Keeping a flock of backyard chickens is another step toward a self-sufficient lifestyle. Yet as a gardener, you may be looking beyond the egg and meat benefits of chicken ownership and wondering how to make this activity more sustainable. One way is learning how to use chicken manure as fertilizer for your garden.

The Nutrient Content of Chicken Manure

Chicken manure is considered a complete fertilizer as it contains thirteen of the nutrients which plants require. In addition to supplying nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), it includes these macro and micronutrients:

• Calcium
• Sulfur
• Manganese
• Magnesium
• Copper
• Zinc
• Chlorine
• Boron
• Iron
• Molybdenum

Unfortunately, chicken manure also contains harmful pathogens. Safe methods of handling and applying chicken manure to the garden are essential to prevent food-borne illnesses.

How Long to Compost Chicken Manure

Composting chicken manure is one way to reduce harmful disease organisms. When a compost pile is properly maintained, heat is created as a by-product of the breakdown of organic materials by beneficial microbes. A temperature range between 145 and 160 degrees F. (63-71 C.) for a minimum of three consecutive days can reduce harmful pathogens while protecting beneficial microbes.

In addition to reducing disease-causing microorganisms, composting stabilizes the nutrients found in chicken manure and transforms them into chemical compounds which plants can utilize. Adding compost made from chicken litter to garden soil provides these additional benefits:

• Loosens heavy soils such as clay
• Increases the soil's ability to hold water
• Improves aeration
• Enhances drainage
• Reduces erosion
• Releases nutrients slowly

If you're wondering how long chicken manure needs to compost before spreading it on the garden, you may be disappointed by the answer. While a properly maintained chicken litter compost pile can complete the decomposition process in as little as five to six weeks, the recommendation is to wait three to four months.

How to Age Chicken Manure

It should be noted that even a properly maintained compost pile will have areas near the surface and sides that can't be maintained at 145 degrees F. (63 C.) for the three consecutive days needed to kill pathogens. Frequently turning the pile helps ensure these areas are composted, but there is no guarantee all the disease-producing organisms will be killed.

Allowing compost to cure creates unfavorable conditions that result in a gradual reduction of viable disease-producing organisms. An alternative method to composting manure is to spread it directly in the garden and let it age. The recommendation is to cure compost or age manure 120 days for vegetables that come in contact with the soil and 90 days for crops, like corn, which do not.

How and When to Apply Chicken Manure to the Garden

While cured compost can be spread on the garden and worked in three to four weeks before planting, it's advisable to spread fresh or raw chicken manure in the fall after all crops have been removed for the year. If you use a deep litter method, fall is also an ideal time to clean out an accumulation of soiled bedding and finish composting it in the garden.

Fresh or un-composted aged chicken manure can be spread on the garden at a rate of 14 pounds (6 kg.) per 100 square feet (9 sq. m.). Fresh chicken manure is high in ammonia, which evaporates quickly. To prevent this soluble form of nitrogen from being lost, it's advisable to till fresh manure into the soil within 12 hours of application.

Composted chicken manure can be spread at a rate of 44 pounds (20 kg.) per 100 square feet (9 sq. m.). As a general rule of thumb, a five-gallon bucket will hold approximately 25 pounds (11 kg.) of fresh manure or compost. Compost is more stable than fresh manure and doesn't need to be tilled in as quickly but incorporating it into the soil several weeks before planting ensures microbial activity won't interfere with seed germination.

Aged chicken manure or chicken manure compost can also be used around flowers and ornamentals where issues with food-borne illnesses are not a concern. However, fresh chicken manure should never be applied to side dress growing plants. Due to the high ammonia content, fresh manure is “hot” and will damage or kill the plants.

Adding nutrients to the landscape is an important part of land stewardship. Manure is one soil amendment that can help return those nutrients and juice up the soil, making it an effective growing medium for the next season's crops. There are pros and cons of using manure as an amendment. The different types of animal manure have different levels of macro-nutrients and, therefore, must be adequately composted for effective use and used at different rates to prevent damaging plants with too much of one nutrient or another.

Is Manure Good or Bad?

What are different types of manure? Domestic pets and livestock can all contribute to manure for the garden, but each has a specific manner in which it should be handled for the health of your garden (and you in some cases). Manure is simply the waste products of animals that have been composted to remove any pathogens and break it down for quicker uptake by plants. Uncomposted manures must be used with caution, as they take longer to break down and may contain weed seeds or diseases that can be passed into your landscape. Using manure as a fertilizer has probably been around since the early days of cultivation. Manures are a rich source of nitrogen as well as other nutrients. Since manure is a waste product, it must be used carefully. Raw manures may be used, but there is odor associated with unbroken down waste, as well as the flies that it attracts. Among the pros and cons of using manure that is raw is that it be too "hot," which means its concentration of nutrients may be too high for plants and burn them. Raw manures can also make plants grow too fast, leaving them thin and leggy and inhibit germination. If you do use raw manure, apply it late in the season so the waste has time to break down before the next season's planting.

What are Different Types of Manure?

Manure comes from any animal, but it isn't all created equal. In order to kill any seeds and break down effectively, it needs to reach a temperature of at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 C.) for a sustained time. The times vary dependent upon the different types of animal manure. For instance, any cat feces or dog manure must compost for at least two years and cannot be applied directly to food crops. Human manure, or humanure, should never be used in the landscape. Drugs, diseases, and many more potential problems are harbored in our waste and only professional composters possess the tools and knowledge to adequately and safely compost human waste. Traditional domestic livestock manures also contain varying amounts of nutrients and should be used at different times and in different ways. The most common types of manure used in gardening are:

• Chicken
• Cow
• Horse
• Sheep
• Goat
• Pig

Since manures contain different levels of nutrients, they need to be carefully applied to those plants that need the higher nutrient available.

• Ideally, the best manure for gardens is probably chicken, since it has a very high content of nitrogen, a need all plants have, but it must be composted well and aged to prevent burning plants. Chicken manure is a rich source of nutrients and is best applied in fall or spring after it has had a chance to compost.
• Similarly, cow manure, which has a 0.5-0.2-0.4 ratio, is composted beforehand for better results.
• Sheep manure has a high nitrogen content but lower ratio in the other macro-nutrients; however, its pellet size makes it a quick waste to compost.
• Horse manure takes longer and has similar content to cow manure but its larger size and the weed seeds the animal digests means it takes much longer to age and compost.

The best manure for gardens really depends upon what you can get your hands on easily. Any of the common varieties can be beneficial to soil. Just remember to allow the manure to compost fully for at least 6 months or longer, or add it raw, and till it into the soil at least a season prior to planting.

Manure is a popular soil amendment, and for good reason. It’s loaded with organic material and nutrients that are essential for plants’ good health. Is all manure the same though? If you have pets, you have poop, and if you have a garden, it’s tempting to use that poop for a good cause. Depending on the pet, it may not be as good as you think. Keep reading to learn more about composting ferret manure and using ferret manure fertilizer in gardens.

