again for the info and for being a good person! God bless and be safe

[@barbiedesoto7054]

Those hens look so happy!

[@russlee650]

Yes! Thank you, love your system and chicken TV.

[@johnnyfoo8737]

love chickens they add so much to a place

[@fallenangelwi25]

Yet again more beautiful harmony y'all have created ❤️🌱💚🐔!!! Thank you for sharing and explaining how to do it!!!

[@LcChubby123]

I love these videos! Beautiful system

[@rhondamontiel3827]

Just love watching your chicken systems

[@domw3239]

This made me so happy! Look at those happy hens hard at work!

[@johnnyfoo8737]

I planted things in my run this summer but next year im using lots of your methods and taking it to the next level

[@edibleacres]

Thats wonderful to read!

[@annwithaplan9766]

Wish I could "like" this more than once haha. I like your system and come back to watch it again.

[@SarahPerine]

I'm so happy for your chickens every time I see your videos!!

[@MrMontyFontaine]

That's good of you to have those chickens from that farm! It made me a bit sad that they didn't know what to do with the fresh greens at first.. thankfully, their nature and character kicks back in, and they enjoy all the lovely fresh food.

[@edibleacres]

It was sad at first and then they got just about 100% up to speed real fast. Now you can barely tell who is who!

[@tith666]

Very nicely described.

[@victorybeginsinthegarden]

I can watch chicken video all day

[@gardenboots7464]

Exciting to see more of your systems. So appreciated. And Chicken TV! what's not to love?!

[@aphrodite891]

I love you guys. Such an inspiration and confirmation of my own efforts, albeit on a much smaller scale in my backyard garden.

[@brianwhite9555]

Never tire of watching this system! Really nice to see the various steps & stages of progression.

[@edscukas9689]

Love your chicken compost systems

[@edibleacres]

So glad you find them of value!

[@user-xp5qx8wg9x]

Thanks for commenting on the potatoes and chopping. You're explanations are very helpful 😊

[@picklerick9191]

What an awesome video

[@Warrior-In-the-Garden]

Well done love this system- still working on mine. So inspiring and impressive how the new hens get along well.

[@greenhillsparadise]

What a fabulous system you have got!!! Food for thought. I have 4 beautiful ladies. May think about doing this on a small scale!!!!

[@tagladyify]

Great system!

[@allonesame6467]

Brilliant rescue! Blessings Abound

[@miqf914]

I love seeing your updates and thought processes on how your system works. You give really invaluable insights, as does the Edible Acres community. I am always motivated to go out and canvas restaurants and cafés after watching your videis but then never get around to it

[@edibleacres]

It's really worth it!

[@miqf914]

@@edibleacres i can imagine it is. Now that the restaurant/ bar business is re-opening in France, I need to get on the ball.

[@mariannefroholdt9783]

I love to watch the hens,they are so happy🥰

[@ImASurvivorNThriver]

Good stuff! Thanks for sharing.

[@DWCPodcast]

Wow! Your set up is huge! Very interesting to see how you are growing.

[@terrynoraturner1848]

Good over view of the system.Years ago I started buying different size pitch forks heads at the flea markets. Hay bail forks, pitch forks, manure forks, scalloped 12 tine compost forks, I would have never thought I would spend 3 or 4 hours a day on the end of a pitch fork and behind a wheel barrow. I start the morning cleaning stalls, building compost heaps, moving compost to plants, covering logs and branches with fork loads of compost just to eat good healthy food.

[@edibleacres]

A good hayfork is worth its weight in gold.

[@adelebezzie1]

It feels like a really “right” way to spend some time...participating in feeding the whole cycle healthy food, at the end of a pitchfork 🥰

[@rlportillo]

Incredible system...kudos to you guys! Blessings

[@antiowarr9467]

another awesome video... Just keep an eye on those new chickens, beautiful things happen when ur dropped into a love situation and respect for animals. Gonna be great watching them flourish in this chicken paradise. lol lol Also anybody want to see and study a complete compost system from scrap to soil there is no better on the web! can't wait...lol lol lol

[@deborahcresswell1616]

I’m new to your channel and just wanted to say I’m learning a lot and thanks. I had asked a question on another video about compost that might be poisonous to the chickens. At that point I hadn’t understood about you getting compost from local restaurants or wherever. This video answers a few questions I had. I appreciate the info so much.

[@pantherzrule1]

I've just started taking care of chickens and you answered some of my questions about whether I had to separate toxic materials in another composting system and whether they would be more interested in greens if I chopped them up (seems like too much work, lol! I'm glad they're better served with whole weeds), so thank you very much for this!

