[Chiswickian]

they stink and attract foxes, I'd avoid like the plague

[mumofstig]

so what would you use instead, chiswickian?

[Chiswickian]

Hi mum
I usually use as much muck as I can lay my hands on - compost etc though , as ever, there's no way I can make enough to satisfy all needs. SO FAR, our soil seems rich enough not to need much in the way of artificial fertiliser and I don't use chemicals. I make comfrey tea each year which truly stinks also but it's not a poo smell. I was a bit embarrassed last year when my plot neighbours complained of the smell on my plot as if I had done a number two on the compost heap. It really was revolting.

[mumofstig]

Ah...so you do use stinky stuff, just not chicken stinky 

[Missy1970]

When I prepared my beds about a month or so ago I did put over a sprinkling of Chicken pellets (plot not used in two + years) will this have a detrimental effect on my carrots I did not add any extra when planting but when I marked out my beds I didnt really know what was going where so prepared them all the same with a sprinkling of pellets and FBB

Hindsight wonderful thing

Thanks
Missy

[Rampant_Weasel]

when i used chicken pellets on my spuds i noticed a major increase in scab

[Yorkie]

Missy I wouldn't worry too much.  I've a feeling that it's the structure of manure / organic matter which affects the growing shape etc of parsnips and carrots.

I'm sure your crops won't be too affected by the chicken pellets.

[aelf]

I spread a load of chicken pellets around in early Jan (it's now one of my 'first jobs after Christmas') so that they are well broken down before I plant anything. Seems to work!

[Paul Plots]

I am almost sad that the use of chicken pellet / manure has become so popular... prices seem to have increased now so many others are wanting to buy it.

Anyone seen any of those BOGOF offers for the large tubs?

[Sideshoot]

I am almost sad that the use of chicken pellet / manure has become so popular... prices seem to have increased now so many others are wanting to buy it.

Anyone seen any of those BOGOF offers for the large tubs?

Tescos (coventry) are doing a bogof for a 3Kg box of westland chick pellets
Two boxes for £7

[Paul Plots]

That's not bad Sideshoot but a couple of years ago our local garden centre was selling 5kg buckets with 2kg free (7kg) for £7 and it was BOGOF! 

[viettaclark]

I like chicken pellets because they release slowly. I have chickens so the smell isn't a problem but all their poo goes in the compost.
I'm doing an experiment this year using chicken pellets for some toms and fbb for others to see the effect. In the past I've used both together in smaller quantities.
Got a 12k sack of pellets in the Range for £2 last year because it had split and was stinking the place out!

[DD.]

That's not bad Sideshoot but a couple of years ago our local garden centre was selling 5kg buckets with 2kg free (7kg) for £7 and it was BOGOF! 

Local Wyvale earlier this year £11.99 for 2 x 10 kg buckets, for Garden Club members only. If you have one nearby, it really is worth signing up.

They often have offers on meals as well that are well worth it and the quality, at our local one at least, is excellent.

But I digress!

[Paul Plots]

That's not bad Sideshoot but a couple of years ago our local garden centre was selling 5kg buckets with 2kg free (7kg) for £7 and it was BOGOF! 

Local Wyvale earlier this year £11.99 for 2 x 10 kg buckets, for Garden Club members only. If you have one nearby, it really is worth signing up.

They often have offers on meals as well that are well worth it and the quality, at our local one at least, is excellent.

But I digress!

The next free day I'm off to Wyvale!
Thanks DD. 

[bigben]

they stink and attract foxes, I'd avoid like the plague

There is some truth in this - I planted my sweetcorn a couple of weeks ago and used a bulb planter to drill holes to drop the corn in. I had started it off in loo roll tubes. Before I dropped them in and backfilled I popped a few chicken pellets into each hole to get them off to a good start. Sadly Mr Fox has been round digging for those underground chickens he can smell and messing up my sweetcorn.
It wont stop me using chicken pellets- next year I will sort the planting holes and leave them a week of two before finally putting in the corn. Hopefully this will avoid Mr Fox trashing my corn even if he does a bit of digging.