Chicken poo and compost!

Tartannik · #1 (**permalink**) 19-03-2009, 03:58 PM

I am sure I read recently that if you gather chicken poo and mix it with water you can use it as fertiliser. IS that all you need to do to it or do you need to leave it a bit longer?
Also, I have a compost bin which i add greens, vegetable peelings, egg shells, coffee grinds, tea bags and cardboard. Would i be able to add the straw, paper and pooh when i clean out the chicken hutch????
Thank you in anticipation!
Nik

Lance Morgan · #2 (**permalink**) 19-03-2009, 05:01 PM

Bird tish is avery good fertiliser (guano). If i were you i would mis it and let it rot down with the other stuff before i use it. Much nicer to work with.

coasty · #3 (**permalink**) 19-03-2009, 05:44 PM

Fresh chiken s,,t is extremely strong stuff it needs to be left for a year or two to calm down

to be suitable to put near plants. It does make a brilliant activator for a compost heap but go steady with it its like napalm...

Lance Morgan · #4 (**permalink**) 19-03-2009, 06:49 PM

Yes it is very high in Nitrogen it will burn if you use it neat

It stinks too

Paul mabbott · #5 (**permalink**) 19-03-2009, 08:29 PM

Birds exrete waste nitrogen as uric acid rather than urea as mammals do. As the name suggests, it is acidic (

) and will damage plants. It is also much stronger (i.e. more nitrogen per unit weight) than urea and is likely to cause overgrowth of green vegetable parts. As everyone else has said, best mix it into your compost heap.

Lance Morgan · #6 (**permalink**) 20-03-2009, 04:35 PM

yea - what paul said very acidic so add to compost before using

nightshade · #7 (**permalink**) 20-03-2009, 06:45 PM

Well weathered chicken poo is wonderful for growing tomatoes.

Paul mabbott · #8 (**permalink**) 20-03-2009, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightshade

Well weathered chicken poo is wonderful for growing tomatoes.

I think we need to be clearer about what we mean by 'weathered'. All animal faeces/urine is useful and most of it is better (more easily useable by the plant) if the nitrogenous constituents (especially uric acid, see below) are allowed to degrade into nitrates and the like. Just leave bacteria and fungi to do this but keep them moist and covered: don't leave it in a heap exposed to rain: the most useful compounds will dissolve in the water and run off to waste!

nightshade · #9 (**permalink**) 21-03-2009, 11:14 AM

Thank you Paul, you are right of course

Tartannik · #10 (**permalink**) 21-03-2009, 12:30 PM

Thank you everyone for your replies, so basically, stick it in my compost bin with all my vege trimmings and coffee grinds and tea bags and let it get on with it and use the manure from my ponies that has been sitting for months instead?
Can I put the paper and hay from the hen house in the compost bin too?
One more question, do we have a list anywhere of things to go in compost bins and things not to use????
Nik