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Barnyard Buddies:  Manure...to mix or not to mix?  |
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cajungal
True Blue Farmgirl
2349 Posts
Catherine Farmgirl Sister #76
Houston Area
Texas
2349 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 13 2011 : 8:54:19 PM
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Do you put different manures (goat,rabbit,chicken,horse,etc...) into one compost pile or do you let each breed's manure compost on its own?
I used to just throw them all into one and then read somewhere about composting them separately to avoid certain bacterias and other cooties.
I now add the rabbit droppings straight into the garden....I read that they're not too "hot" like chicken manure may be. I also leave some of the rabbit droppings under the cages to grow my bait worms. Plus, the worms break it all down even more.
One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt." |
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natesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1735 Posts
angela
martinsville
indiana
USA
1735 Posts |
Posted - Jan 13 2011 : 10:43:21 PM
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I use rabbit droppins straight on the garden as well. I get mixed manure from a local rescue and it works well for me. It has cow, horse, goat, pig, chicken, rabbit, and alpaca! My garden goes nuts for it. I don't truly compost it though. I simply age it over winter. I build a huge pile of, it a few trips a week all spring and summer, then when I finish off the garden in the fall I spread it out on top. It freezes and thaws all winter long and then gets tilled under in the spring for plantin. It has worked nicely for me so far.
Farmgirl Sister #1438
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
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amomfly
True Blue Farmgirl
658 Posts
Angie
LaGrange
IN
USA
658 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2011 : 03:43:40 AM
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I agree with what Angela said. I truly do not compost mine. I age it over the winter. I use all types of manure,horse,goat,llama,pig and some chciken. I do not use any manure that is "fresh". Meaning I age it like 60-90 days before moving it in the spring. Most of my manure is all broke down into a rich black dirt by the end of winter. I move it to my garden and till as early as possible. Then I till again before planting. I do not add manure thru out the summer. I only do it in the spring. I start my pile all over again from spring to spring.
As for bacteria and cooties. I understand it that if you age it, and mix in green and food products you are good. I do throw food stuff [eggs shells, coffee grounds etc] into the garden from fall clean up to spring and then from sping to fall clean up it goes on to the manure pile. I also thorw ash inot my garden when it is not thrown into the chicken coop.
I do know "fresh manure" can burn your garden if you are not careful.
Well good luck!
Happy gardening!
God Bless
Angie-amomfly
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2011 : 05:40:49 AM
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I have this one place under some cedar trees where there is no grass and the goats seem to poop more than anywhere else. Or maybe it's that I cabn see it there. Anyway, the chickens scratch around and then the goats walk on it. And then with the needles of the cedar that is the richest blackest softest soil ever. I'll go out every month and shovel as much as I can and put it on the gardens. So I let my chickens do most of the work. I also have a cold frame that I have been throwing manure and scraps in. The chickens get in there and scratch around and make the best soil. I also have a compost ben that they do the same thing in. Chickens are great for that. I could not do what they do for sure. Also out in the barns. Good stuff out there.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2011 : 06:42:02 AM
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hi there farmgirls, i wish i had rabbit poop. it is such a great fertilizer. when i can i try to keep the goat seperate. mainly since it has no weeds like rabbit. i keep my chicken that comes from inside my coop seperate. since it has no weed seed in it i use it in the gardens that are hard to weed. all else goes in giant heaps. papa turns it often when its not to frozen. he just turned it the other day with the tractor. it was so hot steamy looked like it was on fire. we build poop heaps with the dropped alfalfa and hay in it and a little added dirt. when they sit to compost we make the top flat. then any moisture we get drains into heap not off of heap. in dry seasons we water it even in winter. we are desert like. i try to leave heaps for 1 yr. or longer. this breaks down the seeds and bad bacterias with heat from composting. i like your poop with the cedar needle in it.. i bet that would be some good stuff. the reason for heating a pile is to kill the cooties. if it does not get hot they are not dead. even when spread on garden it is still breaking down the e-coli salmonella etc. the concern would be water splashing the soil onto the plant. hence e-coli on plant. i use straw in my garden to moderate soil temp and also to avoid splashing of water onto plants. this way if my compost is not done yet i have a buffer between my plant and siol. just a thought or two. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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cajungal
True Blue Farmgirl
2349 Posts
Catherine Farmgirl Sister #76
Houston Area
Texas
2349 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2011 : 09:47:00 AM
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my husband is laughing and saying, "Only farmgirls would talk about manure with such interest and enthusiasm"
ha ha
One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt." |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
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Barnyard Buddies: Manure...to mix or not to mix? |
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Manure...to mix or not to mix?