Ferret Manure Fertilizer

Is ferret poop good fertilizer? Unfortunately, no. While manure from cows is extremely popular and beneficial, it stems from one very important fact: cows are herbivores. While manure from herbivorous animals is great for plants, manure from omnivores and carnivores is not. Feces from animals that eat meat, which includes dogs and cats, contains bacteria and parasites that can be bad for plants and especially bad for you if you eat vegetables fertilized with it. Since ferrets are carnivores, putting ferret poop in compost and composting ferret manure is not a good idea. Ferret manure fertilizer is going to contain all kinds of bacteria and possibly even parasites that aren’t good for your plants or anything you consume. Even composting ferret manure for a long time isn’t going to kill these bacteria, and will probably, in fact, contaminate the rest of your compost. Putting ferret poop in compost is not wise, and if you have ferrets you will, unfortunately, have to find a different way to dispose of all that poop. If you’re simply in the market for manure, cows (as previously stated) are a great choice. Other animals like sheep, horses, and chickens produce very good manure, but it’s important to compost it for at least six months before putting it on your plants. Fertilizing with fresh manure can result in burned roots. Now that you know using ferret manure on plants isn’t a good option, you can look towards other types of manure that can be safely used instead.

Composting is good for the earth and relatively easy even for a novice. However, soil temperature, moisture levels and careful balance of items in the compost are necessary for successful break down. White fungus in compost bins is a common sight when actinomycetes are present. What is actinomycetes? This is a fungus-like bacterium, which works as a decomposer, breaking apart plant tissue. The presence of fungi in composting can be a bad thing and indicate improper balance of bacterial agents, but actinomycetes in manure compost and other organic material indicates successful decomposition of tough fibrous items.

What is Actinomycetes?

Fungi are important components of breaking down compost, combined with bacteria, microorganisms and actinomycetes. The fine white filaments that resemble spider webs in organic piles are beneficial organisms that look like fungi but are actually bacteria. The enzymes they release break down items such as cellulose, bark and woody stems, items that are harder for bacteria to manage. It is important to encourage the growth of this bacterium for a healthy compost heap that breaks down quickly to deep rich soil. Actinomycetes are naturally occurring bacterium found in soil. The majority of these bacteria thrive in the hot stages of composting, but some are only thermo tolerant and lurk around the cooler edges of your pile. These bacteria lack nuclei but grow multicellular filaments just like fungi. The appearance of the filaments is a bonus for better decomposition and a well-balanced compost situation. Most actinomycetes require oxygen to survive, making it especially important to turn and aerate the pile regularly. Actinomycetes are slower in growth than bacteria and fungi and appear later in the compost process. They contribute to the rich deep brown color of finished compost and add a distinctly “woodsy” odor to a healthy pile.

Fungus Growing on Manure

Fungi are saprophytes which break down dead or dying material. They're often found on animal waste, especially in dry, acidic and low nitrogen sites that do not support bacteria. Fungus growing on manure is an initial part of waste break down, but then the actinomycetes take over. Actinomycetes in manure compost are also naturally occurring and help digest proteins and fats, organic acids and other materials that fungi cannot in moist conditions. You can tell the difference by looking for the spidery filaments in actinomycetes versus the clumps of gray to white fuzz created by fungal colonies. Actinomycetes in manure compost form an important product used in many mushroom production practices.

Encouraging Actinomycetes Growth

That filament forming white fungus in compost bins is a great part of the decomposition process. For this reason, it's important to encourage an environment that favors the bacteria’s growth. Moderately moist soil that's low in acidity supports the formation of more bacteria. Low pH conditions must also be prevented as well as waterlogged soil. Actinomycetes need a consistent supply of organic material upon which to dine, as they have no way to create their own food source. Well-aerated compost piles enhance bacteria growth. In a well-tended compost pile, beneficial levels of bacteria, fungus and actinomycetes are present, with each doing its particular specialty resulting in dark, earthy compost.

Compost tea is an extract of compost combined with de-chlorinated water containing beneficial microorganisms that has been used for centuries to encourage soil and plant health. The organic matter and its accompanying organisms chosen are of primary concern when making a nutrient rich compost tea. Clean compost and worm castings used solely or in conjunction are common tea bases, but you can also try making a bat guano tea mix.

Composting Bat Manure for Tea

Using bat manure for compost tea is one of the most nutrient and microorganism rich options. Bat dung is harvested dry after it has been composted by guano beetles and microbes and is obtained from only the insect and fruit feeding species. It can be worked directly into the soil as an incredible rich, non-malodorous fertilizer or converted into an extremely beneficial bat manure compost tea.

Using bat guano tea has the benefit of not only nourishing the soil and plants, but also has been said to have bioremediation properties. Simply put, this means that the bat dung can aid in cleansing soils made toxic by the application of pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers. Using bat guano tea on foliage aids in the prevention of fungal diseases as well.

Bat Guano Tea Recipe

Used as a fertilizer, bat guano provides a higher concentration of nutrients than many other types. The NPK ratio of bat dung is a concentration of 10-3-1, or 10 percent nitrogen, 3 percent phosphorous and 1 percent potassium. Nitrogen facilitates rapid growth, phosphorus pushes healthy root systems and bloom development, and potassium aids in a plant's general health.

Note: You may also find bat guano with higher phosphorus ratios, such as 3-10-1. Why? Some types are processed this way. Also, it's believed that the diet of some bat species may have an effect. For example, those feeding strictly on insects produce higher nitrogen content, whereas fruit-eating bats result in a high phosphorus guano.

Bat guano tea is suitable for a wide variety of plants and is simple to make. A simple bat guano tea recipe consists of one cup of dung per gallon of non-chlorinated water. Chlorine in water kills beneficial microbial life, so if you have city water that is chlorinated, just leave it in an open container for several hours or overnight to allow the chlorine to naturally dissipate. Mix the two together, let sit overnight, strain and apply directly to your plants.

Other bat guano tea recipes can be found all over the Internet. They can get more complex by adding additional ingredients such as unsulfured molasses, fish emulsion, worm castings, seaweed concentrate, humic acid, glacial rock dust and even specific species of bat guano -- such as Mexican, Indonesian or Jamaican dung.

As a foliar spray, apply the bat guano tea using a fine mist either in the early morning or pre-dusk. For root application, apply at the root zone followed by watering in to facilitate nutrients into the root system. Bat guano tea is not a fertilizer, but promotes a healthy biologically diverse soil with more efficient nutrient absorption, thereby eventually reducing the amount of fertilizer needed and promoting overall healthier plants. Use the bat guano tea as soon as possible. It will lose its nutritive power even as soon as overnight, so use it right away.

You have heard of composting sheep, cow, goat, horse, and even wild animal manure, but what about using hamster and gerbil manure in the garden? The answer is absolutely yes, you can use gerbil manure in gardens along with hamster, guinea pig, and rabbit manure. These animals are vegetarians, unlike dogs and cats, so their waste is safe to use around plants. Let's learn more about composting small rodent manures such as these.

About Pet Rodent Compost

Adding compost to soil increases soil fertility and provides both phosphorus and nitrogen needed for healthy root and plant development. Pet rodent compost such as guinea pig, rabbit, hamster, and gerbil manure in gardens is a great way to make use of waste material and improve your soil diversity.

