1 Answer

• Reputation: 39 Q&A: 1 0 0 19 0 0 Classifieds: 0 0 what's this? Follow Following 0 Lisa Taylor

  0 0 Great question. I need to know more about these shavings. If what you have are clean wood shavings (no paint, no plywood, no particle board) from a wood working shop then YES, add them to your compost. If these are shavings you bought from the feed or pet store then you need to find out what they are and make sure that nothing has been added. Some pet shavings are treated with an anti-bacterial something to keep it all fresh and hygenic -- as though poop and pee could ever be hygenic! Shavings that have been treated can not be added to your compost or landscape, sadly these must go into the landfill. If your shavings are clean and unadulterated then make sure that you get them really wet before you add them to your compost pile. These shavings will be high in carbon and will need a commensurate amount of nitrogen to aid in decomposition -- your chicken poop provides some nitrogen but may not be enough for speedy breakdown. You will be waiting a long time (a year or more) for shavings to be finished compost. Avoid incorporating un-finished shavings into your garden bed as these woody bits will "rob" the nitrogen available in the soil. Woody compost from shavings make great mulch or topdressing around perennial herbs and shrubs. If you have more questions about composting, contact the Garden Hotline at help@gardenhotline.org Happy rotting. Lisa Taylor answered in Gardening over 2 years ago | Report 2 comments by Matt from Denver and Lisa Taylor… 0 0 I believe it's just woodshop pine shavings, no additives or anything. I got them at a ranch supply store in bulk, not at a pet store. I'm actually doing "lasagne composting" (layers of cardboard, straw, and soil) in this instance. Still kosher? Matt from Denver commented over 2 years ago | Report 0 0 Sure, just make sure it is really wet -- this will take some doing. Soak it in a bucket, maybe. Also compensate for the high carbon with greens or add nitrogen fertilizer if you are short on greens. I sometimes use alfalfa meal or alfalfa hay if I have some. Sawdust is like 500:1 carbon to nitrogen and the ideal composting ratio is 30:1. You don't have to get all mathy about it but you get the idea. With the lasagna pile you want to make sure it is wet when you put it in and that the pile does dry out -- covering it with wet burlap coffee bags certainly wouldn't hurt! Have fun and rot on! Lisa Taylor commented over 2 years ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

  Share this answer with a friend: