Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: engineer on February 23, 2012, 19:34

Title: Chicken Manure
Post by: engineer on February 23, 2012, 19:34

I have access to a large supply of chicken manure, i have taken delivery of some and found that it is in different states of decomposing, i have made a heap by alternating layers of manure and straw, and sprinkled some nitrogen on each layer. Now i am wondering if i have done the right thing  ???

Title: Re: Chicken Manure
Post by: mattwragg94 on February 23, 2012, 19:48

yeh i think you have, i would leave the chicken manure to rot down before adding to the soil, as i think when fresh it is acidic and can burn the plants?

Title: Re: Chicken Manure
Post by: Totty on February 23, 2012, 19:51

Make a heap out of the way somewhere and cover it if you can. When the fresher stuff starts rotting it will get really hot and rot down nice and quick. If poss i would leave it until the autumn. You will then have probably the best manure (pigeon poo exempt) there is.

Totty

Title: Re: Chicken Manure
Post by: engineer on February 23, 2012, 19:59

Thanks all, i have three on the go now, one rotted filled with normal materials ready for use, one rotting with cow, chicken manure and greens, and the FRESH one :D

Title: Re: Chicken Manure
Post by: Trillium on February 23, 2012, 22:45

Take it from the voice of experience, never use fresh chicken manure on anything, not even to mulch fruit trees over winter  :ohmy:

Only place fresh manure works is on the soil after harvest so it can sit all winter.

But once you have chicken manure compost, you have power in your hands  :D