[@edibleacres]

Just our experience, so take it with a grain of salt, but it has worked nicely for years and years now...

[@rosea830]

The ladies are lovely! You can take some of that extra compost you have and plant a potato or 2 in some milk crates. That's sweet of you guys to take in rescue hens!

[@WenRolland]

Another great instructive video! Thank you so much for sharing your path.

[@robertoler3795]

the side planing areas you put on your fences seem to be working well nice job

[@amy3458]

Sean, I have learned so much from you and Sasha on so many levels. I hope and pray to one day see your operation become a No-Kill Fantasy Land for your beautiful ladies. We have a small, organic, no-kill farm in the Missouri Ozarks. We have over 200 chickens, each one is named and loved like family. The way we’ve gotten to know our precious birds, for us, makes it impossible to even consider slaughtering one. You all seem so compassionate and enlightened toward your lovely ladies. Have you ever considered going the no-kill route and allowing your hens to live out their natural lives making compost for your amazing nursery? Just an idea. You both seem so, um, vegetarian! 😁👍🏼❤️

[@VickyHafler]

Love ❤️ your new 🐓 wonderful that that will now be “real” Chickens.

[@createartmarxs7705]

😂😂 soooo true.

[@underthecoversrockduo]

This is incredible! Nice work.

[@jamietrout2527]

I just learned so much, thank you for gifting your knowledge.

[@edibleacres]

You are so welcome!

[@krisyallowega5487]

We need to source out a hat for you! That sun can drain the energy from you. Chicken-see-Chicken-do! I hope they have settled in nicely, I could only imagine the stress that the change has put on them. Wow, it still amazes me how much produce flows into the waste system.

[@conradhomestead4518]

Great information! Thanks for sharing. I have been wondering about the inner workings of this system. Very helpful

[@antiowarr9467]

One other things folks you can't get results like this without respect for nature and the hens. I will play this video many time over for sure. good job guys very good job. thx from the chickens.... lol

[@lukewarm2075]

Awesome video great compost system.

[@smde1]

The onions will draw many many flies and that will work well for the birds .

[@beaukrestensen7178]

i always love seeing new hens find their place in a flock. Thank you for the update on the chicken compost system, along the pathways you have spots with fencing wire retaining soil/compost are these for raised garden beds, just more compost, or heat retention? etc

[@beaukrestensen7178]

nevermind just watched the video on them: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJu6ZqaMj5aKsLM

[@farmerjones5479]

Chicken heaven. God bless you and Sasha. A goal of good farmers is for their animals to only have one bad day. I am preparing my tiny plot for chickens, quail and or rabbits. The best part is they don't appear obese. Too much chicken feed can make them fat. Its impossible to eat enough kale to become obese.

[@naomi6212]

One bad day. Such a good aspiration. I used to say I want pets I can eat. I prefer your saying. I will be using it. Thanks.

[@farmerjones5479]

@@naomi6212 I believe it can be attributed to the great Joe Salitin, but I like it very much. I am happy for the 25 newly acquired chickens. They have a good home and caring caregivers.

[@edibleacres]

I think they avoid obesity because there is activity all around to engage in. Piles to kick apart, areas to explore. They get mild exercise all day while working/playin in the compost.

[@farmerjones5479]

@@edibleacres that makes sense. Thanks!

[@naomi6212]

@@farmerjones5479 I am in the process of moving to a smallholding and will have chickens again. So looking forward to all the free therapy they give....and the chocolate eggs for any child under the age of 10 at easter!

[@mcdowell356]

The combination chicken wire / field fence is a good idea . We had a big dog break through our chicken wire like it wasn't there . Then we started using a backup of field fence .we also ran baling twine across the top of the pen to keep Ravens out .

[@edibleacres]

So far this combo of orchard fence with low cost chicken wire on it has been 100% for over 6 years... Thrilled with it.

[@benbryan3315]

I love your videos. So awesome to see you use waste streams to create awesomeness. The love and peace you bring with the systems your putting in place is so inspiring to me. I am running the same kind of system with lots of mulch and just scraps from our home (7 hens). But my fly problem is insane! I have the stinky fly catch bags and they catch alot. But how do you control flys when you have so much fresh and half rotting organic matter?

[@sandraperez7331]

Ditto. I tried the bags and they attract MORE flies. Dumped that idea quick. Tried the sticky paper and pretty good. But I’m learning that flies like moisture so I’m watching how much I hose the area. Would love to get suggestions.

[@Wastedhayacres]

I am so glad I found your channel. Goodness you're a breath of fresh air. What kind of meats can we put into the compost?

[@edibleacres]

We don't worry about the details on that, we add all sorts of various meats.

[@sofiavalentin1747]

Hi Sean! I love your system and have in one way tried to replicated it on a very small scale with my chickens in Sweden. But we can only use weeds etc, no food scraps. In Sweden we can’t put food scraps out in the open like this because of rat problems. So that is my question to you and Sasha. How does this work in regards to mice and rats or other wildlife that want to take part in the beautiful buffet in this chicken system? Do you allow them to be here or do you in some way manage to exclude them? I’d be very thankful for some advice or if you would make a video on this topic! Thanks from Sweden!

[@edibleacres]

We haven't had issues with rats or mice in a long time, but when they did show up they were kind of helpful actually!

[@BioGartenReich]

I love your chicken system. Sadly I don't have enough time to be turning the compost every day. I also throw all the material from the garden and food scraps in the chickenrun. After a while I scoop up the top layer of the chickenrun and simply use that in my garden beds.

[@edibleacres]

I don't think it has to be every day. That is ideal, but not critical.

[@BioGartenReich]

@@edibleacres Thank you very much!

[@curiosityvscat2211]

Bro!! I think we may have got our hens from the same producer. We received 12 wonderful ladies that came from down in Texas about a month or two before this video. A warehouse factory that held over 400k hens and the FDA required them to cleanse their entire facility, to include each hen. Instead, they gave away, maybe sold to some, every single hen they had before they had to put down any remaining. We’ve lost 2 since transitioning, but they are rebellious ladies that don’t like to be cooped anymore. Haha. Does this sound like we could be sharing a similar experience?

[@edibleacres]

SImilar experience... We are 'lucky' that these CAFO nasty scenes didn't just kill all the chickens and throw them out or bury them with a machine, since I imagine that happens an incredibly large amount of the time. Our little new friends from the rough background are actually thriving now, with their strange mal-formed beaks and who-knows-how-bad history. It feels so good to provide a healthy and safe forever home for them. Very psyched you are doing the good work of providing a loving home for those poor friends :)

[@yukey2587]

Manna from heaven for the raptors...

[@mondraymondo]

Can’t wait to get my chickens... and be resourceful like you in gathering food mterials lol

[@edibleacres]

You'll do great!

[@conteamezzaluna]

Awesome work bro. A question: the restorants you choose use organic food or you think is not so important for feeding your hens? My problem is that I can't find organic restorants in my zone. Thanks for the answer and continue to farm like a hero bro.

[@growinginthewind]

I do like your chicken vids. Gonna try and mimic your system in Scotland. Annoyingly woodchip is hard to come by but hey, we’ll find some carbon 😅. Those new hens seem like they’ve got a bit of PTSD. Good to see them living the high life. How much soil do guys make a month?

[@williamwalter8554]

Would peat moss work? Is it abundant in Scotland?

[@edibleacres]

Sawdust is great, leaves work well, shredded newspaper if needed. Lots of options. I would venture a guess we get around 20 wheelbarrows a week of material coming out of this system roughly.

[@growinginthewind]

William Walter I’m literally moving to a 10 acre peat filled treeless bog 😅

[@growinginthewind]

EdibleAcres that’s a lot of soil 👌🏿 the plot I’m moving to is rocky and boggy so the more soil the better 😅 thanks for the carbon tips. The fisheries gobble up all the sawdust to smoke their fish so newspaper it is 🙏🏿

[@AbsoluteHaven]

Your chickens look similar to the ones we bought - Red Star hybrids - that also had no idea how to be proper chickens. Within four months, almost all of them are now roosting instead of sleeping on the floor of the coop, and nobody is messing in the nesting boxes. Fortunately our first group of RI Reds and Australorps taught them when we combined flocks.

[@edibleacres]

Thats great to hear!

[@myenchantedlife5262]

I love how you love your ladies one question how do you handle rats and rodents with that much raw food being put openly like that thank you

[@allthingsbethie]

Yes. I wonder this too. I had a big rat problem in my chicken compost years ago.

[@edibleacres]

Somehow we haven't had much problem there. Raccoons come at night but we're happy to have em.

[@kevinwhite9937]

The raccoons don’t kill your chickens?!

[@growinginthewind]

I’m sure Eleanor would scare them off 😅plus raccoons eat rats

[@michaelsinclair8279]

Chooks will eat rodents, up to a certain size some chooks will go full dinosaur on them. I'm also sure that Stanley and Lady Eleanor will be on hand to help keep down the pest problem.

