Giving away chicken manure -- who knew some can make it so complicated

[AKsmama]

If she wants organic chicken manure, she should get some chickens of her own and feed them how she wants.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

FWIW, I've been wondering if SimpliFly (a supplement given to horses to prevent fly eggs from hatching in their manure) would be safe for chickens to eat. And yes, I add meds to water and skin as needed.

I think a LOT of folks go WAY overboard on organic. MOST, not all, but most) of the organic feed I have seen I wound not feed to a chicken, even if it didn't cost nearly twice as much. I really read feed labels, and the organic labels I've seen are not much more than corn and soy.

I see nothing wrong with using herbicides and pesticides in what I consider a responsible manner--meaning that I do not go overboard and use tons and tons of either, but use them as I see the need. A few years ago improperly composted organic chicken manure was partially responsible for a small epidemic of Exotic Newcastle Disease. Lead and mercury are both naturally occuring elements that can cause serious problems, yet as they are naturally occuring, should be considered "organic." For that matter, arsenic is the same, and ricin (one of the world's most potent neuro-toxins) is minimally processed castor beans.

 

[KristyHall]

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I agree there. there is a difference between organic and sustainable and even sustainable is becoming a questionable buzz word these days. as I have told people before Jimsonweed is all natural but if you eat it , it will kill you.

 

[PineappleMama]

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Well when you take into consideration that GMO corn is listed in the FDA's roles as a pesticide, rather than a food... then yeah, I imagine quite a few fowl ARE being fed pesticide... though prolly not with the owner's full understanding of the situation.

 

[twentynine]

I can't beleave that a herbicide can maintain it's potential to kill after being processed through a horse or chickens gut, plus the time it takes the horse or chicken to eat it after initial application.

Must use some way more better herbicide than I use. I have a hard time getting a good kill if the morning dew is still on the grass, or if it rains to soon after application.

As I was commenting earlier. Hypotheticly--- I spray a fence line with 2,4d amine. Don't have the bottle in front of me so I am shooting from the hip. But anyhow I spray a fence line, with what amounts to about a 1% solution of active ingredient. The horse eats the grass, within minutes of me spraying it- still wet with spray, but that ain't all the grass he is going to eat that day, it may only be a small percentage of his total intake, for arguments sake, let's say it's 10% of his total intake of grass/hay/feed for the day. So we are at 1/10th of a 1% active solution. And that is to say that the active ingredient has not been broken down by exposure to sunlight, temperature, or moisture after application. Then we add the time factor, most all these herbicides break down in time, so how long does it take for a mouth full of grass eaten on Monday morning, to pass out the south end of a north bound horse, 24, 36, 48 hours. Then you are saying that the active ingredients will not be effected at all by the digestive action of the bacteria present in a horses gut?

Like I said, maybe their are some "ground sterilizers" that would or could maintain potency, but the two herbicides I use have never demonstrated any ability to maintain any potency, just hours after application, when exposed to normal climate conditions, let alone time, climate, and digestive processes of a grazing animal. As proof of this I have grass growing all over my field right out of the horse apples, atleast a few of which are composed of the digested remains of grass that was sprayed with THE BIG EVIL ONE, and 2,4d amine.

 

[KlaHaYa Gardens]

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I already covered the information with the individual that my birds aren't fed or kept in any horse pastures. Something about trying to make the distinction horse manure verses chicken manure from the chicken coop just didn't translate.

Regardless of what the situation is with the horses, their situation is different from my chickens.

Also, *I* don't eat herbicide/pesticide laden food everyday. I cannot. I am chemically sensitive and am very careful about my food, food sources, and chemicals of any kind near and around me and my home. I also covered this with the individuals -- that didn't make a difference either.

They were essentially determined that I feed my chickens horse manure -- or at least keep horse manure in the chicken coop, and further feed the birds antibiotics laced with horse manure's residual chemicals.

It's just easier to NOT deal with those folks. They can mail order the appropriate chicken manure.

 

[KlaHaYa Gardens]

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She has chickens! In Seattle. She feeds them organic layer food that she pays $45 per 50 lb bag. She wanted to "make certain" I did the same. Her silly expenditure and arrogant attitude about her chicken food does not obligate me to be so ridiculous. She can mail order organic chicken manure for $45 per pound for all I care. Her loss (the chicken manure IS organic, though not advertised as such).

 

[KlaHaYa Gardens]

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That's the spirit!

 

[KlaHaYa Gardens]

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Well when you take into consideration that GMO corn is listed in the FDA's roles as a pesticide, rather than a food... then yeah, I imagine quite a few fowl ARE being fed pesticide... though prolly not with the owner's full understanding of the situation.

I think GMO is something that most people are still learning about.

I am fortunate, as there is a restaurant in town that offers organic, gluten-free, vegan, and non-GMO food. Way cool place, delicious food. Awesome owner. I can eat their without getting sick. It is also a drop off point for a local organic, CSA.

 

[KlaHaYa Gardens]

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Fortunately, my home has been ours since the 50's. I have a great handle on what is and what isn't in our soil.

We have been working our land, weeding, de-rocking, nourishing it and landscaping it for years. We used to have city people (such as Seattle city people) laugh at us for growing our own organic food, composting, vermicomposting, recylcing (on many levels), and keeping chickens and other animals. Now so many of those same sorts go full swing the other way and demand that we must spend loads of money to "do it right" or it's not "organic" and "environmentally conscious, etc." and on and on they go. It's arrogant, self-righteous, and more importantly ignorant (same problem as before, just a different flavor).

Some folks are curious, eager, and grateful to learn from us folks that have farmed, grown food, canned, kept birds, etc., for years. Others, well . . . those are the ones I won't give my chicken manure.