Should a compost bin have holes at the side for air?

[WillieBee]

I have just been given two dalek type compost bins for my allotment. They have no holes in the side, but I thought the composting process needed a good supply of oxygen in order to work well.
Should I still a series of holes in the side?
Thank you

[Small pumpkin]

Personally I wouldn't. I've got 3 darleks and they work very well as they are.

I'm sure more enthusiastic composters will be along soon to go into great detail with you on this subject .

I just chuck stuff in

[greenishfing]

One of my daleks has holes, three don't. They all seem to rot things down at the same speed. I think the most important thing for fast composting is putting them in a warm sunny spot. I just chuck things in too. It's amazing how fast they drop.

[Jimny14]

I'd leave em be also, I occasionally turn mine to aerate them if I get the chance. Last year was v busy and I don't remember turning them and I still got some (4 animal feed bags) of this out of em a couple of days ago

[burnie]

What goes inside is probably more important, I put grass cutting in mine at home, so I have to add layers including shredded paper(no idea what the ink does to it), old egg cartons and I do try turn the contents a couple of times a year. Anything that hasn't quite rotted in one year(brassica stalks for example)go in for the start of the next year, always composts down eventually. Final thing I add is any snails I pick up on the way round the garden.

[Bren In Pots]

I don't have holes in any of my daleks if they're not sold with holes then I'd leave them alone. I read that making compost is all about adding layers either greens and browns. Seems to work fine for me.