Compost pile with dog poop

[RedDol]

I have six chicks about a week old. At six weeks I’ll move them outside to a coop. I have a tiny backyard and a large dog. I compost the dog poop. I want to free range the chickens when I’m home. My question is I know the chickens will scratch and peck through it. Will this harm them?

 

[Azmomm]

You should not compost feces of dogs

 

[Mimi13]

You should not compost feces of dogs

X2. Do not compost dog, cat, or human feces.
ETA: Even though there are places (a very few state parks) that have begun composting dog manure, I believe there is much more that goes into it than the average person is willing or able to do. Dog, cat, and human feces carry too many pathogens that are bad for the environment. I believe it really is best for us “laymen” to leave the bacteria laden feces alone. I definitely know I would not put any kind of fertilizer on any of my plants/flowers if it had dog poop in it.

On a side note, my chickens do not touch dog or cat poop; however, horse poop is prime rib.

 

[FlyWheel]

Allow me to simplify; don't compost the feces of ANY animal that incorporates meat as a major part of it's diet. While it will break down, it takes more than is usually found in the standard compost pile.

 

[Folly's place]

Mimi's 13 is so right! No carnivore or human poo should be composted in the back yard!!! It's just too risky, and the chickens don't belong in it either. They will, at least, spread any parasite eggs or whatever all over themselves, the coop, and their eggs. Yuck!
Clean it up, don't have it out there.
Mary

 

[RedDol]

You should not compost feces of dogs

I compost it mainly to keep it out of the Landfill. It’s okay to use composted dog poop just not on edibles. I did do some research.

 

[IamRainey]

Allow me to simplify; don't compost the feces of ANY animal that incorporates meat as a major part of it's diet. While it will break down, it takes more than is usually found in the standard compost pile.

So where is it "supposed" to go? You think it's safer flushed into the sewer system or in a landfill? At least in a compost pile it's breaking down and getting dispersed into a large volume of eventual humus. And if you think in any other circumstance such as landfill someone is taking care to eradicate those potential pathogens, think again.

Think of a forest floor -- the healthiest soil you'll find on the planet. It's composed of, among other things, rotting carcasses, the detritus of all manner of meat-eating animals not even buried where the heat is generated and other things you're not "supposed" to compost.

If you've got a cute little cubic yard container, you're composting mostly feces and harvesting humus in 90 days or six months you're in trouble. If you're creating large piles of diverse materials which are mostly plant-based by many multiples and which reach high temperatures and have long decomposition and aging cycles then you're doing more to eradicate any potential pathogens than just about anyone else short of a municipal sewage treatment plant.

I sheet compost my dog's stuff in my landscape and I've added some to my compost piles. I also use the humanure that I generate when I'm outside gardening. They get buried in piles that decompose over at least a year and more likely 2 since I maintain 4 huge piles and it takes a while to get around to breaking each one down.

I'd compare my soil to anyone's. And there's never been any disease at my house other than the standard colds and "ickies" despite the fact that my humus goes into my veggie beds and around my fruit trees as well as my landscape.

 

[Mimi13]

Well I stand corrected. I suppose this can be done...if you so choose. Until such time that I have no other choice, I will choose not to.

Thank you, though, for your thorough explanation of the process.

 

[imnukensc]

I have 2 dogs and 5 chickens on a couple acres. There are copious amounts of lawn sausages and chicken nuggets all over the yard. I don't bother cleaning either of them up. I have never seen the chickens scratching through the dog poop.

 

[Mimi13]

My chickens leave the dog poop alone too. However, I do pooper scoop after the dogs, but I toss it over he fence into our pasture that surrounds our entire property. I’m thankful I have that option.