Chicken poop and gardening… help please!

Lkw

In the Brooder
Apr 25, 2025
27
33
36
Ok, so I have a lot of chickens. I also have a little garden that they are unable to get to, where I attempt to grow everything from tomatoes, to lettuce, just for our family. I would like to start using the chicken poop as fertilizer. I have several “recipes” (if that is what you call chicken poo tea…?). I have found mixed information online regarding doing so, however. My question is, how do things like salmonella or E. coli or other bacteria get into fruit and vegetables? I realize you have to wash them to prevent bacteria from the surface getting in, but how does this work exactly? I do not think any of my chickens have Ecoli or salmonella, however, I can’t be sure. If I put this in the soil, do the roots and plant system filter it out or does it get into the fruits and vegetables? Sorry, this may be a simple question for many of you, but I am just not sure what to do here after reading completely opposite information online.
 
I think it's best to compost fresh chicken poo for at least 6 months to a year before using it in the garden. It breaks down and natural heat and microbes do their thing to make it safe and not too harsh for plants. Fresh it has too much ammonia and can burn/kill plants.
 

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