When to use Chicken waste? - Ask Extension
Hello, we recently moved to the area from living in the mountains and I am beginning to learn all about gardening. We have chickens and so I was wonde...
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When to use Chicken waste? #799577
Asked July 05, 2022, 6:55 PM EDT
Hello, we recently moved to the area from living in the mountains and I am beginning to learn all about gardening. We have chickens and so I was wondering how to use their manure as a compost/fertilizer? Do I need to wait a certain amount of time before mixing it into my garden beds? Is there any other insight I should know about using chicken manure? Thanks
Weld County Colorado
Expert Response
Thank you for your inquiry. Chicken manure can be used in the garden but certain precautions must be taken. The nitrogen in the chicken manure is dangerous to plants if the manure has not been correctly composted. Raw chicken manure fertilizer can burn, and even kill vegetable plants. Correctly composted chicken manure provides a slow-release source of macro- and micronutrients and acts as a soil amendment.
Before applying manure to the garden, it should be composted or aged. Proper composting will generate temperatures of 140 F to 160 F, which is enough to kill most human and animal pathogens, such as E. coli and Salmonella.
Here is a link to an article regarding safely using chicken manure in the garden:
https://extension.unr.edu/publication.aspx?PubID=3028
Here is another publication that covers composting chicken manure in the home garden:
https://www.extension.uidaho.edu/publishing/pdf/cis/cis1194.pdf
Please feel free to contact us if there are any further questions.
Thank You,
Traci
Before applying manure to the garden, it should be composted or aged. Proper composting will generate temperatures of 140 F to 160 F, which is enough to kill most human and animal pathogens, such as E. coli and Salmonella.
Here is a link to an article regarding safely using chicken manure in the garden:
https://extension.unr.edu/publication.aspx?PubID=3028
Here is another publication that covers composting chicken manure in the home garden:
https://www.extension.uidaho.edu/publishing/pdf/cis/cis1194.pdf
Please feel free to contact us if there are any further questions.
Thank You,
Traci
Thank you!
Jessie,
My first question is what would you like to use the chicken waste on and also has the chicken waste been cured (left to sit on the open ground to sufficiently age) Several months is recommended. Chicken waste(manure) is a very strong fertilizer. Poultry manure is particularly high in ammonia and readily burns if over applied. The ammonia content will be higher in fresh manure compared to aged manure. Laying hen's manure can raise the soil PH due to the calcium supplements in their diet. There is a potential for root and foliage burns from the high ammonia. Also there is a high potential for weed seeds. If your garden is low in organic material, you will find the nutrient release to be quite slow. But adding a lot of organic material all at once can compound the problems. This CSU extension document will help with further information Using Manure in the Home Garden http:/cmg.extension.colostate.edu > Gardennotes > 242
If you have any more questions, please contact us again.
Susan Weld County Master Gardener
