Composting --> chicken food

[meemee]

2 questions.

1. how do i compost without a bin. what do i need to do? any links (found websites talk a lot about containers but very little about just piles). i want to just have an open pile in the corner of the garden but somewhat contained.

2. how do i change that to chicken feed and not soil amendment?

[Chicky2]

I'm a bit unclear...Do you currently have chickens that you would like to feed scraps?  If so, just dump 'em on the ground and they will eat them.  You can't give chickens compost that is not fresh, otherwise it is just dirt.  If this isn't what you are asking then could you clarify please?

[Laurienna]

Sorry, double post.

[Laurienna]

I have a compost pile: I just dump the stuff on top and mix it a bit. Rake the sides up from time to time so that it stays a pile. It takes more time to compost than in my compost bin but it works.

I'm also not quite sure what you mean about the chickens. Mine go on the compost pile where they nicely add some poop for me but they get the fresh scraps and don't eat the compost. They do search for bugs in it though.

[greenmulberry]

I have a wire mesh "ring" that I dump my compost in. If I want to turn the compost, or harvest the good stuff on the bottom, I move the ring, which is just a length of mesh bent into a circle, over, and shovel the compost back into it.

My chickens jump into the pile when they free range and take what they want,.

[meemee]

aaaaah i was visiting a farm and they talked about composting for the chicken and i wondered what they meant which is why i posted here.

i went back there and found out. 

they compost not really for compost sake. its mostly for the chickens.

so its a two pronged process. 

the chickens eat the fresh scrap.

and then the composting veggies invite bugs and the chicken go to the pile to eat those insects. i loved that esp. since spring is coming up and they will have a good protein diet.

so really its not composting for soil amendment which happens over time.