Compost

[chickadee2]

After collecting straw and surely some poop from the run, how long before it can be put in the garden? I do not want to burn the plants, but the chickens have broken it down into a lovely mulch. I will always be composting, but does anyone know the amount of time to keep from burning the plants?
Thanks for your help.

 

[thebritt]

The straw will provide carbon, which speeds the decomposition of the nitrogen from the poop. Since it sounds like you have more straw than poop, and it appears as a well-broken down mulch, I'd go ahead and use it now. If you wait too long to use it, the good stuff from the poop will leach out and you'll lose the benefit of the mulch as a long-term nutrient addition to your soil. Make sense? Enjoy your garden for me - our area is advised to wait awhile because we keep getting cold storms from the upper Pa. Northwest

!

 

[chickadee2]

Thanks so much. It will help my garden for sure.

Three chickens, an americana, a production red, and a barred rock, one sweet husband, and right now over 100 acres of wildflowers. (Oops, should have listed the husband before the chickens)