[rictic]

Hello all.

What is bfn used for and how should I use it?

Keep the faith.

Rictic

[Paul Plots]

According to an on-line advert for tubs of the stuff:

"Good general purpose organic fertiliser ideal for use all around the garden.

Ready to use formula.
Ideal for soil improvement and building fertility.
Encourages strong healthy growth and increases crop yields.
Suitable for use when planting and for feeding established plants.
N P K 5 : 5 : 6
Can be applied every 4-6 weeks throughout the growing season - from February to the end of October."

I plonk it around elephant and ordinary garlic to give them a boost in the spring. 

[Jamie Butterworth]

Learners summed it up realy

Its just a good general fertilizer, espicially for organic growers

Like learner says, its good as a boost for garlic in spring, but also for fruit bushesand other soft fruit

[JayG]

I think this is another instance of the poorly defined uses of the word "organic".

BFB is certainly organic in the chemical sense of the word, but probably about as non-organic as anything can be for those not wanting to buy or support intensive farming products.
In addition, although the fish component may be by-products of fish processing it may well contain industrially fished sand eels.

(There are possible objections to all commercially available fertilisers for different reasons though, and not everyone is in the position to grow things like comfrey as a fertiliser.)

I've had to stop using it because it seems to be irresistible to foxes who can make quite a mess digging up your plot as they search for the "meal" which of course they never find!

Shame, because it is a good general purpose fertiliser and more sustainable than some others (sort of!)

[nipper31]

JayG, what would you recommend for those not wanting to buy or support intensive farming products?

[someoneorother]

Growmore. Except that's made from fossil fuels. Choose your poison

[JayG]

It is possible to buy dried pelleted chicken manure from free range chickens but you have to search for it (again, the word "organic" is widely used/abused on the tubs of most brands.)

Yes, I would have to agree that Growmore is produced by exploiting the Earth's resources rather than animals, but as I said before not everyone can grow comfrey or find a source of animal fertiliser which their conscience is completely comfortable with.

Despite composting everything I possibly can I would be unable to grow decent crops without resorting to some sort of additional fertiliser...........

[Paul Plots]

It is possible to buy dried pelleted chicken manure ............

But.... now so many people have discovered it the price has rocketted. 

[Ma and Pa Snip]

I've had to stop using it because it seems to be irresistible to foxes who can make quite a mess digging up your plot as they search for the "meal" which of course they never find!

Not just foxes either.
Having stopped using chicken pellets we used BFB only to find that our dogs think it is some kind of canine meal supplement despite watering it well in.
They also like a good rummage when horses d'ouvres might be on the menu to.

We've had to put chicken wire around the beds.

Despite having 3 means of home composting in the garden it still doesn't produce enough for our needs.

Having used up all our BFB now, we are trying Growmore, Seaweed extract and Sulphate of Potash as appropriate on various beds.

[New shoot]

It is possible to buy dried pelleted chicken manure ............

But.... now so many people have discovered it the price has rocketted. 

If only all us chicken folk could pursuade our girls to poop in a mincer   

I use pelleted chicken poo - OH thinks it's hillarious I buy this in given our own little flock of pooh machines - and compost as much as I can.  Growmore is about the best value general fertiliser I've found and I usually buy this when I see it on offer and hoard it as I do with the chicken poo.  I find BFB a bit messy to use but several fellow plot holders on my site swear by it.

All fertilisers\composts\general gardening goods like seed trays have shot up in price.  Our suppliers at work are blaming the rising costs of raw materials, processing costs (mostly fuel related) and transport costs (fuel again).  Still given the price of fruit & veg is going the same way I reckon I'm still quids in 

[TerryB]

One source of fertiliser that is freely available on a lot of sites is pigeon droppings from keepers of Homing Pigeons. They even package and deliver as they have so much trouble getting rid of it. Need to keep it for a good year but its a much underused fertiliser.

[Paul Plots]

One source of fertiliser that is freely available on a lot of sites is pigeon droppings from keepers of Homing Pigeons. They even package and deliver as they have so much trouble getting rid of it. Need to keep it for a good year but its a much underused fertiliser.

I may well be completely wrong but I think you have to take a good deal of care handling this. It might be something to do with skin contact or airborne somethingorothers...

Please check first with someone who knows what they are talking about.   

[realfood]

You should prevent skin contact and avoid breathing in any dust from any fertilizer, organic or otherwise.