Had the builders in over the last few days, as we added an extension to ‘Cluckingham Palace’ aka our Gozo chicken coop.
We are creating a new, small scale dedicated ‘compost creation area’ in which our chickens will be playing an active role by removing pests, eating weed seeds and scratching and turning over the new and maturing compost.
The area is made from scrap wood and skip pallets and will be known as the Scratching Shed’ (with a nod to Leeds United for those familiar with Elland Road’s history).
This facility will be in addition to our existing ‘slow’ x 3 compost bins, currently filled with carob leaves, pine needles, olive leaves, donkey manure, with a smattering of dry sea weed, coffee grounds and dry Bougainvillea flowers, along with the ‘express’ Hot Bin also currently in use on site.
The Permaculture inspired composting system we are experimenting with is modelled very loosely on a Geoff Lawton’s eggcellent video about Chicken Tractors – and you can watch short the video here https://youtu.be/hi5eDdGzLK8
Here are a few composting photos showing ‘Cluckingham Palace’ at pre-construction stage earlier this year (eat your heart out Le Corbusier), a slow bin, and Vanilla Slice, the rooster, along with chickens (compost creation operatives) Tiye (left) and Nephthys (centre).
