[mickwood]

Yesterday I broke the back of the allotment clearing, filled a skip with the rubbish from it and sprayed the weeds on the 'jungle half'. Whilst clearing I removed a bin which as far as I can assume was used by all the allotment holders with pigeons to dump all their dodo...literally!

I don't know how old the stuff is but seeing as I've removed the corrugated iron that was containing it all I am now left with a HUGE pile of it! Any ideas what to do with it?? Am I right in thinking that it needs to rot for a year or two before I can dig it in to the soil to improve it? If so, I am making a 3 sided pallet compost bin and already have a 'darlek' bin which has been filling over the past year. Should I mix the contents of the darlek and the pigeon manure all together into the new compost bin...or should I just dig it into the new beds I'm creating and plant straight away??

ta xxx

[blackbob]

Yesterday I broke the back of the allotment clearing, filled a skip with the rubbish from it and sprayed the weeds on the 'jungle half'. Whilst clearing I removed a bin which as far as I can assume was used by all the allotment holders with pigeons to dump all their dodo...literally!

I don't know how old the stuff is but seeing as I've removed the corrugated iron that was containing it all I am now left with a HUGE pile of it! Any ideas what to do with it?? Am I right in thinking that it needs to rot for a year or two before I can dig it in to the soil to improve it? If so, I am making a 3 sided pallet compost bin and already have a 'darlek' bin which has been filling over the past year. Should I mix the contents of the darlek and the pigeon manure all together into the new compost bin...or should I just dig it into the new beds I'm creating and plant straight away??

ta xxx

personnaly i wouldn't touch it, if you do need to move it make sure you wear a respiratory face mask.

[mickwood]

Is it no good as a fertiliser?? Some of the lads on the allotment say it's a great fertiliser??? ooh eck...I'm confuddled now....  :blink:

[blackbob]

Is it no good as a fertiliser?? Some of the lads on the allotment say it's a great fertiliser??? ooh eck...I'm confuddled now....  :blink:

if i remember back to my college days (long time ago).it is low in fixable nitrogen but high in ammonia.
the main problem with pigeon muck, being its tendancy to contain fungal spores that can be harmfull to the lungs in humans.
all the pigeon men near me now wear face masks when entering their lofts.

[Riala]

Yep, extremely high in amonia.  That is why some cities cover their old building fronts, because pigeon poop is corrosive over time.

Jeez, I remember entering Dad's loft on cleaning day, and as soon as you disturb the poop it really makes your eyes water!!   

[blackbob]

here is a bit more info http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/histoplasmosis_gi.html#1

[mickwood]

Oh good god...there's LOADS of it....what should I do!?!? 

[blackbob]

Oh good god...there's LOADS of it....what should I do!?!? 

bury it out the way

[8doubles]

Yes, bury it where you will put your runner beans next ( or even this) year  when it has rotted.
It is good stuff for growing but 'hot' when fresh.

[mickwood]

Hmm...ok.....

I still have a skip for the rest today so, what would be best.

A) Scoop it all up and bin it in the skip - a dirty smelly job but one I'll do in order to get my lotty sorted!
B) I have about...5 or 6 barrows full of the stuff. I'm gonna be digging an area approx 3m x 5m and rotovatoring it. I could dig it in and then whack a rotovator over the top?

Just read in John's book, layering 1cm of muck to 15cm of green material in a compost heap....got too much of it...think I may just skip it? 

[blackbob]

Hmm...ok.....

I still have a skip for the rest today so, what would be best.

A) Scoop it all up and bin it in the skip - a dirty smelly job but one I'll do in order to get my lotty sorted!
B) I have about...5 or 6 barrows full of the stuff. I'm gonna be digging an area approx 3m x 5m and rotovatoring it. I could dig it in and then whack a rotovator over the top?

Just read in John's book, layering 1cm of muck to 15cm of green material in a compost heap....got too much of it...think I may just skip it? 

i would skip it,end of problem.

[Trillium]

I have racing pigeons and at times they're my primary source of manure. Yes, it is safe to use now as yours is obviously old enough to directly add to the soil and mix in. You're safe because obviously the muck is from kept birds which are relatively disease free, unlike the wild pigeons which usually aren't and their manure is a bit iffy. Pigeon owners will treat their birds just as chicken owners will but like handling any dry manure, a mask is a good idea. Pigeon poo is somewhat acidic so add a bit of lime to the soil to counteract this to a more neutral level.

[mickwood]

Thanks guys, it's been skipped! 

[blackbob]

Thanks guys, it's been skipped! 

you can sleep tonight now lol.

[MOLUSC]

i was talking to a guy on our allotment only yesterday, he only uses his own chicken and pigeon muck directly from his own coops and lofts. (fresh as well)
Nothing else.
He has cauliflower that are almost ready to harvest .....right now!
He knows his birds are well looked after though,so no risk is being taken.
I wouldnt have risked it , not knowing the history or origin of the  stuff.