Composting Small Rodent Manures

Although small rodent manures can be used directly in the garden, most people prefer to compost the manure first. Composting small rodent manure is not difficult and yields a rich garden fertilizer perfect for flowers, fruits, and vegetables. The best way to compost this manure is to add the waste to your compost bin or pile and then add in equal amounts of brown material, such as straw or wood shavings. Don't forget to add in your pet's bedding when you add the waste to the compost-- this will help with the composting process. If you have kitchen vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, or leaves you can also use these in your compost pile. Be sure to follow good composting rules with a brown to green ratio of 5:1. Keep the pile turned every two weeks to help circulate air and add some water after you turn it to keep the humidity levels up. Be patient with your compost. Depending on your bin type and size of pile, it could take up to a year to fully compost.

Using Gerbil and Hamster Manure Fertilizer

Using gerbil and hamster manure fertilizer in the garden and for houseplants is as easy as sprinkling some on top and mixing in with the soil. An application before planting and several applications during the growing season will ensure that your plants will thrive. You can also create a compost tea by putting the compost in a burlap bag and placing it in a bucket of water. Wait a week or so and you will have a high nutrient liquid fertilizer compost tea. Use 2 parts water to 1 part compost tea for best results.

Animal manure is the basis for most organic fertilizers and it breaks down into chemicals every plant needs: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Each type of manure has a different chemical make up, because of the different foods that animals eat. If you have soil that's in great need of nitrogen, turkey manure compost is one of the best choices you can make. If you have a turkey grower in the area, you may have a ready supply of a valuable addition to your garden and compost bin. Let's learn more about how to use turkey litter in the garden.

Composting Turkey Litter

Because of the high nitrogen content, using turkey manure in gardens can be a bit tricky. Unlike straight cow manure and some other manures, if you fertilize plants with turkey manure, you run the risk of burning tender new seedlings. Luckily, there are a couple of ways to get around this problem. The simplest way to make turkey litter safer for your garden plants is to add it to your compost pile. The high nitrogen content in the turkey manure means that it will break down the compost components quicker than other composting ingredients, giving you a rich source of garden soil in a short amount of time. Once the turkey litter is mixed in with the other compost elements, it will enhance the mix without being overly nitrogen-rich. The other way to use turkey manure in gardens is to mix it with something that uses up some of the nitrogen before it gets to your plants. Mix together a combination of wood chips and sawdust with the turkey manure. The nitrogen in the manure will be so busy trying to break down the sawdust and wood chips, that your plants won't be adversely affected. This results in an excellent soil amendment ingredient, as well as a great mulch for retaining water while slowly feeding your plants. Now that you know more about fertilizing plants with turkey manure, you'll be well on your way to having the lush garden you've always dreamed of.

Old-time farmers used to dig pig manure into their soil in the fall and let it decompose into nutrients for the next spring's crops. The problem with that today is that too many pigs carry E.coli, salmonella, parasitic worms and a host of other organisms in their manure. So what's the answer if you've got a ready source of pig manure and a garden that needs feeding? Composting! Let's learn more about how to compost pig manure for use in the garden.

Can You Use Pig Manure for Gardens?

Absolutely. The best way for using pig manure in the garden is to compost it. Add pig manure to your compost pile and allow it to rot long enough and hot enough. It will break down and kill all the organisms it might carry that are a danger to your health. Compost is known by many gardeners as “black gold” for the amount of good it does in a garden. It aerates the soil to allow roots to go through easier, helps retain moisture and even adds many nutrients growing plants need. All this is created by turning unwanted garbage from your house and yard into a compost pile or placing it in a compost bin.

Pig Manure for Compost

The key to how to compost pig manure is that it needs to work at a high heat and be turned frequently. Build a pile with a good mix of ingredients, from dried grass and dead leaves to kitchen scraps and pulled weeds. Mix the pig manure in with the ingredients and add some garden soil. Keep the pile moist, but not wet, to get the decomposition action going. Compost needs air in order to transform, and you give the pile air by turning it. Use a shovel, pitchfork or rake to dig down into the pile, bringing bottom materials up to the top. Do this at least once a month to keep the action going in your compost pile, and let it work for at least four months before you use it. The best timing for using pig manure in the garden is to build a fresh compost heap in the fall when you're cleaning up the garden and yard at the end of the season. Turn it over every three or four weeks until the snow flies, then cover it with a tarp and let the compost cook all winter. When spring arrives you'll be treated to a pile of rich compost, ideal for working into your soil. Now you're ready to use your pig manure fertilizer in the garden.

Gardens and animals have always had a close relationship. Through the centuries, gardeners have known the value that well-composted animal manure adds to the soil and health of plants. That said, the benefits of zoo poo, or exotic manure, is just as far-reaching. So what is exotic manure? Keep reading to learn more about this zoo manure compost.

What is Exotic Manure?

When animals such as oxen or mules were used to till the soil, they would often fertilize it at the same time. Even the use of human waste, as vile as it may seem, was popular for a time. Although human waste is not used today, the manure of such animals as pigs, steer, cows, horses, rabbits, turkeys, chickens, and other poultry are used in a variety of organic gardening practices. Exotic manure can also be used in the garden where available. Exotic manure is also known as zoo manure compost and consists of the manure from herbivore animals in zoos or rehabilitation centers. It may include elephant, rhinos, giraffes, camels, wildcat, ostrich, or zebra manure.

Zoo Manure Compost

Most types of manure must be aged and completely composted, apart from sheep, in order to be useful in a garden. Fresh manure has a very high nitrogen level and can harm plants and encourage the growth of weeds. Many zoos and animal facilities that house exotic animals compost excrement to make a nutrient dense, organic soil amendment. The manure is collected and mixed in with hay, straw, or wood shavings during the compost process. The benefits of zoo poo are numerous. This entirely organic compost helps the soil retain water and nutrients while improving soil texture. Compost helps to break up heavy ground and adds tremendous biodiversity to the soil. Exotic manure can be worked into the soil, used as an attractive top dress, or made into a fertilizer tea to feed plants just like any of the more traditional type manures.

Where to Get Zoo Manure

If you happen to live close enough to a zoo or animal rehabilitation center that composts their animal manure, you may be able to purchase fertilizer by the truckload. The money these facilities raise by selling the compost goes back into helping to care for the animals. So, not only will you be doing your garden a great service but you can feel good about helping out the animals and supporting the zoo efforts. Look for local animal facilities and inquire as to whether or not they sell their composted manure.

Everyone knows the benefits of using livestock manures in the garden, so what about the contents of your cat's litter box? Cat feces contain two and a half times the amount of nitrogen as cattle manure and about the same amount of phosphorus and potassium. They also contain parasites and disease organisms that present significant health risks. Therefore, composting cat litter and its contents may not be a good idea. Let's find out more about cat feces in compost.

Can Cat Feces Go in Compost?

Toxoplasmosis is a parasite that causes disease in humans and other animals, but cats are the only animal known to excrete toxoplasmosis eggs in their feces. Most people who contract toxoplasmosis have headaches, muscle aches, and other flu symptoms.

