Rabbit manure

[KranK]

I've heard that you shouldn't feed veggies that've grown in the garden fertilized with rabbit manure to rabbits because they can get sick. I've got a lot of rabbit manure that goes to waste. Is it true about them getting sick?

 

[thelittlegraybarn]

I've heard that you shouldn't feed veggies that've grown in the garden fertilized with rabbit manure to rabbits because they can get sick. I've got a lot of rabbit manure that goes to waste. Is it true about them getting sick?

False. Rabbits use coprophagy to help with their digestive system. So with that said, how would the veggies hurt? Feed away...

 

[ChocolateMouse]

It's only true if the rabbits producing the manure have a disease or parasite and the rabbit waste is raw.
If you compost it, it's fine. It's also fine if it's from your own herd as long as your rabbits are healthy. Rabbit manure from outside sources or unhealthy rabbits may contain bacteria, viruses or parasites your rabbits don't have and depending on the type of veggie you're growing and the pathogen involved the risk for infection can go up. But it's nothing a good wash with soap and water wouldn't fix anyhow.

 

[KranK]

It's only true if the rabbits producing the manure have a disease or parasite and the rabbit waste is raw.
If you compost it, it's fine. It's also fine if it's from your own herd as long as your rabbits are healthy. Rabbit manure from outside sources or unhealthy rabbits may contain bacteria, viruses or parasites your rabbits don't have and depending on the type of veggie you're growing and the pathogen involved the risk for infection can go up. But it's nothing a good wash with soap and water wouldn't fix anyhow.

I don't have space to compost except a big metal barrel. Could i just put it in some bags and leave it till fertilizing and tilling the garden? I do this with chicken manure before the winter.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

I don't have space to compost except a big metal barrel. Could i just put it in some bags and leave it till fertilizing and tilling the garden? I do this with chicken manure before the winter.

Depends on what's in it. For example, some medications won't break down until they reach a certain high temperature, many parasites too. The most resilient of parasites are round worm eggs which can survive in soil and manure for years. Cold temperatures can also preserve some things more than others, like viruses.

If you held it in bags over the summer it would be more effective because it would heat up that way instead of cool off. But holding it in bags even over the winter will dramatically decrease your risk of common pathogens. You won't have to worry as much about more common issues like e coli.

 

[KranK]

Depends on what's in it. For example, some medications won't break down until they reach a certain high temperature, many parasites too. The most resilient of parasites are round worm eggs which can survive in soil and manure for years. Cold temperatures can also preserve some things more than others, like viruses.

If you held it in bags over the summer it would be more effective because it would heat up that way instead of cool off. But holding it in bags even over the winter will dramatically decrease your risk of common pathogens. You won't have to worry as much about more common issues like e coli.

Only manure that isn't there in the summer are these that i collect after summer lol. I'd normally compost it instead of keeping them in plastic bags (they are in a barrel because chickens have been ripping the bags without barrel) but i don't have space.