how much chicken poo to expect and what to do?

[sheridand]

Our coop and runs are finally ready, the birds are to be collected next weekend.I have a final thing to sort out: the poo!
I am unsure as to how much poo 3 birds will make. The run is earth floor, the coop is a pull out litter tray which I will line with paper and shavings. My query is really about the volume of poo expected with a weekly clear out and what to do with it. Next Spring I will have 3 raised beds to fertilise with it (to be built this Autumn). I was thinking of making a pallet compost heap for it, but I don't know how practical that will be? It's down the end of the garden so smell wouldn't be a problem. Or I could brown bin it, I suppose, if it won't be too much? How long does it take to compost down? Should it be mixed with garden matter? What do people do with theirs?

Thanks, friendly people!

[Thomzo]

Hi
Expect loads, seriously, loads. But it composts easily. I bed my birds on a mixture of grass and shredded paper and then just put the lot into a compost bin until I'm ready to use it. Your pallet composter will do fine to start with.

Enjoy your birds, I'm sure they'll be great.

Zoe

[Rosendula]

I have 3 chickens which I got at the end of February this year. I have 2 dalek compost bins in my garden, a big one and a smaller one. (I don't know the sizes and it's too dark round there to go and look for markings, but I think the small one is more standard.) My smaller bin was already in use, about 1/3 full when I got the ladies. I scoop the poo out of the garden and empty the tray every day, along with the newspaper that I use to line it (saves scrubbing too often). It all goes in my little dalek along with all my kitchen waste, garden waste, and a load of elder branches that I cut down and shredded. 7 months later, it's still only 2/3-ish full. I turn it more regularly than I used to because it tends to form a bit of a solid, stinky lump in the middle if I don't, but I think it's more to do with the heat it is generating that it breaks down so quickly. When I turn it, I often add shredded paper as extra 'brown' stuff as well.

I think you have to leave it a year before you use it on the garden due to the heat. Feel free to correct me anyone

[Millymollymandy]

We jut put it in the compost bins along with everything else. You will be surprised how much poo they do in a day!

[becky3086]

My compost pile is by the garden. I add to it throughout the year but most of it is from the chickens and then the next spring it goes into the garden.