People with immunodeficiency diseases, such as AIDS, and patients who are receiving immunosuppressive treatment can become seriously ill from toxoplasmosis. Pregnant women are at significant risk because exposure to the disease can result in birth defects.

In addition to toxoplasmosis, cat feces often contain intestinal worms. Composting cat litter is not enough to kill the diseases associated with cat feces. In order to kill toxoplasmosis, a compost pile would have to reach a temperature of 165 degrees F (73 C), and most piles never get that hot.

Using contaminated compost carries the risk of contaminating your garden soil. In addition, some cat litters, particularly scented brands, contain chemicals that don't break down when you compost cat waste. Pet poop composting simply isn't worth the risk.

Deterring Pet Poop Composting in Garden Areas

It's clear that cat feces in compost is a bad idea, but what about cats that use your garden as a litter box? There are a few things you can do to discourage cats from entering your garden. Here are a few ideas:

• Spread chicken wire over the vegetable garden. Cats don't like to walk on it and can't dig through it, so other potential “toilets” will be more appealing.
• Lay cardboard coated with Tanglefoot at entry points to the garden. Tanglefoot is a sticky substance used to trap insects and discourage wild birds, and cats won't step on it more than once.
• Use a sprinkler with a motion detector that will come on when a cat enters the garden.

Ultimately, it is a cat owner's responsibility to make sure that his pet (and its pet poop composting) doesn't become a nuisance. The best way to do this is to keep the cat indoors. You might point out to the cat owner that according to the ASPCA, cats that stay indoors contract fewer diseases and live three times longer than those that are allowed to roam.

Those of us who love our four-legged friends have an undesirable by-product of caregiving: dog poop. In the search to be more earth-friendly and conscientious, pet poop composting seems a logical way to deal with this waste. But should dog feces go in compost? Sadly, this may not be as effective and sensible as it may seem.

Dog Waste in Compost

Composting is a natural process to reduce organic waste to a useable nutrient source for plants. As you responsibly pick up your pet's waste, it might occur to you to wonder, “Can dog feces go in compost?”. After all, the waste is an organic derivative that should be able to be converted back into a garden amendment much like steer or pig manure. Unfortunately, our pet wastes contain parasites that may not be killed in household compost piles. A constant temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (73 C.) has to be maintained for at least 5 days for this to occur. This is difficult to achieve in home composting situations.

Dangers of Composting Dog Waste

Dog waste in compost can carry a number of unhealthy parasites that can affect humans and other animals. Roundworms are one of the most common pests that afflict our dogs. Roundworms and their cousins, ascarids, may persist in compost made with dog waste. These can be ingested and their eggs can hatch in the human intestine. This causes a condition called Visceral Larval Migrans. The tiny eggs can then migrate through the bloodstream and attach to the lungs, liver, and other organs, with a host of different unpleasant symptoms as a result. Most unpleasant is Ocular Larval Migrans, which occur when the eggs attach to the retina and may cause blindness.

Pet Poop Composting

If you wish to tackle composting of your dog's waste safely, follow a few precautions. First, make sure you create ideal composting conditions. Start with 1 part sawdust and 2 parts dog manure. Compost mixtures require adequate carbon to help break down the nitrogen-rich manure. Sawdust is almost pure carbon and will compliment the high nitrogen content of this manure. Cover the pile with black plastic, if necessary, to keep heat in and help focus solar energy on the pile. Turn the mix weekly and check the temperature with a compost thermometer to ensure that the pile is at a suitable temperature. In about four to six weeks, the mix will be crumbly and ready to mix with other organic items.

How to Use Dog Waste in Compost

Composting dog waste effectively and safely hinges on the constant high temperatures to kill dangerous parasites. If you are sure you have done this and have a safe product, you can add it to your garden as an amendment. However, because there is no guarantee that the parasites are certifiably dead, it is best to confine use to areas around ornamental plantings only, such as shrubs and trees. Do not use the result of pet poop composting around edible plants. Mix it with vegetative compost for best results.

As a gardener, you want only the best for your plants and the soil they grow in. That said, options for fertilizer are wide ranging with manure being quite popular for many gardening needs. There are numerous types of manure that can be used in the garden, but one that comes to mind less frequently, though just as beneficial, is the use of guinea pig manure on gardens.

Can You Use Guinea Pig Manure?

So can you use guinea pig manure as fertilizer in the garden? Yes, you can. These small rodents, along with other common household pets such as gerbils and hamsters, are omnivores, eating both plants and animal proteins (mainly from insects). That being said, those kept as pets are typically fed a plant-based diet with much of their proteins and minerals obtained from specialized food, often in the form of pellets. So, unlike meat-eating animals (including your cat or dog), their manure is perfectly safe for use in the garden and suitable for home composting too.

Using Guinea Pig Manure as Fertilizer

Now that you know it's possible to use guinea pig manure on gardens, where do you start? When using guinea pig manure as fertilizer, you have a variety of options. Their droppings are made up of pellets, just like rabbits. Therefore, they are used much the same way in the garden. Guinea pig waste can be added directly to the garden without the worry of burning your tender plantings. This manure breaks down quickly and shares all the same nutrients as rabbit dung -- like nitrogen and phosphorus. There's no need to compost beforehand. However, this is not to say that you cannot put it in the compost pile. In fact, many people actually prefer to toss it in the compost heap.

Tips for Composting Guinea Pig Waste

Pelletized manure from house pets like guinea pigs, rabbits, hamsters, or gerbils can be safely composted, along with the wood or paper shavings used in their cages. Simply place the droppings on your compost heap, add some straw, and mix it in. Allow this to sit with other compostable items for several months, turning the compost every so often as needed. You can place guinea pig manure on gardens once the compost has been sitting for at least six months.

Guinea Pig Manure Tea

You can also make guinea pig manure tea for your garden plants. When cleaning out the pet cage, just add the guinea pig manure into a large container with a lid. Keep in mind that it may take a few weeks before you have enough for an entire bucket full, so stick with a container that you can work with easily, like a large coffee can, or simply fill a 5-gallon (19 L.) bucket only half full instead. Add about 2 cups (0.5 L.) of water to this container for every 1 cup (0.25 L.) of guinea pig pellets. Allow the manure tea to sit overnight, stirring thoroughly. Some people even let it sit for a day or two so the pellets have time to soak in the water and fall apart easier. Whatever method works best for you is fine. Strain the liquid into another container for pouring onto your garden soil or add the strained mixture to a spray bottle for fertilizing smaller plant areas. Now that you see how easy it is to use guinea pig waste for the garden, you can take advantage of the many benefits of using guinea pig manure as fertilizer.

Using sheep manure for the garden is not a new idea. People all over the world have been using animal manures as a very effective organic material in gardens for a very, very long time. Sheep manure is referred to as cold manure because of its low nitrogen content. This makes it an excellent addition to any garden.

Benefits of Sheep Manure as Fertilizer

Sheep manure, like other animal manures, is a natural slow-release fertilizer. Nutrients in sheep manure fertilizer provide adequate nourishment for a garden. It is high in both phosphorus and potassium, essential elements for optimal plant growth. These nutrients help plants to establish strong roots, defend against pests and grow into vibrant and productive plants. Sheep manure can also be used as organic mulch. Because of its low odor, sheep manure can easily be used to top dress garden beds. A garden bed that has a high level of organic matter drains well and has a high number of earthworms and soil microbial activity, all good for plants.

Composting Sheep Manure

Composting sheep manure is similar to composting other animal manures. The manure must have time to age before using it in the garden. Composting bins can be constructed to hold sheep manure and require regular aeration for proper curing. Some people enjoy composting sheep manure in bins that allow you to drain out the sheep manure tea. This tea contains a very concentrated amount of vital plant nutrients and can be diluted with water for regular application on garden plants.

Finding Sheep Manure for the Garden

It is best to seek out a local source of sheep manure if you can. Oftentimes, farmers will sell the manure to you for a reasonable price. Some farmers will even allow you to come and collect your own manure, a venture well worth the time.

Applying Sheep Manure

Many people may ask, “Is composted sheep manure safe for vegetables?” The answer is a resounding, yes! It is perfectly safe for both vegetables and flower gardens alike and will have your plants blooming like never before. Apply composted sheep manure to gardens using a thick layering technique, or work it into the soil. Sheep manure tea can be diluted and applied to plants during watering. Using sheep manure as fertilizer is safe and effective for all garden and landscape plants.

Using steer manure to amend soil can be an excellent way to add additional nutrients to plants. This fertilizer offers the same benefits as most other manures, including cow manure, and can be used for both lawns and gardens.

Steer Manure Lawn Fertilizer

Manure contains a number of nutrients and adds organic matter to the soil. Improving the soil quality of your lawn can result in greener grass and less maintenance. An important consideration when fertilizing with steer manure is its high nitrogen content. While nitrogen is required for strong, green plant growth, too much will ultimately burn plants. Fresh manure is much too strong for use. Therefore, it should be well-aged or composted prior to use. When using steer manure for grass areas, use no more than a 5 gallon (19 L.) bucket of manure for every 100 square feet. (9 m.²)

Steer Manure and Vegetables

While steer manure is generally safe to use, there are some considerations to be aware of prior to its use. Since steer manure may contain bacteria, like E. coli, it is important to compost the manure prior to use in the garden, especially on edible plants like vegetables. In addition, steer manure may have excess levels of salt, which can not only damage some plants but can leach the soil as well.

Composting Steer Manures

Like cow manure, steer manure consists mostly of digested plant matter. Composting steer manure is easily accomplished and similar to other methods. Once dried, the manure is easy to work with and has little to no odor. Steer manure can be added to and mixed thoroughly with the compost pile to create a suitable fertilizer for the lawn and garden. Adequate temperatures will successfully kill off any unwanted bacteria that may present problems as well as weeds. Composting steer manure can also help eliminate the high salt content. With proper aging and composting steer manure makes an ideal fertilizer for lawn and gardens. Using steer manure for grass and vegetables can lead to greater soil quality and promote healthier plant growth.

Using manure tea on crops is a popular practice in many home gardens. Manure tea, which is similar in nature to compost tea, enriches the soil and adds much needed nutrients for healthy plant growth. Let's look at how to make manure tea.

Manure Fertilizer Tea

The nutrients found in manure tea make it an ideal fertilizer for garden plants. The nutrients from manure dissolve easily in water where it can be added to a sprayer or watering can. The leftover manure can be thrown in the garden or reused in the compost pile. Manure tea can be used each time you water plants or periodically. It can also be used to water lawns. However, it is important to dilute the tea prior to use so as not to burn the roots or foliage of plants.

How to Make Manure Tea for Garden Plants

Manure tea is simple to make and is done the same way as passive compost tea. Like compost tea, the same ratio is used for the water and manure (5 parts water to 1 part manure). You can either place a shovel full of manure in a 5-gallon (19 L.) bucket, which will require straining, or in a large burlap sack or pillowcase. Make certain that the manure has been well cured beforehand. Fresh manure is much too strong for plants. Suspend the manure-filled “tea bag” in the water and allow it to steep for up to a week or two. Once the manure has fully steeped, remove the bag, allowing it to hang above the container until the dripping has ceased. Note: Adding the manure directly to the water usually speeds up the brewing process. The “tea” is usually ready within only a few days, stirring thoroughly over this period. Once it has fully brewed, you will have to strain it through cheesecloth to separate the solids from the liquid. Discard the manure and dilute the liquid prior to use (a good ratio is 1 cup (240 ml.) tea to 1 gallon (4 L.) of water). Making and using manure tea is a great way to give your garden crops the extra boost they need for optimal health. Now that you know how to make manure tea, you can use it all the time to give a boost to your plants.

If you're looking for a good organic fertilizer for the garden, then you might want to consider using rabbit manure. Garden plants respond well to this type of fertilizer, especially when it's been composted.

Rabbit Manure Fertilizer

Rabbit dung is dry, odorless, and in pellet form, making it suitable for direct use in the garden. Since rabbit dung breaks down quickly, there is usually little threat of burning the roots of plants. Rabbit manure fertilizer is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, nutrients that plants need for healthy growth. Rabbit manure can be found in prepackaged bags or obtained from rabbit farmers. Although it can be spread directly onto garden beds, many people prefer to compost rabbit manure prior to use.

Rabbit Manure Compost

For additional growing power, add some rabbit dung to the compost pile. Composting rabbit manure is an easy process and the end result will be the ideal fertilizer for garden plants and crops. Simply add your rabbit manure to the compost bin or pile and then add in equal amounts of straw and wood shavings. You can also mix in some grass clippings, leaves, and kitchen scraps (peelings, lettuce, coffee grounds, etc.). Mix the pile thoroughly with a pitchfork, then take a hose and moisten but do not saturate the compost pile. Cover the pile with a tarp and keep it turned every two weeks or so, watering afterwards and covering again to maintain heat and humidity levels. Continue adding to the pile, turning the compost and watering until the pile is fully composted. This may take anywhere from a few months to a year, depending on the size of your compost pile and any other influencing factors like heat. You can add in some earthworms or entice them with coffee grounds to help speed up the decomposition process. Using rabbit manure compost in the garden is a great way to give plants the boost of nutrients they need for strong growth. With composted rabbit manure fertilizer, there's no threat of burning plants. It's safe to use on any plant, and it's easy to apply.

Horse manure is a good source of nutrients and a popular addition to many home gardens. Composting horse manure can help your compost pile become super charged. Let's look at how to use horse manure as fertilizer and in the compost pile.

Is Horse Manure Good Fertilizer?

Readily available in many rural areas or through reputable suppliers, horse manure makes a suitable and inexpensive fertilizer for plants. Horse manure can give new plants a jump start while providing essential nutrients for continual growth. It contains adequate amounts of organic matter and can be applied in various ways. It's also slightly higher in nutritional value than cow or steer manure.

How Do I Use Horse Manure as Fertilizer?

