Using raw chicken manure on the garden

[getaclue]

Well, this is nice to know. I don't have that many chickens either, and usually have hay down, so it's the soiled hay that I put out on the garden. Between crops, we till it in, so there is time for it to break down. I've never worried much about salmonella. My chickens are healthy. I keep the water buckets, and feeders clean. During our rainy season, I discard any feed that clumps, is off color, or just doesn't look right to me, which minimizes the risk.

 

[ShannonR]

It generally isn't salmonella you need to worry about in your veggies. Think e coli. Ya know, all those lettuce recalls and such? Yeah....Leafy greens and then root crops are the most commonly contaminated garden foods. Raw chicken poop will do it. But, as long as your garden foods don't enter the public food chain I'll step off my soapbox now lol

 

[Perris]

with only 3 birds, if you pooh pick daily, and vary where you're putting it daily, I would think you'd have no problems and lots of benefits. I have been doing this for 2 years with 3+ birds and the garden is thriving. I chuck it as a top dressing alternately on any shrub/tree in flower, or looks like it needs a feed, or that I like especially, or hasn't had any for yonks, or on the compost heap. Since my birds free range all day, I figure that I'm just doing what they're doing I don't grow veggies, but if you do presumably you'd wash them before eating anyway, so possible contamination by poop from the chickens or anything else wandering round or flying over the garden would be removed.

 

[getaclue]

I've been doing a bit more reading on the subject. Thanks for the information.

 

[Missbc]

I currently only have 5 hens and a half acre. Two adults living here, and we cook a lot of our meals at home so we generate plenty of veggie compost.

I have three “earth machine” compost bins that I got from the local government office that deals with recycling. I alternate veggie scraps, leaves and poop board droppings. Once I fill one container, I start in the next one. By the time I’ve filled one, the third one is ready.

Chicken poo is a great compost booster. It does need a good deal of “browns” layered in with it.

 

[Courtney Jane]

Thanks everyone for your advice! I think I will keep using a small amount straight on the garden and see how I go and compost the rest

 

[MissMonty]

Personally I wouldn't just because of the change it can cause to the soil (let alone the e.coli issues). I am a huge plant hobbyist, houseplants gardens etc you name it! One of the big things that I have learned over the years it is is very easy to put too much of something on and by the time you realize there is a problem often the plant may not recover. So chicken pooh is very rich and can even burn the delicate plants and root systems. It being so rich can cause a big change in the nutrient balance of the soil. Some plants this may not be an issue but others it could kill them.

When a plant starts showing signs of distress to the point people usually notice then it could be too late and the damage done the plant is not able to recover from.

Just things to consider, ultimately I do not believe there is a "right" answer and whatever works for you is great! Composting will help your garden for years to come so even doing a mix could be great! Just make sure to really wash your crops before eating!

 

[Magnumchicken]

Hi im late to the party.

Any bacteria in chicken poop is already in you... and your dog etc. So you would have gotten sick from handling eggs, poop on shoes, picking up the birds ... actually least likely to be from the veggies because you rarely fertilize at harvest time. Google fecal oral bacteria transmission... you will be disgusted what is in your butt, and dogs and chickens and kids butt, always ends up back in your mouth.

Ive used a lot of raw manure... actually i say fresher the better before the ammonia vapors off. Usually i grow extra whatever... and let the chickens free range and poop on the crops... great after your corn is knee high. They eat bugs first, and whatever crop they pick off becomes eggs and fertilizer again.

Cant say ive had burned crops... only burned grass from the neighbors dogs. Dogs have pinworm and they will infect you... so never use dog poop. I have had double and triple yield from hot chicken poop... it can be overdone, just spread it side dressing .

 

[PurpleCArTires]

Hi im late to the party.

Any bacteria in chicken poop is already in you... and your dog etc. So you would have gotten sick from handling eggs, poop on shoes, picking up the birds ... actually least likely to be from the veggies because you rarely fertilize at harvest time. Google fecal oral bacteria transmission... you will be disgusted what is in your butt, and dogs and chickens and kids butt, always ends up back in your mouth.

Ive used a lot of raw manure... actually i say fresher the better before the ammonia vapors off. Usually i grow extra whatever... and let the chickens free range and poop on the crops... great after your corn is knee high. They eat bugs first, and whatever crop they pick off becomes eggs and fertilizer again.

Cant say ive had burned crops... only burned grass from the neighbors dogs. Dogs have pinworm and they will infect you... so never use dog poop. I have had double and triple yield from hot chicken poop... it can be overdone, just spread it side dressing .

I am doing a Hügelkultur raised bed system this year and my base is this past winters chicken coop waste (along with random rottenwood scraps, yard dirt etc). I topped it with 50/50 top soil and compost mix from my landscape supply. I havebt started planting in it yet, but i am glad i found this thread. I was a little worried the poo hadnt had time to compost enough over the past few months. But it seems like as long as i have enough brown material, the poo shouldnt damange the roots.

We shall see

 

[Magnumchicken]

I am doing a Hügelkultur raised bed system this year and my base is this past winters chicken coop waste (along with random rottenwood scraps, yard dirt etc). I topped it with 50/50 top soil and compost mix from my landscape supply. I havebt started planting in it yet, but i am glad i found this thread. I was a little worried the poo hadnt had time to compost enough over the past few months. But it seems like as long as i have enough brown material, the poo shouldnt damange the roots.

We shall see

Farmers say that ammonia vapors off within 12 hours and needs to be incorporated 6 inches deep immediately. Wet fresh chicken poop is like 1.2, 0.5, 0.7 npk. Something like that. Dried is higher. Farmers put like a ton per acre but usually aged because of salmonella risk. But if your pet chicken has salmonella so do you. Might as well use fresh. Calculate the npk and figure your biomass is adding a lot. A basic npk and micornutrient soil test is only 15 or so dollars at your state extention program. Worth it just for the curiosity.