Search
Latest topics
» New to SFG in Arlington, Txby sanderson Today at 3:13 pm
» Soil Blocks: Tutorial In Photos
by OhioGardener Yesterday at 5:20 pm
» Manure tea overwintered outside - is it safe to use?
by Mhpoole 4/24/2024, 7:08 pm
» Advice on my blend
by donnainzone5 4/24/2024, 12:13 pm
» Senseless Banter...
by OhioGardener 4/24/2024, 8:16 am
» Rhubarb Rhubarb
by sanderson 4/23/2024, 8:52 pm
» What Have You Picked From Your Garden Today
by OhioGardener 4/23/2024, 1:53 pm
» What do I do with tomato plants?
by SMEDLEY BUTLER 4/23/2024, 1:36 am
» N & C Midwest: March and April 2024
by Scorpio Rising 4/22/2024, 4:57 pm
» Kiwi's SFG Adventure
by sanderson 4/22/2024, 2:07 pm
» Sacrificial Tomatoes
by SMEDLEY BUTLER 4/22/2024, 10:36 am
» From the Admin - 4th EDITION of All New Square Foot Gardening is in Progress
by sanderson 4/21/2024, 5:02 pm
» Seedling Identification
by AuntieBeth 4/21/2024, 8:00 am
» Happy Birthday!!
by AtlantaMarie 4/21/2024, 6:56 am
» Three Sisters Thursday
by sanderson 4/20/2024, 5:25 pm
» Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts
by sanderson 4/20/2024, 3:08 pm
» Compost not hot
by Guinevere 4/19/2024, 11:19 am
» Maybe a silly question but...
by sanderson 4/18/2024, 11:22 pm
» Hi from zone 10B--southern orange county, ca
by sanderson 4/18/2024, 12:25 am
» Asparagus
by OhioGardener 4/17/2024, 6:17 pm
» problems with SFG forum site
by OhioGardener 4/16/2024, 8:04 am
» Strawberries per square foot.
by sanderson 4/16/2024, 4:22 am
» What are you eating from your garden today?
by sanderson 4/16/2024, 4:15 am
» April is Kids Gardening Month!
by sanderson 4/15/2024, 2:37 pm
» Creating A Potager Garden
by sanderson 4/15/2024, 2:33 pm
» Butter Beans????
by OhioGardener 4/13/2024, 5:50 pm
» Companion planting
by sanderson 4/13/2024, 4:24 pm
» First timer in Central Virginia (7b) - newly built beds 2024
by sanderson 4/13/2024, 4:16 pm
» California's Drought
by sanderson 4/10/2024, 1:43 pm
» Anyone Using Agribon Row Cover To Extend The Growing Season?
by sanderson 4/8/2024, 10:28 pm
Google
Rabbit mixed with Pine Pellets?
+3
staf74
RoOsTeR
Rhianna78
7 posters
Page 1 of 1
Rabbit mixed with Pine Pellets?
I found a local rabbit breeder that will let me get some poo for fertilizer but she mixes pine pellets in to it. Neither of us are sure if it would be a bad thing. I know pine can kill everything but with the pellets I don't know their pH levels. Any help from a bunny parent or SFGer that uses bunny poo?
Rhianna78- Posts : 45
Join date : 2012-01-08
Location : Poquoson, VA
Re: Rabbit mixed with Pine Pellets?
I am not a pine pellet expert, but I would think as long as they are the 100% pine pellet type, they should be just fine to use. They will however need to be composted
I am my gardens worst enemy.
RoOsTeR- Posts : 4316
Join date : 2011-10-04
Location : Colorado Front Range
Re: Rabbit mixed with Pine Pellets?
I found a small discussion on the topic here for you
http://www.kitchencomposterblog.com/garden-compost/is-pine-sawdust-okay-in-your-gardencompost
The consensus from the comments section appear to be that after composting the poop/pine mix, the pH would be neutral and fine to add to the garden. Straight pine needles are around 6 (pH). Using it straight in the SFG as one of your composts, you might run into some issues as the pine portion of the mix is still there and might rob your Mel's Mix of nitrogen as it tries to decompose the pine. We want MM for growing, not for composting In small amounts it might be fine but I would be hesitant on using un-composted pine pellets in my SFG.
However, just to confuse you This is an interesting read from a very well respected gardening site but it does refer to pine straw as mulch and NOT shavings and poop mixed.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/2702/
Hope that helped and didn't confuse you even more. I'm no expert......just my two cents
http://www.kitchencomposterblog.com/garden-compost/is-pine-sawdust-okay-in-your-gardencompost
The consensus from the comments section appear to be that after composting the poop/pine mix, the pH would be neutral and fine to add to the garden. Straight pine needles are around 6 (pH). Using it straight in the SFG as one of your composts, you might run into some issues as the pine portion of the mix is still there and might rob your Mel's Mix of nitrogen as it tries to decompose the pine. We want MM for growing, not for composting In small amounts it might be fine but I would be hesitant on using un-composted pine pellets in my SFG.
However, just to confuse you This is an interesting read from a very well respected gardening site but it does refer to pine straw as mulch and NOT shavings and poop mixed.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/2702/
Hope that helped and didn't confuse you even more. I'm no expert......just my two cents
staf74- Posts : 554
Join date : 2010-11-24
Age : 49
Location : York, SC
Re: Rabbit mixed with Pine Pellets?
I need some clarification. Are you saying the rabbit owner mixes rabbit poo with PINE PELLETS? as in, wood pellets? or are you saying PINE SHAVINGS or NEEDLES. My answer will be different with each of these pine products...
The rabbit pellets themselves can go right in the garden but the other product ...
The rabbit pellets themselves can go right in the garden but the other product ...
43 years a gardener and going strong with SFG.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3574-the-end-of-july-7-weeks-until-frost
There are certain pursuits which, if not wholly poetic and true, do at least suggest a nobler and finer relation to nature than we know. The keeping of bees, for instance. ~ Henry David Thoreau
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t1306-other-gardening-books
Re: Rabbit mixed with Pine Pellets?
Pine pellets are an alternative to pine shavings.
Personally never used them. I know some use them for chicks instead of shavings.
Personally never used them. I know some use them for chicks instead of shavings.
I am my gardens worst enemy.
RoOsTeR- Posts : 4316
Join date : 2011-10-04
Location : Colorado Front Range
Re: Rabbit mixed with Pine Pellets?
The rabbit breeder puts pine pellets (like wood pellets) in the bottoms of the cages. I assume its for absorption purposes but I didn't ask. She cleans out her pens/cages every week & the pine pellets get scooped out with the poop so I'd end up with a mix.
I know you can use pine needles but it takes a while to compost them. I know you can use wood chips but you still need to compost them, just not for as long. I also know rabbit is good to go straight from the 'factory'. Since the pellets are mixed in I'm guessing they'd require some form of composting, but I don't know for how long.
I know you can use pine needles but it takes a while to compost them. I know you can use wood chips but you still need to compost them, just not for as long. I also know rabbit is good to go straight from the 'factory'. Since the pellets are mixed in I'm guessing they'd require some form of composting, but I don't know for how long.
Rhianna78- Posts : 45
Join date : 2012-01-08
Location : Poquoson, VA
Re: Rabbit mixed with Pine Pellets?
I say take as much as you can and use that as your composting base. Start a compost pile if you can. Lots of threads on that. It will save you $$$ in the long run as you need to replenish the nutrients every time you change out a square anyhow. Rabbit poop heats up so quick and usually breaks down fast. Add plenty of leaves, shredded cardboard, visit to local DD / starbucks for coffee grounds, kitchen scraps, horse manure etc and you have yourself the best stuff in the making.
staf74- Posts : 554
Join date : 2010-11-24
Age : 49
Location : York, SC
Re: Rabbit mixed with Pine Pellets?
The pelleted pine dust still has some turpentine in them unless it's been steamed out . If the new unused pellets even remotely smell of pine I for one would not use them .
Pelleted pine is chipped green pine forced through a die like a massive mincing machine at extreme pressure to remove turpentine & other tree fluids which are then distilled to make all sorts of products , whats left gets used for fuel , animal litter etc etc..
I suspect that the new pelleted pine granules is not only used to absorb the liquids from the rabbits it is also used for a deoderizing , disinfecting & asthetic purposes as well .
Though if it is spread out and weathered for a couple of months I'd then compost it for a year or so by which time the rabbit muck would have had most of its nutrients to being leeched or bleached out of it.
Pelleted pine is chipped green pine forced through a die like a massive mincing machine at extreme pressure to remove turpentine & other tree fluids which are then distilled to make all sorts of products , whats left gets used for fuel , animal litter etc etc..
I suspect that the new pelleted pine granules is not only used to absorb the liquids from the rabbits it is also used for a deoderizing , disinfecting & asthetic purposes as well .
Though if it is spread out and weathered for a couple of months I'd then compost it for a year or so by which time the rabbit muck would have had most of its nutrients to being leeched or bleached out of it.
plantoid- Posts : 4096
Join date : 2011-11-09
Age : 73
Location : At the west end of M4 in the UK
Re: Rabbit mixed with Pine Pellets?
Hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Rabbit Poo doesn't heat at all if it's just rabbit Poo,now if you have shavings mixed in they wil heat as they decompose,a mix of the two makes some of the best compost,I've been rasing rabbits for more years then I care to state on a open forum: shock: btw if rabbits are kept clean the won't smell no need for the shavings to cover their smell ,I use pine shavings so they get a head start to the compost binstaf74 wrote:I say take as much as you can and use that as your composting base. Start a compost pile if you can. Lots of threads on that. It will save you $$$ in the long run as you need to replenish the nutrients every time you change out a square anyhow. Rabbit poop heats up so quick and usually breaks down fast. Add plenty of leaves, shredded cardboard, visit to local DD / starbucks for coffee grounds, kitchen scraps, horse manure etc and you have yourself the best stuff in the making.
HillbillyBob- Posts : 162
Join date : 2011-12-27
Location : E.Texas
Re: Rabbit mixed with Pine Pellets?
Okay so they need composting. For how long? I was thinking from now until April (just over 3 months) should be quite sufficient. Any input?
Also heard back from another breeder who uses straw on the bottom of his cages. I know the straw will need composting to break down but I think maybe the poo would be easier to separate out (at least some of it) to use straight away. He feeds his rabbits some corn mix feed over the winter so if there's corn bits in there will that drastically effect its ability to be used prior to composting?
Sorry, never really got to compost in Europe. Military housing isn't always that friendly to gardening.
Also heard back from another breeder who uses straw on the bottom of his cages. I know the straw will need composting to break down but I think maybe the poo would be easier to separate out (at least some of it) to use straight away. He feeds his rabbits some corn mix feed over the winter so if there's corn bits in there will that drastically effect its ability to be used prior to composting?
Sorry, never really got to compost in Europe. Military housing isn't always that friendly to gardening.
Rhianna78- Posts : 45
Join date : 2012-01-08
Location : Poquoson, VA
Re: Rabbit mixed with Pine Pellets?
3 months might be okay just compost it until the heat is over your rabbit poo is ready from day one it's the straw/corn/pine pellets that have to work through the heat,you can speed the process up by running it all throught a shredder,smaller piceces work faster
HillbillyBob- Posts : 162
Join date : 2011-12-27
Location : E.Texas
Re: Rabbit mixed with Pine Pellets?
Hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Rabbit Poo doesn't heat at all if it's just rabbit Poo
Hillbilly, just to clarify. Sure. Did not mean for it to sound like that. My rabbit "poop" is always mixed with straw, hair and saturated in rabbit urine. Pet waste from our lovable herbivores is high in nitrogen and aerobic bacteria. In fact, urine contains urea which is one of the best and most plentiful sources of nitrogen around. It breaks down fast in the compost bin and really helps the pile heat up. Adding THAT to the pile interacts with other ingredients to get the microbial activity really heating up. There are many things that by themselves in the pile won't heat up and certainly if your pile is too small it will struggle to generate good heat.
My main point was, its free fertilizer, its compost-able and perhaps grab it while you can
staf74- Posts : 554
Join date : 2010-11-24
Age : 49
Location : York, SC
Re: Rabbit mixed with Pine Pellets?
No problem,just didn't want to see any body burn up there garden plants by using pine or straw fillers tring to make it least,or cover more garden space
HillbillyBob- Posts : 162
Join date : 2011-12-27
Location : E.Texas
Re: Rabbit mixed with Pine Pellets?
staf74 wrote:I say take as much as you can and use that as your composting base. Start a compost pile if you can. Lots of threads on that. It will save you $$$ in the long run as you need to replenish the nutrients every time you change out a square anyhow. Rabbit poop heats up so quick and usually breaks down fast. Add plenty of leaves, shredded cardboard, visit to local DD / starbucks for coffee grounds, kitchen scraps, horse manure etc and you have yourself the best stuff in the making.
I like the idea of composting shredded cardboard...we get a lot of that from the grocery store...will give the kids a good afternoon project on a cold winter day. lol
Would it be best to soak the cardboard in water overnight first before adding to the compost pile??
Re: Rabbit mixed with Pine Pellets?
Oooooh, I wish I could post outside links ...ALMOST. I found a neat site that has a list of compostable items. Gives info if it can be composted safely, if it is a Carbon/ Nitrogen based contributor...WAY cool. It's at CompostGuide dot com
Re: Rabbit mixed with Pine Pellets?
Would it be best to soak the cardboard in water overnight first before adding to the compost pile??
Sure, just wet enough to hold the water but if you squeeze it a little, it should not drip out everywhere. Too much water interferes also.
staf74- Posts : 554
Join date : 2010-11-24
Age : 49
Location : York, SC
Re: Rabbit mixed with Pine Pellets?
It will shred better dry, then wet it as you put it into the compost pile :scratch:NorthWoodsFever wrote:staf74 wrote:I say take as much as you can and use that as your composting base. Start a compost pile if you can. Lots of threads on that. It will save you $$$ in the long run as you need to replenish the nutrients every time you change out a square anyhow. Rabbit poop heats up so quick and usually breaks down fast. Add plenty of leaves, shredded cardboard, visit to local DD / starbucks for coffee grounds, kitchen scraps, horse manure etc and you have yourself the best stuff in the making.
I like the idea of composting shredded cardboard...we get a lot of that from the grocery store...will give the kids a good afternoon project on a cold winter day. lol
Would it be best to soak the cardboard in water overnight first before adding to the compost pile??
HillbillyBob- Posts : 162
Join date : 2011-12-27
Location : E.Texas
Re: Rabbit mixed with Pine Pellets?
It will shred better dry, then wet it as you put it into the compost pile :scratch:
If it goes through a shredder then yes, clearly it needs to be dry first to do that. I doubt wet cardboard would shred well Or soak it overnight and tear into little strips. Either way, the damp stuff is best.
staf74- Posts : 554
Join date : 2010-11-24
Age : 49
Location : York, SC
Re: Rabbit mixed with Pine Pellets?
Rabbit Poo shreds much better dry as well and it"s light after shredding kinda like Perlite feel,Hummm
HillbillyBob- Posts : 162
Join date : 2011-12-27
Location : E.Texas
Similar topics
» bunny droppings and pine pellets
» Shredded Pine Bark vs. Pine Needles
» Squirrels again
» When to Pot Up Seed Pellets
» Help me correct my mistakes for next year please
» Shredded Pine Bark vs. Pine Needles
» Squirrels again
» When to Pot Up Seed Pellets
» Help me correct my mistakes for next year please
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum