Today I went back to our local D.I.Y. store for another bag of sand. After I had bought it and was on my way out I saw a pallet of bags of compost that had been split open and were reduced to sixty three pence each. I bought four bags for the run.
My bargain compost
I decided to put the sand in the part of the run that gets the most wet and boggy to help with drainage and put the compost in the spot where I am trying to build up the soil.
I dumped the bag of sand in the run first.
The girls investigate the new sand
This time it’s Barley that photo bombed the shot.
Topaz and Butterscotch were soon scratching in the sand
I dumped some of the compost in the run
The sand was immediately abandoned for the lure of the soil and Topaz was vigorously scratching in it.
I dump the rest of the compost in the run
All the girls enjoy scratching in it
The girls much prefer the compost to the sand and soon had it spread out.
Speckles gets her turn
After lunch I took the girls some apples and while they pecked at the apples Speckles made the most of having the compost to herself. She especially liked a bit of root that had been in one of the bags.
We decided to go back and get some more but it was already sold out.
At the end of the day when I gave the girls their bedtime corn my husband said that Honey had side stepped the sand on to a strip of soil next to it and come through the hatch rather than cross the sand. She really doesn’t like the sand.
I got the fork and mixed the sand with soil so that it’s not so obvious.
It’s a shame the compost was sold out so quickly but at least I got four bags. The compost is much lighter and easier to carry and the girls prefer it so I will be keeping my eyes open for any more reductions.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
Hmmmm, I see a trip to the garden center for compost in my future. The leaves I had put in the run last fall are pretty much done.
I have now realised that just because sand looked the cheapest option it may not be. It is in small but heavy bags. If I look at bigger bags of compost often at three for the price of two I may get a much better deal and easier to handle and more for my money. I think there will be more compost going in the run now that I have realised that.
I always pour spent compost from grow bags, pots, etc into the dust bath for our hens. If you use any of those sorts of things, or have friends who do, that might just tip them into their green bin then try and grab those too, as they will be perfect for what you want, and free! 🙂
I too tip in any spent compost from pots or even throw in the whole dead plant from pots as the girls love pecking through the roots. At the moment I am really working on building up the soil level. It must have dropped by about a foot just through four years of poop picking. I am going to swing by a big garden centre today and see if they have big bags of compost or top soil on a three for the price of two offer. That should give good value and a much bigger quantity which should complete the job for now, in one go.
Its great to see them so happily digging through it after you have added it isnt it?
It is lovely to watch their enthusiasm for scratching in it. Just got back with some more so will update at the end of the day. Watch this space!
I’m like Christian , mine have all the old compost from pots and tubs . I have in the past brought bags back from the allotments with mulch in where a tree surgeon has left a Lorre load of chip pings. ( not last year as not easy in a bike basket )
It is great if you can get it for free but I got to the impatient stage where I just wanted to get the job done. You can see in my next post that I completed my mission and you can see it in the “flesh” tomorrow when you visit my girls.