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hank

By Hank

Cheshire, United Kingdom Gb

I asked on Freecycle if anyone had well rotted compost to spare, anda guy came up with 2 dustbins of chicken poo ( he called it ), which I picked up sharpish. He told me he'd collected it in the last 6 months.
Do I need to store it for a while or can I spread it around ? Possibly on my rhubarb, for example.




Answers

 

If it really has been rotting for six months should be okay... don't put on the rhubarb crown until all the foliage has died back and, possibly, mix in some soil. If it is fairly fresh you'll need to leave to rot down somewhere as it can be too strong.

8 Sep, 2016

 

Chicken manure is high in nitrogen and it used now will cause soft leafy growth which will be damaged by the winter frosts. Better to wait until spring and use as a top dressing. Can also be used in the compost heap as an accelerator.

9 Sep, 2016

 

Thanks guys, I'll do as you say. The donor told me how wonderful it was for his sunflowers but that's not my style at all.

9 Sep, 2016

 

Forgot to say ( and ask ! ) I will put some in my compost bin but should I leave the rest in the bins or put it out in a pile in the garden ? And if the latter - should I cover it with a tarp or similar or leave it open to the elements ? I have a place where I store that sort of stuff.

9 Sep, 2016

 

Sprinkle some on the layers of compost but keep the rest in a dry place until you need it in the spring as if it get wet the nutrients will get washed away.

9 Sep, 2016

 

Not to mention the smell!

9 Sep, 2016

 

It doesn't smell at all - or maybe I've lost my sense of smell. Maybe that's it. It's in my garage just now and my son - who has a good sense of smell - can't smell it either.

9 Sep, 2016

 

Hmm, probably not pure chicken manure, but liberally mixed with things like sawdust, ground tree trimmings, or leaves, before it was composted.

10 Sep, 2016

 

Thanks Tug, doesn't sound too good then. Apparently no leaves or tree trimmings but certainly some straw. ( I had a good root through yesterday ) ). But it'll go on the garden anyway eventually and must be better than nothing.

10 Sep, 2016

 

It should be good compost, anyway, but not as much fertilizer value as you might think. It probably won't make much difference though, as long as you aren't expecting it to act as lawn food, or some other heavy feed.

10 Sep, 2016

 

Just for my veg, thornless blackberry bush and rhubarb Tug, thanks.

10 Sep, 2016

How do I say thanks?

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