4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[beckyfitz]

Now we have the two ducks as well as the chickens, i'm going to start using Hemcore for their bedding & think its about time we started composting. I really don't want a huge compost bin - what exactly will i need? Also, I worry about maggots. I pick the poo off the garden after the hens but its always already swarming with bluebottles - how do I stop flies laying eggs on my compost, I don't want a bin full of maggots?

Sorry, probably very naive q's!

Becky xx

[Tara.F]

garlic stops the poops smelling as much and drastically reduces the flies. Buy the horsey stuff (I use gar-rich, macerated garlic in apple cider vinegar for horses) and add a drop to their water.

I use hemp bedding and chuck it in the composter....never had any maggots yet (four years now!)

[Egluntyne]

I wouldn't worry too much....fly activity is an essential part of the composting process.

 

You could always hang a **Flitrap** or similar near to the bin to catch them on their way out.

[redhotchick]

My compost bin is full of ants. Does anyone else have this? Is there anything that I can/should do about it? I'm just ignoring it for now

[Olly]

I wouldn't worry about the ants, they'll help the general decomposition process.

 

Becky, I'd get the largest compost bin you can fit in - it pays to think big! With ducks and chooks you'll have quite a lot of compost. Get a bin with a lid, and you shouldn't have flies on the compost, but if you do then it will also help it all to decompose.