Chicken Bedding As Mulch?

[chickengirl778]

Hello fellow gardeners!
I'm wondering if chicken bedding is too hot to use as a mulch in the "Back to Eden" style.
It's deep bedding, so I think it's at least semi-composted, and it's rained a bit recently, so the poop has possibly washed through the shaving bedding/been diluted.
What are your thoughts? Does the bedding need to be fully composted, or can I use it to mulch my garden?

Thanks for any feedback! I am in zone 9b if that affects the answer at all.

 

[Ebony Rose]

When in doubt, only use 'hot' (or considered hot) chicken bedding in areas where you wouldn't mind the vegetation 'frying'. Typically, it's safe to mound up this bedding beneath well established trees and shrubs, and works VERY well to 'fry' weeds and weed seed. Another option is to take the 'hot' bedding and spreading it out over NEXT YEAR's, currently unused gardening location, allowing it to 'season' and cool over the year.
My 2 cents

 

[Acre4Me]

Agree it is likely too hot for your veg garden. Next year, it will be great! @Tycine1 majes some good points above.

 

[ChickenLady2014]

Hello fellow gardeners!
I'm wondering if chicken bedding is too hot to use as a mulch in the "Back to Eden" style.
It's deep bedding, so I think it's at least semi-composted, and it's rained a bit recently, so the poop has possibly washed through the shaving bedding/been diluted.
What are your thoughts? Does the bedding need to be fully composted, or can I use it to mulch my garden?

Thanks for any feedback! I am in zone 9b if that affects the answer at all.

Hi Chickengirl, I would be a little concerned that the chicken poop would be too hot at this time to use around your plants. We composted ours for a year, but my hubby would try to rush it occasionally & it usually burned & stunted the plant.

 

[CatWhisperer]

Chicken bedding makes great compost. We have 2 huge bins and age it 6 months before using it. We have a lot so we cold compost. If you make a hot compost pile you could use it much quicker.