Fresh manure should not be used on plants, because it can burn their roots. However, well-aged manure, or that which has been allowed to dry over winter, can be worked into the soil without the worry of burning. While it may be more nutritional, horse manure may also contain more weed seeds. For this reason, it is usually better to use composted horse manure in the garden. 

The heat produced from composting can effectively kill most of these seeds as well as any harmful bacteria that may be present. Composted horse manure can also be used in the garden any time of the year. Simply toss it over the garden area and work it into the soil.

Horse Manure Compost

Composting horse manure is not any different than traditional composting methods. This process does not require any special tools or structures. In fact, small amounts of horse manure can be easily composted using a shovel or pitchfork. 

In addition, a simple, free-standing pile can be easily turned into compost. While adding additional organic materials to the pile can create a more nutritional fertilizer, it is not always necessary. 

Adding just enough water to keep the pile moist while turning it at least once a day can produce optimal results as well. Frequent turning helps to speed up the composting process. 

Covering the pile with a tarp can help keep it relatively dry, but still moist enough to work with, as well as retain necessary heat. There is no set ideal time for how long to compost horse manure, but typically it takes two to three months if done properly. You are better off looking at the compost itself to see if it is ready.

The horse manure compost will look like soil and will have lost its "manure" smell when ready. Although it's not required, composted horse manure can provide better results in the garden. Soil aeration and drainage can be greatly improved, which ultimately results in the healthier growth of plants.

Cow manure has been used as a fertilizer by farmers in many countries for centuries. Frugal and sustainable gardening was once the norm rather than today’s methods of utilizing synthetic products to provide nutrients to your soil.

This type of manure is not as rich in nitrogen as many other types. However, the high ammonia levels can burn plants when the fresh manure is directly applied. Composted cow manure, on the other hand, can provide numerous benefits to the garden.

The traditional practice of using composted cow manure is seeing a resurgence in small farm production and home gardens. Cow manure compost is now a common product in big box stores and nurseries.

But is using cow dung as manure good for gardens? And how do you use it the right way to benefit plants? I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to get the most out of this unexpected organic fertilizer for your garden.

What Is Cow Manure Made Of?

Cow manure isn’t just cow poop. It is a combination of bedding and other items collected when cow manure is harvested. Often, hay or straw are part of its composition. These items lend texture to the manure, add tilth, and improve your soil.

Cellulose and lignin are also present in cow manure, but the main nutrients released from cow manure compost are nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. There are also trace elements present, such as zinc, iron, manganese, and copper. Cow dung is high in organic materials and rich in nutrients.

In addition, cow manure also contains high levels of ammonia and potentially dangerous pathogens. For this reason, it's usually recommended that it be aged or composted prior to its use as a fertilizer.

Is Cow Manure Good for Gardens?

In spite of the nutrient content in cow manure, much of the nitrogen is not available for plants to use initially since it releases very slowly. But cow manure has other benefits besides enriching the soil. It can also enhance soil texture and structure.

Cow manure changes soil texture by creating spaces in the soil. In sandy soil, this will increase the soil’s ability to absorb moisture. This allows you to water less frequently, as the roots of plants can use the additional water and nutrients when needed.

Additionally, it will improve aeration, helping to break up compacted soils. In heavy soils, cow manure will make spaces in the soil that will help increase percolation.

Composted cow manure, which you can order from Walmart for only a few dollars, also contains beneficial bacteria, which convert nutrients into easily accessible forms so they can be slowly released without burning tender plant roots.

Make Sure Cow Manure Is Safe to Use

In order to be safe to use, cow dung needs to be properly aged or decomposed first. This process will kill most pathogens, making the product safe to use around our food plants, and is called composting cow manure.

Manure needs to be composted at temperatures between 140-160°F (60-71°C) before applying it to your garden. Use a compost thermometer, like this one from Amazon, to make sure compost is getting hot enough to kill off harmful pathogens.

But even with proper aging, cow manure can still harbor some pathogens. For this reason, you should apply it no later than 60 days prior to harvesting foods that do not contact the soil and 120 days before harvesting those grown in the ground, such as carrots.

Cow manure should be aged before using on crops, not only to reduce pathogens, but also because it is too “hot” when it is fresh. If applied when fresh, the manure can burn plants.

The general rule of thumb is to apply 2-3 inches (5-7.6 cm) of composted manure to the soil and till it well. By using this organic soil amendment, nutrients are slowly released and enrich the soil all season.

Drawbacks of Cow Manure

Even when composted manure has been treated to high heat and the proper length of time, it may still contain diseases that can affect our food and, in turn, us. E. coli, Giardia, Salmonella, Campylobacter, and other potential health hazards may be harbored in cow manure and can spread to our food sources.

In addition to the potential presence of certain diseases and parasites, cow dung has another drawback. Manure may also harbor weed seeds if it was not composted long enough or at a high enough temperature.

Overusing manure can lead to high amounts of phosphorus in the soil as well. This isn’t bad for the soil, but over time it will leach out and end up in the waterways. The phosphorus is especially damaging to aquatic life by causing algae blooms.

Another potential problem is herbicide residue in cow manure. This happened to me when a broadleaf herbicide was still in my manure. It affected my nightshade plants in particular and caused stunting and failure to fruit.

The problem persisted in my soil for three years. So it's worth taking into consideration before using manure, especially if you are using free manure with an uncertain origin.

How to Compost Cow Manure at Home

Composted cow manure makes an excellent growing medium for garden plants. When turned into compost and fed to plants and vegetables, cow manure becomes a nutrient-rich fertilizer. It can be mixed into the soil or used as topdressing.

Like any compost, you need the right mixture of nitrogen and carbon to result in a balanced product and to create the right conditions for material breakdown. You will need 1 part nitrogen for 3 parts carbon. This means adding plenty of straw, sawdust, or other carbon sources to the manure.

Heavy manures – like cow manure – should be mixed with lighter materials, such as straw or hay, in addition to the usual organic substances from vegetable matter, and garden debris. Small amounts of lime or ash may also be added.

An important consideration when composting cow manure is the size of your compost pile. If it's too small, it won't provide enough heat, which is essential for the composting process. Too big, however, and the pile may not get enough air. Therefore, frequently turning the pile is necessary.

Layer the manure with carbon in a pile at least 3 feet (0.9 m) high and wide. Turn the pile frequently and keep it moist. You also need to monitor this type of manual composting for two to three months to fully age the manure and make sure it is safe for garden use.

How to Use Cow Manure in the Garden

The best way to use manure is as an amendment to soil. Whether you compost your own cow manure at home or buy a bag of composted cow manure, like this one from Home Depot, you use it the same way in the garden.

Work manure into the soil several months before planting for the best effect. One way to make sure the manure is fully incorporated into the soil is to amend soil in fall and let manure break down over winter. Then your beds are fertilized and ready for planting in spring

You may also sidedress with well-rotted manure. Only use it during the vegetative growth stage, not when the plant is actively flowering and fruiting. You may also steep cow manure in water for several days, strain it, and then dilute to create a manure tea you can use as an organic liquid fertilizer.

