Aging Horse Manure

Gunny 4/13/2013, 9:04 am

Here is one of those beginner type questions for you all. How long do I let a spread out batch of horse manure lay out in the sun before it is considered well aged or rotted? And does it help to break up the road apples in it? Thanks for any answers in advance. Have been composting it too, but have read of using well rotted manure also. Any ideas?

**RoOsTeR** 4/13/2013, 10:30 am

I don't ever just "age" horse manure. I always make sure it is hot composted to get rid of as much seed as possible. That's just me though. I think the general consensus is about a year though if you're just letting it sit, but don't quote me on that Cool

bowhuntaz 4/13/2013, 10:35 am

When composting horse manure, i like to let it go until i don't see any more turds that are whole, and it's a nice black color.
I make piles that are about a cubic yard, watering them often due to our dry climate.
This year, I'm going to be making long piles, about fifty feet long, 3 feet high, that i can turn easily with a tractor bucket.
With horse manure, it has to cook well to kill the seeds that pass through their systems, otherwise you get a lot of grass growing in your beds.
Generally, i mix my horse manure with goat manure and wood shavings, so i get aniceblend of nutrients, and when i have it, I'll throw in chicken manure too.
I would suggest making your piles, water well, turn once a week, until you get nice black compost.

plantoid 4/13/2013, 11:30 am

Bowhuntaz ,
Why not bung the chicken muck in with the horse muck at the same time along with other materials and compost ,it turning it every three days with front loader you'll get a better blend and in 18 days or so you have your finished compost ready to use .
( See " The 18 day hot composting method" )

bowhuntaz 4/13/2013, 12:25 pm

plantoid wrote:Bowhuntaz ,
Why not bung the chicken muck in with the horse muck at the same time along with other materials and compost ,it turning it every three days with front loader you'll get a better blend and in 18 days or so you have your finished compost ready to use .
( See " The 18 day hot composting method" )

Plantoid, that's a fair idea, and I'm sure it's effective, but my schedule and manure availability doesn't necessarily facilitate that approach.
I get part of my manure from my own critters, but the majority comes from the rescue ranch where my honey works.

**camprn** 4/13/2013, 12:39 pm

...wish I had a front loader...... and some horse manure. Shocked

Gunny 4/13/2013, 2:34 pm

Have the manure but have really great need of the front loader or skid loader but very, very little funds for that dream. Will gladly accept donations though, Laughing

**RoOsTeR** 4/13/2013, 2:42 pm

Hate to rub it in, Very Happy

but if you guy's were any closer I'd load ya up Aging Horse Manure 3170584802

**camprn** 4/13/2013, 2:51 pm

RoOsTeR wrote:Hate to rub it in, but if you guy's were any closer I'd load ya up

She's so perty! sobbing

Lindacol 4/13/2013, 3:15 pm

RoOsTeR wrote:Hate to rub it in, but if you guy's were any closer I'd load ya up

Would love to have one. But what I would need, in addition to the $$$ to buy one, is a little skid steer that would fit thru a 4' gate.

Goosegirl 4/13/2013, 4:47 pm

Lindacol wrote:Would love to have one. But what I would need, in addition to the $$$ to buy one, is a little skid steer that would fit thru a 4' gate.

I saw one of those little bitty ones up in Fargo sitting out at the front of the lot! It was the perfect size one for me (4'11") but my friend had to burst my bubble and tell me it was probably just a toy..... sobbing

GG

CapeCoddess 4/13/2013, 5:04 pm

Goosegirl wrote:
I saw one of those little bitty ones up in Fargo sitting out at the front of the lot! It was the perfect size one for me (4'11") but my friend had to burst my bubble and tell me it was probably just a toy.....

GG

CC

Lindacol 4/13/2013, 5:07 pm

CapeCoddess wrote:
Goosegirl wrote:
I saw one of those little bitty ones up in Fargo sitting out at the front of the lot! It was the perfect size one for me (4'11") but my friend had to burst my bubble and tell me it was probably just a toy.....

GG

CC

This is what we need:
http://www.bobcat.com/loaders/models/skidsteer/s70

Now if I had an extra $15000 laying around I might be able to find a used one.

plantoid 4/13/2013, 5:14 pm

bowhuntaz wrote:
plantoid wrote:Bowhuntaz ,
Why not bung the chicken muck in with the horse muck at the same time along with other materials and compost ,it turning it every three days with front loader you'll get a better blend and in 18 days or so you have your finished compost ready to use .
( See " The 18 day hot composting method" )

Plantoid, that's a fair idea, and I'm sure it's effective, but my schedule and manure availability doesn't necessarily facilitate that approach.
I get part of my manure from my own critters, but the majority comes from the rescue ranch where my honey works.

Yyou don't have to compost it all at once , you can make a windrow and leave it till it's a worthwhile exercise then turn it with front loader .
The little bit of composting that has taken place already will be of no great consequence .

plantoid 4/13/2013, 5:18 pm

Lindacol wrote:
CapeCoddess wrote:
Goosegirl wrote:
I saw one of those little bitty ones up in Fargo sitting out at the front of the lot! It was the perfect size one for me (4'11") but my friend had to burst my bubble and tell me it was probably just a toy.....

GG

CC

This is what we need:
http://www.bobcat.com/loaders/models/skidsteer/s70

Now if I had an extra $15000 laying around I might be able to find a used one.

Bobcats are quite pricey new and secondhand either on track or on wheels .

You can get used garden tractors with a small front loader for far less and yes some will fit throught a 4 foot gate no problem .
Look up ebay etc for Kubota garden tractor or Kubota mini tractor as a starting point. Green house or glasshouse tractors might also be another place to visit

Goosegirl 4/13/2013, 6:21 pm

Lindacol wrote:
CapeCoddess wrote:
Goosegirl wrote:
I saw one of those little bitty ones up in Fargo sitting out at the front of the lot! It was the perfect size one for me (4'11") but my friend had to burst my bubble and tell me it was probably just a toy.....

GG

CC

This is what we need:
http://www.bobcat.com/loaders/models/skidsteer/s70

Now if I had an extra $15000 laying around I might be able to find a used one.

Here's the one I fell in love with: MT52
Driving by on the main road it looks like a mini skidsteer, not a walk-behind. At least it is real, not a toy, but oh how I would have loved for that little engine cover to be the cockpit! Would have been perfect size for pint-sized me! sobbing

http://www.bobcat.com/loaders/models/minitrackloader/mt52

GG

plantoid 4/13/2013, 7:13 pm

This is a proper sub -compact tractor somne decent add ons if you have over two acres to play in.

http://www.kubota.co.uk/product-range/tractors/sub-compact/

I think Case & John Deere also do them , I found a couple of 10 yr old ones on UK ebay for under £500 ( $ 570 USD )

Sponsored content

Aging Horse Manure

Aging Horse Manure

Re: Aging Horse Manure

Re: Aging Horse Manure

Re: Aging Horse Manure

Re: Aging Horse Manure

Re: Aging Horse Manure

Re: Aging Horse Manure

Re: Aging Horse Manure

Re: Aging Horse Manure

Re: Aging Horse Manure

Re: Aging Horse Manure

Re: Aging Horse Manure

Re: Aging Horse Manure

Re: Aging Horse Manure

Re: Aging Horse Manure

Re: Aging Horse Manure

Re: Aging Horse Manure

Re: Aging Horse Manure


	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.