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GULFPORT,MISSISSIPPI

What is a good source to get manure from? Also, should i do my soil test before i add manure to the patch area? Thanks, i'm just trying to do my homework for next year's patch.

11/7/2001 12:09:10 AM

Puyallup, WA

The nearest chicken farm! I pay $14 a heaping pick-up load.
Yes, test your soil first and then again in the spring just before plowing. Then you can evaluate the effect of your fall fertilizer program.

11/7/2001 1:26:42 AM

canal winchester ohio

I got mine at a dairy farm
Pickup truck- $22,000
gas to get there-$5
cost of manure-$3
Look on neighbors face when they smelled it- PRICELESS

11/7/2001 4:43:46 AM

Commack, NY

chicken manure is nasty nasty stuff!! you can use it,but hold your breath. cow and horse manure are good also, as is manure from any herbivore. i know Rock has used Emu manure in the past,so you can get creative. get a soil test first, and take the time to get your ph right, then pile it on!

scott

11/7/2001 8:11:14 AM

Tipp City, Ohio

Chicken Manure is fine just be careful of the dust that it occasionally generates. Tom

11/7/2001 9:40:28 AM

Chester Co., PA

I have read that cow manure from dairy farms is good, but manure from feed lots is bad. It contains large amounts of salt. Those cows are fed everything possible to increase their weight.

11/7/2001 10:20:19 AM

Commack, NY

what's to be careful of about chicken manure dust? not that i want to inhale it or anything, i'm just curious

scott

11/7/2001 10:26:31 AM

southern MN

There is an article in the "How to" section on manure. A soil test prior to adding manure will tell you how much manure you would need for P and K. Nitrogen is very mobile so anything there this fall would be gone by spring, unless you live in an area where the soil temp drops below 45 degrees at which point the biological reduction of N is slowed.

11/7/2001 4:00:14 PM

southern MN

Oh, I forgot to explain the dangers of chicken manure dust. Chicken manure first off is very high in Uric acid and other ureides that in itself is not real dangerous to humans but if you put "fresh" chicken manure in your soil and plant seeds right after it could inhibit the germination of the seed. It would also burn any leaf surface it comes in contact with.

The danger to humans is that most "fresh" chicken manure is about 70% moisture whereas other manures are about 90% therefore it is more capable of becoming airborne. The bacterial and fungal spores then have a better chance of entering your lungs (especially if you are in a confined space). This leads to a conditions which is generally classified as farmers lung but since we would know where the spores were from, then it would be classified as "hen workers lung" or "feather pickers lung".

The other possiblity is toxic organic dust syndrome (TODS)which is similar to farmers lung but results in a different reaction in the lungs.

I am not a doctor but just my $.02

11/7/2001 5:03:36 PM

Stratham NH

Believe cow manure preferable to horse manure as horses do not digest as cows do and frequently weed seeds are left to germinate from horse manure. Speak from personal experience,the weeds were terrible.

11/7/2001 5:14:46 PM

Rexburg, Idaho

Horse manure is a little more user friendly, but I put on cow manure (dairy) because it is easy to get access to for free.

11/7/2001 8:54:46 PM

walton n.y.

there is a post in the arcives i think it's from len s. nutritional values of manures fresh poultry manure will take your breath away but if put on in the fall is fine for spring planting horse manure usually has more bedding in it hay/straw or sawdust than cow manure that can effect soil ph but if the manure is well rotted it's closer to compost

11/7/2001 10:02:11 PM

GULFPORT,MISSISSIPPI

Thank you all for your response. I'll see if i can locate a dairy farmer through the local co-op. Hoping this site prep work pays-off for me next year.

11/7/2001 10:48:57 PM

Puyallup, WA

One year, Joel Holland put cow manure on one of his planting sites and chicken manure on the other to see if there would be a difference. The difference was negligeable.
As for weeds, the chicken manure has the least weeds.

11/8/2001 12:54:56 AM

Tipp City, Ohio

My wife would be upset if I paid $22,000 for a pick up just to haul $3.00 worth of manure. We use our bantams which compost most of our kitchen scraps, and recieve eggs from them for providing the tasty snacks for them.

Do the feathers help the soil in any way? Tom

11/8/2001 8:20:13 PM

Puyallup, WA

Feathers are at least 5% of chicken manure! It all breaks down. Pumpkins love 'em! :>)

11/9/2001 12:53:12 AM