General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: meanwhile in the real world. [View all]mopinko
(73,677 posts)deep litter method means that the manure is mostly already composted before it ever leaves the coop. anything that is still fresh is cool within days. it is mixed with large quantities of shredded paper, which composts quickly.
a whole years "manure", including bedding, would fit in a 50 gallon drum. i only have 20 chickens, not a whole broiler operation.
as far as the weeds, i do tend them. i weed them. i eat them. i feed them to my chickens. the native plants that are there now have arisen as i have selected them and nurtured them. i watched this land for many years, while it was a trash strewn vacant lot.
there was no queen anne's lace, wooly mullein, fox tail and crow foot grasses.
lambs quarters, wild plantain, poor man's pepper and smooth amaranth are favored foods of the girls.
wild mustards yielded 1/4 pound of seeds.
about a brazillion clovers feed my soil.
the law says untended. my "weeds" are anything but.