[peter and jean]

We have chickens at home so I have been wondering if I could use the manure to dig into our plot now. Will it have rotted down enough over the winter to be able to plant in spring next year. Thanks

[azubah]

We get pigeon manure left at our allotment gates regularly and I dig it in this time of year. I find that with the winter rains it soon rots down except for some feathers. It is like rocket fuel for the spuds particularly. One person's waste is another person's treasure.

[mumofstig]

I think that this is the only time of year that you'd get away with using fresh chicken manure.

The ammonia will get washed away by the winter rains.

[peter and jean]

All very positive replies thank you. Saves me lugging bags of horse Muck about.

[Tenhens]

Are the 'doings' neat or mixed with bedding?

This is one of the reasons why I like this site , interesting questions.  I have always put our 'chooks' manure straight to the compost heap , never considered putting it straight to soil.

Azubah , How much do you add for your spuds?

[azubah]

Tenhens, it depends on how many sacks of muck are delivered. I just spread it around fairly thinly.

[Tenhens]

Thanks.

Many years ago I had some bags of pigeon muck and I recall that it did whiff a bit,  a lot stronger than the hen manure that ours produce.  It's mixed with a rape seed bedding material which composts down really well.

Wonder how many people out there who have these 'pets',  put the waste in the bin to be taken away? 

[azubah]

I used to keep a few hens and found their different personalities rather interesting.
They could not get the hang of glass and would panic if they could see a treat in the greenhouse but not think how to walk round to the open door to get it.

[SnooziSuzi]

When I had an allotment on a site that allowed chooks (and sheds, fences etc, none of which are allowed at my current site  ), I used to clean the henhouse directly onto an empty bed.  The following year i put my onions there and they grew to the size of honeydew melons!!!