How exactly do I use chicken poop in my vegetable garden?
General United Kingdom
So, knowing that I am keen on growing vegetables a friend who recently started keeping chickens offered me all the chicken poop I could ever want :-) I have heard of people using it in their gardens but I never have myself. How exactly do I use it to best effect? Should I just throw it on the compost or can I actually spread it around the plants when the time comes? I'd like to take advantage of this regular supply if it is going to do good things for my plants. Thanks.
Posted by: Greg Coyle
(3 points)
Posted: April 3, 2013
Answers
We use it on our garden. It is semi-composted, sitting over the winter in the chicken yard.
It will burn some plants, but we just use it on the things that will benefit most from it. The high nitrogen in the manure causes leaves to be bigger - think corn stalks, collard greens, etc. You wouldn't want to use a lot on tomatoes for example, because here you want the energy to be on the fruit, not the leaves. But corn is notorious for doing well with a lot of nitrogen. We take our manure straight out of the chicken yard and put it straight in the corn patch right before planting. The corn shoots up wonderfully, then slows down when it reaches maturity and starts to make fruit.
It will burn some plants, but we just use it on the things that will benefit most from it. The high nitrogen in the manure causes leaves to be bigger - think corn stalks, collard greens, etc. You wouldn't want to use a lot on tomatoes for example, because here you want the energy to be on the fruit, not the leaves. But corn is notorious for doing well with a lot of nitrogen. We take our manure straight out of the chicken yard and put it straight in the corn patch right before planting. The corn shoots up wonderfully, then slows down when it reaches maturity and starts to make fruit.
Posted by: Lucy
(4 points)
Posted: April 4, 2013
Greg Coyle commented,
Hi Lucy, thanks for the info. I'm not sure that I could successfully grow corn here (although I would love to) but it certainly makes sense to give an extra boost to those plants. I will bear that in mind, great!
almost 8 years ago.
I would advise you compost it first. They can and most do give the chickens meds and other "things" (chemicals) that make them grow as fast as possible. Also chicken "do" is very "hot" and contains lots of nitrogen and can burn your plants. Many chicken barns in my area and I have had some experience with it personally. It sure will make the grass green though; just USE CAUTION when using the "do." If you know anything about composting you use greens and browns. This is definitely considered a green, a very high nitrogen level green.
Posted by: Deleted User
(0 points)
Posted: April 3, 2013
Wurgulf commented,
I agree with Danny composting it would be a good way to go. You could even source some really high carbon (brown) sources to utilize its high Nitrogen (green) like paper shreds or sawdust.
almost 8 years ago.
chicken tins to burn so you may want to compost it
Posted by: michael rosner
(1 point)
Posted: April 3, 2013
I have chickens and I till the manure into the garden in the fall after the garden is done or the season. yes you can compost it too as the others have stated.
Posted by: chris hedding
(1 point)
Posted: April 4, 2013
1 Comment