Cow manure adds significant amounts of organic material to the soil and can greatly benefit your garden, when used properly. With the addition of cow manure fertilizer, you can improve the overall health of your soil and produce healthy, vigorous plants.

Bat guano, or feces, has a long history of use as a soil enricher. It is obtained from only fruit and insect-feeding species. Bat dung makes an excellent fertilizer. It's fast-acting, has little odor, and can be worked into the soil prior to planting or during active growth. Let's learn more about how to use bat guano as a fertilizer.

What Do They Use Bat Guano For?

There are several uses for bat dung. It can be used as a soil conditioner, enriching the soil and improving drainage and texture. Bat guano is a suitable fertilizer for plants and lawns, making them healthy and green. It can be used as a natural fungicide, and it controls nematodes in the soil as well. In addition, bat guano makes an acceptable compost activator, speeding up the decomposition process.

How to Use Bat Guano as a Fertilizer

As a fertilizer, bat dung can be used as top dressing, worked into the soil, or made into tea and used along with regular watering practices. Bat guano can be used fresh or dried. Typically, this fertilizer is applied in smaller quantities than other types of manure. Bat guano provides a high concentration of nutrients to plants and the surrounding soil. According to the NPK of bat guano, its concentration ingredients are 10-3-1. This NPK fertilizer analysis translates to 10 percent nitrogen (N), 3 percent phosphorus (P), and 1 percent potassium or potash (K). The higher nitrogen levels are responsible for fast, green growth. Phosphorus aids with root and flower development, while potassium provides for the plant's overall health. Note: You may also find bat guano with higher phosphorus ratios, such as 3-10-1. Why? Some types are processed this way. Also, it's believed that the diet of some bat species may have an effect. For example, those feeding strictly on insects produce higher nitrogen content, whereas fruit-eating bats result in a high phosphorus guano.

How to Make Bat Guano Tea

The NPK of bat guano makes it acceptable for use on various plants. An easy way to apply this fertilizer is in tea form, which allows for deep root feeding. Making bat guano tea is easy. The bat dung is simply steeped in water overnight and then it's ready for use when watering plants. While many recipes exist, a general bat guano tea contains about a cup (236.5 ml.) of dung per gallon (3.78 l.) of water. Mix together and after sitting overnight, strain the tea and apply to plants. The uses of bat dung are wide ranging. However, as a fertilizer, this type of manure is one of the best ways to go in the garden. Not only will your plants love it, but your soil will too.

Although lower in organic matter than other traditional manures, alpaca manure has a lot of value in the garden. In fact, many gardeners find this type of manure to be an excellent source of nutrients for optimal soil and plant health. Let's look at, "How do I use alpaca manure as fertilizer," and learn why alpaca manure is a good fertilizer.

Is Alpaca Manure Good Fertilizer?

Using alpaca manure as fertilizer is beneficial. Even with its lower organic content, alpaca manure is considered a rich soil conditioner. Alpaca fertilizer improves the soil quality and its ability to retain water. It is also good for plants, providing a fair amount of nitrogen and potassium and about average levels of phosphorus. Since alpaca manure is mostly found in pellet form and doesn't have the same components as other livestock feeders, like cows and horses, it does not need to be aged or composted before use. You can spread it directly onto garden plants without burning them. Best of all, it does not contain any weed seeds so there's no worry about plucking sprouts from the garden following application, as with some types of manure.

How Do I Use Alpaca Manure as Fertilizer?

Generally, you can find bags of alpaca manure available from online retailers or alpaca farmers. Those raising alpacas can even obtain it straight from the source. When using alpaca fertilizer, you can put it on top of the garden soil and then water it or wait and let the rain help soak it in. For those in colder climates, you can also spread the manure over snow-filled garden beds and allow it to soak into the soil as the snow melts. Either way, alpaca manure breaks down rather quickly.

Alpaca Fertilizer Tea

Alpaca manure tea is another option for fertilizing garden plants. This is especially helpful for giving seedlings a jump start. Simply mix about a third cup (79 mL) of alpaca manure to every two-thirds cup (158 mL) of water and let it sit overnight. Then, use the manure tea to water your plants.

Alpaca Manure Compost

Although composting alpaca manure is not necessary, doing so is easy. Composted alpaca manure can offer additional benefits as well. One of the easiest ways to create alpaca manure compost is to simply mix it in with other organic materials. As with any compost pile, this is best accomplished by alternating layers of browns and greens—browns being woody materials like small garden debris and leaves, and greens being kitchen scraps like fruit peels, eggshells, etc. This should be kept moist but not wet and turned occasionally. Depending on the amount of compost, it should take anywhere from a few weeks or months to a year before it's ready for use. Adding worms to the pile will help break everything down quicker in addition to lending their own nutritional value. The finished compost should have a pleasant odor and a nice dark brown to black color. Once added to the soil, composted alpaca manure can help increase crop yields and promote healthy, vigorous plant growth. Whether you add alpaca manure directly to the garden, make manure tea, or use alpaca manure compost, your plants will thrive. In addition, the nearly odorless alpaca fertilizer may even help deter deer pests, as they find its aroma offensive.

Using goat manure in garden beds can create the optimal growing conditions for your plants. The naturally dry pellets are not only easy to collect and apply, but are less messy than many other types of manure. 

There are endless uses for goat manure. Goat droppings can be used in nearly any type of garden, including that of flowering plants, herbs, vegetables, and fruit trees. Goat manure can even be composted and used as mulch.

Is Goat Manure Good Fertilizer?

One of the most common uses for goat manure is as a fertilizer. Goat manure fertilizer can help gardeners produce healthier plants and crop yields. Goats not only produce neater pelletized droppings, but their manure doesn't typically attract insects or burn plants as does manure from cows or horses. 

Goat manure is virtually odorless and is beneficial for the soil. This manure contains adequate amounts of the nutrients that plants need for optimal growth, especially when the goats have bed in stalls. As urine collects in goat droppings, the manure retains more nitrogen, thus increasing its fertilizing potency. However, this increase in nitrogen usually requires composting prior to use.

Using Goat Manure for Fertilizer

Using goat manure in garden areas is one of the best ways to enrich the soil. Its pelleted state makes it suitable for direct applications to flower and vegetable gardens without the worry of burning plants. In addition, the pellets are easy to spread and till into the garden. 

Working in equal parts of goat manure, sand, and straw to spring beds is another option, adding more or less manure throughout the season depending on the plants' grown. If desired, you can add your goat manure fertilizer to the garden in the fall and allow it to soak into the ground over winter. 

You can typically obtain goat manure fertilizer from garden supply centers or from local farms and retailers. In fact, if you are willing to come get it, many goat farmers would be more than happy to give you manure just to get it out of their way.

Composting Goat Manure

Making your own compost is not hard or messy. Finished compost is dry and very rich. Set up your composting device, which in most cases consists of a bin-type structure. Mix the manure in with other organic materials such as grass clippings, leaves, straw, kitchen scraps, eggshells, etc. 

Keep the compost moist and occasionally stir the pile to mix everything together and increase airflow, which helps break it down. Depending on its size, this can take weeks or months. Keep in mind that the smaller the pile, the faster it will decompose. 

