yet another poop question.

[domromer]

I just started a garden this year and my soil is very poor. I didn't and any fertilizer of manure because I want to do the whole permaculture things, compost, chicken ect.. I have 2 sources of chicken poop. I have the poop that comes from the tractor which goes straight into the ground. Then I also have the poop/shaving mix from the coop. I understand poop is too strong and it can burn the plants so it needs to be aged. I was wondering how people age the poop. Do you just have a big pile of poop and shavings? How long does it take until it can be mixed with dirt. Any advice would be appreciated as I am new to both chickens and gardening.

 

[erinm]

Stick it all on there in the fall and let it over winter. By the spring it will be okay for the garden. I would still add as much compost, leaf litter etc also. If your soil is actually as poor as mine. i ordered a truckload of good soil and raised the whole garden and added as much compost, manure, leaf litter as I could. I could not get anything to grow before that. Iy was taking to long for the previous soil to staighten out it was so bad. 2 years my garden was horrible and now it is prolific! Erin M.

I also do not use pesticides etc. natural bug spray is all else I use. Kneem is safe so that is what I use and DE. And I find the fruit comes in better without the chemicals . I think that stuff weakens everything overall. Erinm

 

[domromer]

I see. But if I wanted to add some throughout the year. How long do you think it takes for poop to decompose enough? Also does it look a lot different when it's old?

 

[silkiechicken]

I find that when poo is old enough not to burn plants, it doesn't smell like poo anymore when you get it damp. Then again though, I do plant zucchini's directly in chicken manure as it seems to work alright.