Pine shavings as mulch for flowers?

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stretchc1

stretchc1

In the Brooder
11 Years
Jul 16, 2008
78
0
39
Connecticut
I have learned from BYC that the pine shavings from the coop go to the compost pile because the fresh droppings are too high in nitrogen (and perhaps bacteria) to go straight onto the vegetable garden. But before I go buy a bunch of wood mulch for my flower garden, I'm wondering whether I could just use the pine shavings + poo that I will need to clean out of my brooder in the next day or so.

Any experience/thoughts on this?
 
I use the pine shavings/manure/etc I clean from my horses' stalls on flowerbeds in the Fall after everything has dies back.
That way it composts over the Winter.

I'd think the chicken poop shavings would burn plants if used fresh just like the horse manure does.

An extension agent from Purdue told me the nitrogen (from urine) in my shavings would actually improve the soil once it was composted.

FWIW: I have a "barn garden" where I dump stall cleanings over my fenceline and plant stuff in the Spring. One year I planted 15 zucchini plants there and was overrun with zukes
ya.gif

Last year it was Sugar Baby watermelons and even though we didn't have a lot of rain I still harvested half a dozen nice melons.
This year it will be sweet corn & sunflowers.
 
I have an enclosed 16x8 run. I just clean the pine shavings out of the coop once a year and throw them out there. I also throw scraps and feed on it the chickens do my composting for me. Every year I dig out the compost and cover my garden with it before i till it. Works great.
Now as for your question as to using it without composting no idea boss. Try it on a small plot and see.
 
Last edited:
You can try putting the pooey brooder shavings on your flowerbeds if you want -- but it requires judgement and luck as to whether or not it will harm the plants. In some situations it will, in others it won't. Depends on the details of your plants, your soil, your garden.

The safest thing would be to compost it, even just for a month is better than nothing, before putting it on. But there is certainly a possibility that you could get away with putting the stuff on the garden now.

Good luck,

Pat
 
Thanks, everybody. I'll take a little of all the advice: I'm going to make a pile just for brooder shavings, leave it for a month, then try it on a test spot!
 

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