Composting in garbage bags

[claud]

I have to do some mid-winter cleaning of the coop soon. I'm planning on starting a garden in the spring and am wondering if I can just put the chicken poo in some heavy duty garbage bags until I'm ready to start the garden - that doesn't happen until May around here.
If I do should I add anything to the poo or just let it sit until spring?

 

[ecopepper]

Hi there so glad you want to compost. I have done many different things. One I only have 2 hens...but I take the dropping and bedding and put it in a clear storage box and add some municipal compost to it to help it mix and break down and no smell. I am in Florida so I would suggest you use a black one and put it in the sun as much as possible. I like the idea of the bag it should work too...Just thought I would share....as I went out today and did just that. I also do small cleanup and throw it right in my big composter if it needs a good warming up. They say to wait a year till using it....humm Chicken poo has the highest nitrogen content....but sometimes I just throw it around and have had no problem. I wonder if because I use DE if it cuts the nitrogen down because it dries up the poo a bit. Good Luck! Sending warmth your way!

P.S. shake those bags everyonce in awhile to mix them up..if too wet throw in recycled bills paper and junk mail and if too dry water some. And a old rabbit cage makes a great composter!

 

[Manok-Tao]

Compost needs oxygen to compost. If you tie it up in a bag with no air movement you'll get a science project.

There are many sites on composting.... You want it exposed to the air but covered so it doesn't get drenched with rain/snow. though the process does slow down when temps are down it still does compost (break down via maa nat). If you can begin a pile that is covered, yet gets ventilation, and add all your coffee grounds, leftover greens, then add a layer of leaves, then dirt then chicken poop , then greens, then poop then, leaves etc etc. Don't let it dry out but don't let it be satuarated with moisture. In my winter pile of post i sprinkle a little lime and/or 10-10-10 fert to help it along...not a lot just a sprinkle. I do this and then pile on 3-4 inches of chopped up leaves (by mower or hand). Don't add large items to pile as they will slow down the cook. I keep EVERYTHING smaller than my index finger. Turn a winter pile less often then s seasonal one. If pile is 12" or higher you should feel warmth when your bare hand is plunged into the center. Once that heat (winter warmth) disapates turn it non agessivlyt to bring the larger non broke down items to the center of the pile.
If you simply want to keep your winter poop for your spring compost pile...just pile it up somewhere and keep it covered but allow air movement till spring
Or..plan your coop clean-out (DLM) for the early spring when your seasonal compost pile begins
Or..throw is onto some of your landscaped bushes..it will weep into the soil in spring and they will love it

 

[ecopepper]

A black trash can with holes would work...I use a old one if i run out of space....turn it around and around to mix and yes lime is good for compost warming and keeping flies outta coop areas...oh and yuck but urine does well for warming up a compost pile!!