beckyfitz Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tara.F Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 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!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
