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Post by iandigs on Feb 23, 2011 15:10:03 GMT
I have recently started putting the straw and droppings from our five chickens into a heap to make compost but unfortunately it is just sitting there all soggy and miserable looking, is there anything I can do to "liven it up"?   Thank you. Ian  |
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Post by Lou78W on Feb 23, 2011 15:55:37 GMT
You'll need to mix it with other compostable material Ian; veg peelings; prunings and stuff like that....shredded paper is good if its very wet and perhaps cover it up until the rainy weather has gone  |
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Post by Cherry on Feb 23, 2011 16:14:49 GMT
That's right Lou. Add it to your compost Ian. Good stuff. The whole lot will look a little damp and static just now, but it will start activating soon, and the chook droppings are just perfect to get it started when the weather warms up a bit.
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Post by floydie on Feb 23, 2011 18:39:08 GMT
Do you use any wood shavings at all? if you mix alittle in that will also help to soak up moisture, as will shredded cardboard (cereal packet kind).
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Post by Geranium on Feb 23, 2011 18:42:52 GMT
Can you cover the heap with some old carpet, Ian? That seems to work well if you haven't got a bin or can't make one at the moment.
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Post by iandigs on Feb 24, 2011 4:42:20 GMT
Thanks guys ;D The next problem is sheer quantity, the chooks live in a 7 foot by 4 foot coop which I clean out every week (as well as "pooh picking" every day, I have a wonderful life really!  ) so the amount of straw far out ways any other materials I can add. Plus the "ladies" are free range and tend to eat any veg peelings etc. that goes in there so what else is there I can add to the mix at this time of year? |
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Post by Cherry on Feb 24, 2011 6:16:44 GMT
If you have plenty of it, it will be high in nitrogen and just put your household scraps into this. Do your chooks eat the veg peelings? That sounds a good system when you get your eggs in return. Garden prunings and weeds will be good for the compost as well as autumn leaves if you have any of these. It will all look much better when the weather warms it up. Do you have a plastic dalek, a fancy wooden one or a heap?
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Post by Geranium on Feb 24, 2011 9:25:17 GMT
Shredded paper and cardboard, coffee grounds & tealeaves. Have you got a coffee shop near where you go shopping? They often give people coffee grounds.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Feb 24, 2011 9:35:19 GMT
Try to balance out the nitrogen rich things that you are already using with things like woody material (including shredded cardboard, sawdust and newspaper). This might help. www.gardenorganic.org.uk/organicgardening/compost_pf.php A slimey heap (ew) is a sign that you have too much of one type of material. However...when I have this problem I add straw (which you already have!) because my compost bin is full of chopped up vegetation and sticks from the garden. If it gets too soggy then it won't break down as well, because it needs air to do that. If you can turn it with a fork to get some air into it, that might help a bit. |
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Post by Cherry on Feb 24, 2011 10:06:29 GMT
I can't turn mine as it is in a dalek and it turns out beautiful. The big stuff which I throw on the heap has squashes growing over it in the summer. I do try to get some council waste for my garden too. The farmer obliges with a trailer load.
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Post by floydie on Feb 24, 2011 12:18:35 GMT
I just poke around in mine to try and mix it alittle. As yet it hasn't gone slimy but I'm constantly adding a mix of waste to mine daily. (Its over half full already  ) It will be even more so by the end of today as i have the hedgehog to clean out. |
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Post by iandigs on Feb 24, 2011 17:00:31 GMT
If you have plenty of it, it will be high in nitrogen and just put your household scraps into this. Do your chooks eat the veg peelings? That sounds a good system when you get your eggs in return. Garden prunings and weeds will be good for the compost as well as autumn leaves if you have any of these. It will all look much better when the weather warms it up. Do you have a plastic dalek, a fancy wooden one or a heap? I have a heap made from pallets Cherry. I can't give up my allotment ways! Lol  |
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Post by iandigs on Feb 24, 2011 17:03:03 GMT
Shredded paper and cardboard, coffee grounds & tealeaves. Have you got a coffee shop near where you go shopping? They often give people coffee grounds. Paper and cardboard should be no problem, I go to my local newsagent when they return their unsold papers and they only need the banner off the front page and the rest goes in the bin. I will check for coffee grounds and tea leaves.  |
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Post by iandigs on Feb 24, 2011 17:04:40 GMT
Try to balance out the nitrogen rich things that you are already using with things like woody material (including shredded cardboard, sawdust and newspaper). This might help. www.gardenorganic.org.uk/organicgardening/compost_pf.php A slimey heap (ew) is a sign that you have too much of one type of material. However...when I have this problem I add straw (which you already have!) because my compost bin is full of chopped up vegetation and sticks from the garden. If it gets too soggy then it won't break down as well, because it needs air to do that. If you can turn it with a fork to get some air into it, that might help a bit. Thanks for this great link CPB I will have to get out there and start turning it! Lol |
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Post by iandigs on Feb 24, 2011 17:07:16 GMT
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) so the amount of straw far out ways any other materials I can add. Plus the "ladies" are free range and tend to eat any veg peelings etc. that goes in there so what else is there I can add to the mix at this time of year?
)
