Dave's Garden - Gardening Community
Sponsored Links: Winter Landscaping - Gardeners Supply - Mail Order Plants - Flowering Bulbs - Landscape Design - Plant Nurseries Mail Order

Beginner Gardening Questions: Poop? Chicken, rabbit, or cow?

Ace - The helpful place

Click Here

  Welcome!  
You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!

Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.

  Login  
If you don't have an account yet, visit the registration page to sign up.

Username:

Password:

Forum: Beginner Gardening QuestionsReplies: 68, Views: 451
Print -
AuthorContent
pjmerritt
Gilmer, TX
(Zone 7b)

September 08, 2009
04:00 PM

Post #7041202

Newby here ain't quite sure which is better. The first two are free for the asking. I have 2 beds about 10'x2' mostly sand. This summer I killed most everything. I have little of the wally world (aka wallmart) cheap soil. I like to know which would be better of the poop to mix in and should I also throw some 3 year old hay in it. I hope a fall/winter garden might produce a little more so I can actually cook something for the whole family. LOL
Terry
Murfreesboro, TN
(Zone 7a)

September 08, 2009
04:10 PM

Post #7041236

Here's the NPK of many manures: http://davesgarden.com/guides/terms/go/2112.html

From personal experience, I think rabbit is milder and easier to work with than chicken manure. But if it's going to over-winter and compost before being used, that might not matter much.
pjmerritt
Gilmer, TX
(Zone 7b)

September 08, 2009
04:17 PM

Post #7041270

Kind of like to plant this week thing like mustards, colards ,cabbage, etc.. Is there hope?
Terry
Murfreesboro, TN
(Zone 7a)

September 08, 2009
04:57 PM

Post #7041403

I've worked rabbit berries into the soil in my beds and planted immediately. I don't think I'd recommend it with chicken manure...it's way too "hot" and will burn the plants.
Jim41
Delhi, LA

September 08, 2009
10:37 PM

Post #7042587

Chicken is super hot. Nitrogen levels have to be really high. Be careful with that or you'll burn stuff up even after it is composted. I've never used rabbit but I've heard it is really good. Cow manure needs to be composted to kill the grass seed that is in it. Use it with out it going through a good compost heat and you'll work your self to death trying to get rid of the grass. The seeds come straight through a cow.

l would think that you could mix the rabbit into your beds and not have any trouble, providing you don't over do it.
dp72
Woodway, TX
(Zone 8a)

September 08, 2009
10:59 PM

Post #7042715

Rabbits are vegetarian, so the risk of disease organisms is very low; chickens will eat insects and even bits of animal flesh if it's small enough. As Jim41 said, I'd work it in good before planting.
rentman
Frankfort, KY
(Zone 6a)

September 09, 2009
05:29 AM

Post #7043269

I have 2 breeding does and a daddy for them and have lots of rabbit poo for my garden.
I mix it into the soil and had only good results.
I also make tea from it and water the potted plants.
Power to Rabbit POO :-)
philsgal
Middle River, MD

September 09, 2009
01:19 PM

Post #7044500

Vote for bunny poo here too. I have two house rabbits that produce enough waste with newspaper & timothy to balance out the kitchen scraps in the compost pile quite nicely. My plants are very happy so far.
themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA
(Zone 9a)

September 09, 2009
01:26 PM

Post #7044520

Rabbit droppings are the safest of any manure to use and can be added directly into the soil at planting time. That is the least likely of all manures to burn plants or add harmful bacteria to your garden.

http://www.plantea.com/manure.htm

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1534255/rabbit_manu...
flowerjen
central, NJ
(Zone 6b)

September 10, 2009
12:34 AM

Post #7046543

My friend bred rabbits and would put their droppings directly into her house plants.
pjmerritt
Gilmer, TX
(Zone 7b)

September 10, 2009
11:01 AM

Post #7047423

Rabbit poo it is thank ya'll some much!! I let ya know how it goes..
g_whizz
hobart
Australia

October 24, 2009
12:58 AM

Post #7202726

definately cow,cows have 2 stomachs.theres never any weed seeds in it...lately lilium growers have shyed away from animal manures,and chosen organic,because of bulb rot
pastime
Waterman, IL
(Zone 5a)