Another advantage to using goat manure for fertilizer is the fact that the pelletized droppings allow more airflow into compost piles, which speeds up composting time as well. When composting goat manure, you may want to work the pile throughout fall and winter for spring application, or you can take out what you need for a given job until the compost is finished. 

Composted manure can add nutrients to the soil, promote healthier plant growth, and increase crop yields without the use of harmful chemicals.

When it comes to manures, there is none more desired for the vegetable garden than chicken manure. Chicken manure for vegetable garden fertilizing is excellent, but there are some things you need to know about it in order to use it correctly. Keep reading to learn more about chicken manure compost and how to use it in the garden.

Using Chicken Manure for Vegetable Garden Fertilizer

Natural fertilizers are an excellent way to protect the environment and still deliver the nutrients plants require. Chicken manure fertilizer is one of the bigger byproducts of raising hens. The average hen produces 1 cubic foot (0.03 cubic meters) of manure every 6 months. Even if you don't keep chickens yourself, manure may be purchased at a reasonable cost from someone who does.

While it is possible for chicken manure to contain pathogens, in most cases it is an effective way to fertilize plants.

Is Chicken Poop Good Fertilizer?

Composted chicken manure delivers loads of nutrients and minerals to plants. But as with everything, it should be used in the manner least likely to cause any problems.

Poultry manure contains slow release macro and micronutrients, as well as high amounts of calcium, zinc, sulfur, and magnesium. Using chicken manure compost returns organic matter back to the land and prevents waste.

Chicken manure fertilizer is very high in nitrogen and also contains a good amount of potassium and phosphorus. The high nitrogen and balanced nutrients are the reason that chicken manure compost is the best kind of manure to use.

But the high nitrogen in the chicken manure is dangerous to plants if the manure has not been properly composted. Fresh manure can burn, and even kill plants. Composting chicken manure mellows the nitrogen and makes the manure suitable for the garden.

Un-composted poultry litter should be worked into the soil where the ammonium released is quickly converted to NO3-N, an important plant nutrient. Potassium and phosphorus levels vary but are estimated to be 80 percent of that available in a commercial fertilizer.

Other Benefits of Chicken Manure Fertilizer

Outside of the nutritional benefits, chicken manure is a great soil amendment. It can improve soil structure, thereby enhancing water retention. It also increases the soil’s ability to hold nutrients. Chicken manure incorporated into soil will enhance aeration and drainage. The further breakdown of the product will fuel microbe activity and soil diversity. This in turn hastens the breakdown of other organic material.

Chicken fertilizer will also lighten clay soils by preventing the particles from binding together. Using fresh, un-composted litter that is less than 6 weeks old will return 40-70 percent of the nitrogen back into the soil. This is an excellent way to prepare vegetable beds several weeks prior to planting.

As a side dress, composted manure provides a gentle, slow release of necessary nutrients. In gardens where chickens are allowed to free range, their waste is a bonus for plants, provided it isn’t allowed to accumulate to excess.

Composting Chicken Manure

Gardeners who have their own flock will have a ready supply of fresh chicken manure, but it still needs to be composted before adding it to garden beds. Composting manure is similar to kitchen scraps or garden waste. The balance of 30 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen, combined with air, water, and temperature will break down the waste.

If your chicken coop has soiled bedding made of straw or sawdust, it can be added straight to the compost, where it will much of the necessary carbon. Because the carbon content of different beddings differs, a 2:1 ratio is a safe bet when composting chicken waste.

The compost pile mixture needs to be kept moderately moist and the temperature should be maintained at the optimum of 130-150 F ( 54-66 C). Shift the interior contents to the outside and vice versa to help maintain the temperature. Keeping the pile at this temperature is sufficient to inhibit any pathogens, and will also hasten composting.

How Long Should Chicken Manure Age Before Using?

On average, the composting process for chicken manure takes about 3-4 months. The exact amount of time it takes depends on the conditions under which it is composted. If you are uncertain how well your chicken manure has been composted, it's always safer to leave it a little longer. You can wait up to 12 months to use your chicken manure compost.

Compost may be applied directly around plants, mixed into the soil, or made into a tea to foliar and root feed plants.

Chicken manure for vegetable garden fertilizing will produce excellent soil for your vegetables to grow in. You will find that your vegetables will grow bigger and healthier as a result of using chicken manure fertilizer.

Can Chicken Manure Make You Sick?

Even after the composting process, there will still be some pathogens in your chicken manure. Wear gloves when applying, and keep children and pets away.

Always leave at least 90 days between manure application and harvest of vegetables that grow above the soil, like peppers, eggplants, and trellised cucumbers and tomatoes. For vegetables that are harvested from the soil, like lettuce and carrots, leave at least 120 days.

Don't eat raw vegetables straight from the garden without washing them first. If you are prone to food-borne illnesses, refrain from eating any uncooked vegetables from a garden that's been treated with chicken manure.

Using manure compost in the garden has numerous benefits. Manure is packed with nutrients that plants need, like nitrogen. Using manure as fertilizer keeps plants healthy and green.

How Manure Affects the Soil

In order to maximize the benefits of manure compost in the garden, proper application is vital. One of the best ways to use manure as plant fertilizer is by mixing it in with compost. Composting manure eliminates the possibility of burning the plants. Another option is to till it into the soil prior to spring planting, such as during fall or winter. Generally, fall is the best time to use manure in the garden. This allows plenty of time for the manure to break down, eliminating the threat of burning plants in the garden. Well-aged manure on its own also makes a great fertilizer for garden plants. Nearly any kind of manure can be used, depending on where you live, as some manure is more readily available than others. However, it is not recommended that anyone use cat or dog manure. These types of manures are unsuitable for the garden or the compost pile, as these are likely to carry parasites. Generally, horse, cow, and chicken manure are the most commonly used for manure fertilizer. Some people also use sheep and rabbit manure. While most types of manure can be purchased from garden centers, oftentimes, you can find farmers or horse owners that are more than happy to give it away.

The Effects of Manure on the Soil

The effects of manure on the soil are beneficial as well. As the soil absorbs manure, nutrients are released. This enriches the soil, which in turn helps the plants. The most important benefit of using manure in the garden is its ability to condition the soil For instance, mixing manure with sandy soils helps to retain moisture levels. Adding manure to compacted soil helps loosen the soil. Manure produces increased soil carbon, which is an important source of energy that makes nutrients available to plants. Other benefits of manure include reduced runoff and leaching of nitrates in the soil.

Using Composted Manure as Mulch

Did you know that using composted manure as mulch is also beneficial? Because manure is considered a slow-release plant fertilizer, it provides small amounts of nutrients over an extended period. This makes it an acceptable form of mulch for plants. However, make certain it is not fresh manure. Fresh manure is too strong for plants, as it contains excessive amounts of nitrogen, which can burn the plants. In addition, some manure fertilizer consists of urine as well, which is also high in nitrogen. Too much nitrogen on plants can be detrimental for them. The benefits of manure as plant fertilizer and the effects of manure on the soil makes its use in the garden worth consideration.