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Chicken keepers

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Original poster

What do you do with chicken manure if you don't want a compost heap?

17 replies

MollieO · 02/04/2011 13:54

Am getting chickens in the next couple of weeks. What do I do with their waste? Don't want a compost bin as I'm absolutely paranoid about rats and have heard horror stories of rats in compost bins.

OP posts:
ChasingSquirrels · 02/04/2011 13:55

I put mine in the brown bag - compost recycling that the council collects.

Original poster
MollieO · 02/04/2011 15:00

Green waste collection here but not sure it includes chicken stuff. I'll check with the council. We have to pay an annual charge to have a green bin. I haven't bothered as I thought two bins were enough without adding a third. However I need to do something and it would be a shame for it not to be composted.

OP posts:
Bunbaker · 02/04/2011 15:19

Chicken s**t is a great fertiliser. Put in on your garden.

Original poster
MollieO · 02/04/2011 15:23

It can't go straight on the garden as it will burn the plants and I don't want a compost bin, hence my question!

OP posts:
ilovemyhens · 02/04/2011 21:39

I just put mine into the black wheelie bin. I don't want ours going straight onto plants either and we don't have room for a compost area.

chickchickchicken · 02/04/2011 23:11

we have a green waste bin here too and they have just introduced a charge Angry
it does say on ours that you cannot put animal bedding or poo in them
ask neighbours if they want some as fertiliser?

Original poster
MollieO · 02/04/2011 23:31

From what I've read our council makes a £25 charge for stuff that shouldnt go in the green bin. I think mine will be going in the black bin unless I can find someone who wants it for their compost bin.

OP posts:
saltyseadog · 03/04/2011 11:01

Freecycle it! When our compost bins are full I advertise it on Freecycle and get several takers. Pure gold for the gardener (providing the bedding you use is easily compostable e.g. easibed).

MarzipanNutPie · 03/04/2011 16:55

Put into a lidded bucket with water and use for watering.

nickelbabyhatcher · 04/04/2011 11:18

don't worry about rats in compost bins!

Original poster
MollieO · 04/04/2011 13:32

I do worry about rats in compost bins which is why I refuse to have one. I'd have to move house if I saw a rat (yes I know they are all over the place but thankfully I don't actually see them!).

OP posts:
nickelbabyhatcher · 04/04/2011 13:53

oh dear :(

If it helps, I used to live on a farm, and I never saw a rat in my compost bin.
there were rats on the farm, but they concentrated on the grain siloes.

Original poster
MollieO · 04/04/2011 16:11

I'm sure rats wouldn't appear if they had the choice of a grain silo. Not sure my garden is big enough for one of those! Grin

OP posts:
nickelbabyhatcher · 04/04/2011 16:35
Grin
chickchickchicken · 04/04/2011 17:48

i am considering getting rid of my compost bin for this very reason. i am still trying to forget the dark shape running from it

Original poster
MollieO · 04/04/2011 18:19

It really is my worst nightmare even though I know it would be good to make my own compost. I just don't know what I'd do if I saw something. I have a couple of friends with large gardens/allotments so I hope I can persuade them to take a regular supply!

OP posts:
zisforzebra · 04/04/2011 23:00

You could try freecycle or asking around at local allotments? We have fab compost because the chicken poo helps it break down quicker.

If you put a piece of chicken wire under a compost bin, rats can't get in to it.

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