Do droppings need to sit a year before they can be used as fertilizer?

[Frannabelle]

Quote:
My Grandfather used to do this....he called it his "hen mess"

 

[featherbaby]

Quote:
So what do you grow with this 'tea'? Do you dump out the solids with the tea onto your garden? I'm having trouble picturing how you get it from a heavy 30 gal can to a controlled watering on the garden.

What kind of birds do you have?

 

[Barry Natchitoches]

Quote:
LindsayB,


This is called "compost tea," and I use it alot.


But -- for heavens sakes -- MIX THAT STUFF UP AT LEAST ONCE EVERY HOUR REALLY WELL, EVERY HOUR UNTIL YOU USE IT! (I usually get up at least once in the middle of the night to mix mine, and my wife -- who goes to bed earlier than I do, and gets up earlier than I do -- will mix it in the early morning while I get a few more Z's.


The reason why MIXING is so important is that what you are doing with that process is brewing up a healthy infusion of beneficial bacterial and fungi to feed your plant roots once you plant your garden.

(BTW, are you aware of the fact that it is the beneficial microorganisms of the soil -- mostly beneficial, oxygen-breathing bacteria and fungi -- that feed your plant roots?

Many people don't know this. But your plant roots cannot partake of the organic nutrients and minerals in the soil directly. It is only after beneficial micro-organisms eat the organic matter and minerals in the soil, and then "poop" them or secrete them into a chemical form that the plant roots CAN digest, that your plant gets any food from the soil.

THIS is why compost tea is so excellent for your organic garden!

When you add compost tea to your garden, you are adding the beneficial bacteria and fungi that your plant roots will need to feed them. I guess you could say that these beneficial microorganisms are little " microscopic chefs " that cook up food for your plant roots. So when you brew compost tea, you are actually just breeding a whole bunch of new microscopic chefs to add to your soil, with the ultimate goal of having THEM feed your plant roots for you.)


The manure you put in there, plus any other addendums you might put in there (I add some liquid kelp for trace minerals) is actually just food for the beneficial microorganisms (microscopic chefs) that you are breeding.


Think about it. If watered down chicken flickins' (thanks Alex!) were actually the end product you were going after, then wouldn't it make more sense to just dump the watered down manure directly on the soil, rather than "brewing" them for a few days?


The thing is, if you fail to mix the brew frequently through out the process, then you breed the wrong kind of bacteria -- anerobic bacteria (bacteria that do not need oxygen to survive) instead of the aerobic bacteria (oxygen breathing bacteria) that your vegetable and fruit plants need. Anerobic bacteria can actually retard your plants growth in many situations. But they almost never help it.


Does your mix smell bad?


That bad smell is the smell that anerobic bacteria puts off. It is sort of a putrid, "swampy" smell.


If you smell that, do NOT put that mixture on your garden!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Instead, throw the mixture out somewhere where it will not harm anything (trees can usually tolerate the bad mix, unless they are young trees), and start over -- this time, mixing the "brew" at least once an hour to mix oxygen in there for the aerobic bacteria.


BTW, just so you know: my background is that I am a Tennessee Master Gardener, whose specialty is the growing of organic vegetables and small fruits. I teach organic gardening for the local agricultural extension service, and also for alot of church groups and/or civic groups in the Memphis, TN area.

 

[Barry Natchitoches]

Fred's Hens :

I haul chicken manure all late fall and winter to the gardens, and will up to March 1, ceasing manure application because I am then within 30 days of beginning to plant. Of course, it is worked in well.

The only time I stockpile manure on a compost pile is April through September, while the gardens are in operation. Most state university ag depts recommend cessation of manure applications 90 days before harvest or 30 days before planting.

You can compost it at all times, if you wish. Either methods works well.

I teach organic gardening for our local extension service, and grow an extensive organic garden myself.


Personally, I do not use any chicken manure on "raw" crops (like lettuce, greens or strawberries - you know, foods that will not be cooked) until it has aged at least 5 MONTHS.


Some people wait for a shorter period of time, but it's not just "hot" manure I'm worried about -- I'm also concerned about the possibility of disease transmission.


This is food I'm going to feed to my seven year old daughter, and to my wife -- so I'd rather wait a longer period of time, and be more safe.


Now, if you are growing something like corn or climbing beans, then you don't have to wait quite as long...​

 

[Barry Natchitoches]

Quote:
Royd,


Please read the comments I posted above about the problem with using stinky compost tea.

 

[Royd]

Quote:
So what do you grow with this 'tea'? Do you dump out the solids with the tea onto your garden? I'm having trouble picturing how you get it from a heavy 30 gal can to a controlled watering on the garden.

What kind of birds do you have?

I stir it, as I'm making the tea, so most of the solids get dispensed with tea. Any that remain, either get thrown on the compost pile or into some ground, which I am working.

I use it, mostly, as a sidedressing, during the season. I have access to plenty of aged horse manure, so that gets turned in, before planting.

I just have some freerange chickens, so the only poop, which I can collect, is in the roosting house. Probably, 5lb. a week.

As for portioning it out, I dip it out with a small bucket, and then, I can dilute it, in a larger bucket, to use in a watering can, without a sprinkler head.

 

[Royd]

Quote:
Royd,


Please read the comments I posted above about the problem with using stinky compost tea.

Sir, If you think I'm going to set my alarm clock for 2 am, just to stir my chicken manure tea, then, come back and jump into bed, after it's been splashed on me, well.........
I do take your point, but I'd say, stirring every hour is like baking your eggshells, to make it easier on the chickens.

 

[greatchicken]

This is a great thread. I have been wondering about this for a very long time. What to do with the poo? Now i have several ideas. Thanks!

 

[Fred's Hens]

Most State Agriculture Universities have published guidelines on manure application and best practices. I have studied and follow these guidelines published by the University of Nebraska, Iowa State University, Ohio State University and too many others to link here. However, an overview can be found here:

http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/manures.html#rawman

And here:

http://www.ota.com/organic/foodsafety/manure.html

 

[Fred's Hens]

Quote:
See post above and links.