Chicken )#*$) question

martha 2/4/2011, 5:48 pm

This spring, I will be getting a lovely gift of chicken poop from a friend. What do I need to do with it before using? How long to wait, etc, etc. How stinky will it be if it is not brand new?

Thank you in advance to all you chicken farmers!

LaFee 2/4/2011, 5:58 pm

Has to be composted before you can use it, Martha, or it will burn everything....

The Compost thread should give you more info.

boffer 2/4/2011, 6:03 pm

I've only been playing in chicken manure since last summer, so I'm no expert. I probably have about a cubic yard size pile.

My pile is on the ground and gets turned every couple weeks. It seems to decompose well in a couple of months.

There's some odor, but the more frequently I turn it, the less odoriferous it is.

Depending on the source, some chicken manure will have a lot of bedding in it, wood chips or straw, that needs to break down too.

They always say don't put chicken manure directly on a growing garden, but to let it overwinter or compost first. Supposedly, the high nitrogen content will burn the plants.

happycamper 2/4/2011, 7:23 pm

Let it compost if you do not know how old it is. The USDA and our local extension office has specific guidelines for the composting of fresh animal manure. Here are a few suggestions you may want to research.
1. Never put fresh animal manure near your plants, not even to side dress, they will burn.
2. I place a layer fresh manure and bedding on the garden beds after my fall crops are done and cover with leaf mold and let it sit and get rained on all winter. (I due this in October and plant in March or April).
3. You can put fresh chicken manure and bedding on your compost pile BUT, I make sure that I still have the 120 days before using the compost. (It will really heat it up!)
4. I compost the chicken manure and bedding in the "Chicken" compost all by itself for part of the year as there really doesn't seem to be any place for it while waiting for the regular compost to finish.

There are guidelines for fresh manures that state 120 days for root crops and 90 days for above ground crops. (I have always used the 120 to be safe) I would recommend researching it.

Yes, I have chickens! All my neighbors think I am the crazy garden lady. I am ok with this.
FYI, I read daily but hardly post because it always seems like what I write is stupid, I don't mean to offend.

martha 2/5/2011, 4:56 am

???? Happycamper, the only thing in your response that offends me is that you think I might be offended!

Thanks for the input!

Megan 2/5/2011, 8:48 pm

That is great information, happycamper, thank you!

Old Hippie 2/6/2011, 1:36 am

Happy Camper......I always enjoy your posts. There is nothing stupid about them. I would love to see more of them.

Gwynn

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