ST. CLOUD, Minn. — Raising backyard chickens can be a fun and rewarding experience for everyone involved. By caring for chickens, children can learn about nature, agriculture and responsibility. Perhaps the least appealing aspect of caring for chickens is managing the manure that comes with them. Small flocks can produce a considerable amount of manure, so implementing effective management strategies is key to reducing odors and fly populations around your home. Plus, utilizing the manure can directly benefit your lawn and gardens.
According to UMN Extension Educators, Chicken manure is made up of feed residue, intestinal bacteria, digestive juices, mineral by-products from metabolic processes and water. In fact, 85 percent of chicken manure is water by weight, which can lead to issues with humidity and odor. A single hen will typically produce 0.19 pounds of manure per day, which adds up to almost 70 pounds of manure per year.
There are a variety of ways to manage odor and control flies around your backyard chickens.
A simple, but effective method is to maintain the cleanliness of the chicken coop and pen throughout the year. Eggs should be collected twice daily and the coop should be cleaned out weekly to preserve sanitation. Feeders and waterers should be regularly cleaned and disinfected. Complete and thorough cleanings of the coop should be completed at least twice per year. This could easily be done in the spring and fall, and will help control odor and fly populations.
Another option recommended by UMN Extension is to house chickens in a movable coop or chicken run area. These transportable shelters are a valuable tool for small outdoor chicken flocks. Simply move the location of the shelter when manure begins to build up. It offers new space for the chickens to graze, and it provides free fertilizer for your lawn. If you decide to purchase a movable coop, be sure that it is predator proof and provides protection from the various Minnesota weather conditions.
Lastly, consider composting. Composting can be accomplished right in the chickens’ bedding. To begin the process of composting, put down about four inches of natural bedding such as shavings or straw. Regularly stir up the bedding to prevent clumping and continue to add bedding until it is at least 12 inches deep. This is the depth in which composting actively begins. Utilizing this method of composting will release heat, which can help keep the chickens warm in the cooler months. It also attracts natural fly predators. To maintain the compost and prevent crusting, it must be stirred regularly. This same process can be completed outside of the coop in a separate bin if desired.
Fully composted poultry litter can be valuable for improving soil structure. Some suggested uses include applying 1/4 inch of compost to lawns as topdressing, mixing the compost into the soil of flower beds before planting or mulching garden plants such as tomatoes or peppers.
For more information regarding manure management and raising backyard chickens, visit the University of Minnesota Extension website at https://extension.umn.edu/small-scale-poultry/raising-chickens-eggs.
— Michaela Simcoe, University of Minnesota Extension
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