[@rodneyjack3309]

Excellent 👍👍👍👍👍

[@Celestes_Nest]

The chickies are so happy. #HenGoals

[@waynelewis7334]

My wife and I have kept a small flock of chickens in our suburban neighborhood for years. With all the food waste you use, how do you keep vermin from multiplying like crazy? Do you also have a herd of cats?

[@stevebreedlove9760]

Been following you for a while. Love your chicken jungle. We are in a Mediterranean climate so have to make significant changes to your model, but one thing that I haven't heard you say (havent seen the whole catalogue so correct me if you have addressed this) is how much time the system takes to maintain. Can you consider doing a video on the labor inputs for maintaining your systems, especially those that aren't major infrastructure builds? Thanks so much!

[@edibleacres]

Good question. I don't track that too closely but the basic answer would be around 15-30 minutes per day of good focused work keeps it going. Thats an average. Perhaps sometimes there is a lot more!

[@verjiggawich]

Hi, first of all, another wonderful video, second of all--I love goats and pigs, do you think a similar flow would work with them? I don't eat animal products so I wouldn't be missing out on the eggs. Just doing a bit of day dreaming!

[@edibleacres]

Pigs seem like this would be potentially really compatible... I don't think I could imagine goats thriving in this setup.

[@alexguzman5400]

I just love what you do! Where do you find chickens at a low cost? I would like to do that too. Also, I'm in the process of purchasing a home with a couple acres so that I can help and adopt animals that had a rough beginning! Thanks

[@edibleacres]

We ask around and talk with lots of folks, eventually something comes forward that works out. Craigslist will often have chickens...

[@deborahleasor8463]

My chicks are 2 weeks old I started a compost pile the day I brought them home will the food scraps be to old by 3/4 weeks of age for them to start puking up and kicking apart? Of course I will add new fresh scraps to the pile daily!

[@edibleacres]

I'd suggest to keep adding more and more to the compost system, and starting the practice of having older areas and newer areas and some sort of flow pattern so they will ultimately have access to a wide range of material to free choice from.

[@AeriolNicols]

Are you dumping any meats and grains in there or just veg? Thanks

[@windywillowfarmstead898]

I love these types of videos. They are my favorite that you do. How does one get started or plan out a system like this? I see the large loading off area, and then the pathways. Do you just start making paths with fences? I'd really like to make a plan like this for my chickens.

[@edibleacres]

To be perfectly honest this evolved over time and changed as it went... So the good news is you can try it at a small scale wherever in your yard and then start learning what needs to adjust...

[@davidakerlund3551]

i wish i had that diverse of weeds, in the past week ive put about 20 5 gallon buckets of buttercup into my chicken compost pile

[@cesarccbable]

Do you have any natural predators and how you ward them off? Thank you im learning a lot in a sustainable farming.

[@edibleacres]

We have a very safe coop so during the night there are no concerns there. In the day the fence seems to help quite a bit.

[@ShannasCountryCreek]

Lovely video & so educational. Thank you 🥰 Do you worm your chickens? I see you have DE, but do you do any other methods?

[@edibleacres]

We quite often will chop up a whole lot of garlic to add to the grain mixture they eat so they get dosed with some strong amounts of garlic, sometimes apple cider vinegar in their water.

[@ShannasCountryCreek]

@@edibleacres ok awesome!! Great idea! I have been learning herbal medicine and garlic is a great idea for its medicinal property allicin. Thank you for the tip 🙌💃🏻 I do acv too, but wasn't sure it was enough. I want healthy chickens. What they eat we eat. So making sure. 🥰

[@minettebrits6502]

So interesting ! How do you prevent mice and rats coming to feast too ?

[@edibleacres]

They come and eat sometimes but it hasn't been a problem.

[@aaronbaron3155]

I saw a video where a fellow had a system like yours but used ducks. Apparently they are great for slugs. Have you ever considered using them? It might be difficult in your particular system. Also they don't scratch. I wouldn't say switch completely but wonder if some might be an asset.

[@edibleacres]

I think ducks wouldn't work in our particular context

[@aaronbaron3155]

@@edibleacres kinda figured as much

[@baglady216]

Are restaurants scraps OK to feed or would it not, with meat protein mixed in?

[@TheThugificationDurr]

Do you find you need to provide a dry spot for your chickens for dust baths? We have our chickens on a composting ground but I am worried they will be get disease from all the moisture.

[@edibleacres]

Really good to have dry spots for them if you can find it. Under the coop for our chhickens is really nice.

[@nandisaand5287]

Like any good Capitalist, Sean hires young laborers to replace his aging workforce, but before retiring the older workers, he has them train their replacements.