Chicken poop in the Garden

[meglynnie]

Good Afternoon Flock!

I am brand spanking new to chickens and gardening. Me and my hubby where able to finally buy our own hobby farm last year and brought our horses home. We have expanded to chickens and want to start a garden this year.

I've read chicken poop can be used as fertilizer is this true? What is the 'how to' with using it?

Thank you!

 

[Trish1974]

I compost my chicken poop for a year before adding it to the garden. Adding it too close to plants while its still hot can burn the plants.

 

[Bjburns]

I don't know much about application amounts, but I do know that too much of it can "burn" the ground and nothing will grow in that area this year, but will grow like crazy the next year. Moderation is key. I can tell you that the farmers in my part of the world buy chicken litter from the local chicken farmers by the semi truck load and spread it on the fields before planting. You just have to hope that it doesn't rain and that they till it into the ground quick, because it is a unique odor. So it must work!

 

[Col1948]

My neighbour Jack used some of my chicken poop for fertilizer, he planted some beans and ended up with this big bean stalk that went right up in to the clouds, I think you may have heard the story.

Seriously it is great fertilizer, I read not long ago of a guy where his neighbours were glad of it, they come round with buckets to take it away.

 

[meglynnie]

Is composting the poop for a year typically the standard?

 

[TheAmundsons]

Following! And how do you all compost it? Do you compost other items in with it too?

 

[meglynnie]

Following! And how do you all compost it? Do you compost other items in with it too?

Yes! I need to know that too

 

[21hens-incharge]

I compost mine longer than a year because the shavings are in with it here.

Yes add green and brown as with most all composting methods.

I think my best results were with manure composted 3 years. Likely due to all the pine shavings taking longer to decompose.

 

[TheAmundsons]

I compost mine longer than a year because the shavings are in with it here.

Yes add green and brown as with most all composting methods.

I think my best results were with manure composted 3 years. Likely due to all the pine shavings taking longer to decompose.

Where do you keep your compost? Our biggest struggle in creating a compost is stirring. Any suggestions?

 

[TheAmundsons]

Also, I see you're in northern CO, so what do you do about it in the winter time? Does it freeze? We've been seriously looking in to a compost pile/bin/container but haven't been able to find a suitable option for us. Hopefully @meglynnie can find a good option too!