October 24, 2009
10:27 AM

Post #7203281

We have a poop machine in our pasture so we use horse manure.
Jim41
Delhi, LA

October 24, 2009
10:41 PM

Post #7205357

I hate to disagree with g_whizz, but cow poop is full of grass seed. The reason you grind or crip corn or oats before you feed them to a cow is because they come straight through her. Grass seed do the same thing. Take it from an old cattle man.
g_whizz
hobart
Australia

October 25, 2009
05:26 AM

Post #7205989

thanks for that jim,you learn something new every dayand if you dont,try to learn 2 things the next day..i was only going from info old folk had told me,regarding manure.maybe they might have been talking manure.
themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA
(Zone 9a)

October 25, 2009
09:46 AM

Post #7206294

It is because of the grass seed that you have to let cow and horse manure "cook" or age for a time...the heat generated from the breakdown of the manure kills the grass seed. On the other hand, Bunnies seem to poop pure, gentle fertilizer...lol
Lynnie6868

(Zone 5b)

October 25, 2009
05:48 PM

Post #7207577

well this is reassuring, since I just found bunny poop in my back yard today...I believe they have made a little winter home out there.
themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA
(Zone 9a)

October 25, 2009
05:53 PM

Post #7207593

Now if ya can just get them to poop where ya want the new bed to be...grin
Lynnie6868

(Zone 5b)

October 25, 2009
06:41 PM

Post #7207728

right, I need to train 'em...*grin*
Jim41
Delhi, LA

October 25, 2009
09:30 PM

Post #7208376

I've got a picture of Lynnie potty training bunnings in my mind. Good jobbbb, girl.
Lynnie6868

(Zone 5b)

October 25, 2009
09:33 PM

Post #7208391

hahaha if I can train the kids, I could train bunnies...kids were stubborn!
Jim41
Delhi, LA

October 25, 2009
09:37 PM

Post #7208400

Mamma set I was hard to train. The other kids wet the bed, I always crawled up on the pillow.
Lynnie6868

(Zone 5b)

October 25, 2009
09:40 PM

Post #7208413

I bet you were a stubborn one! Jim check out my new tree...yeah, I'll have to do some pruning on it...

Thumbnail by Lynnie6868
Click the image for an enlarged view.

SunnyBorders
Aurora, ON
(Zone 5a)

October 25, 2009
10:18 PM

Post #7208542

Had purchased and used packaged composted cow and sheep manure for a number of years. Have not seen grass growing from either, but have got to recognize the particular weeds that we get from them. They include wild mustard. As indicated above, the heat from a well built compost heap is supposed to kill weed seeds.

The only commercially weed-free compost I've purchased here is marine compost. Believe mushroom compost, from growers, is weed free too. Don't know about chicken manure, but our lawn got red thread after a chicken feather application.

Suspect rabbit dropping might be pretty disease free since was taught that a rabbit adaptation to digesting tough plant material is to eating their own feces.
pastime
Waterman, IL
(Zone 5a)

October 26, 2009
08:04 AM

Post #7209297

Our neighbor must have had 100 show rabbits in his barn. He'd put their manure on his garden every year. He grew the best tomatoes I ever tasted.
pirl
Southold, NY
(Zone 7a)

October 26, 2009
08:12 AM

Post #7209316

Interesting read with my morning coffee and far superior to reading about slugs.
themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA
(Zone 9a)

October 26, 2009
08:23 AM

Post #7209348

LOL Pirl...Neither one go really well with breakfast...but, wonder what form of 'organic' fertilizer and slug control the winner of the Daylily auction will use on her $1075 plants...grin
pirl
Southold, NY
(Zone 7a)

October 26, 2009
08:43 AM

Post #7209401

IF I were crazed enough to want to spend $1,075. on one item it would be fertilizer and not one plant.

I enjoy the talk of manure but not slugs.
themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA
(Zone 9a)

October 26, 2009
09:05 AM

Post #7209462

I hear ya. At least the former is beneficial and helps build up a garden, while the latter brings it down.
Jim41
Delhi, LA

October 26, 2009
01:12 PM

Post #7210257

I really like this manure thread. Had a lot of experience with it. Full of it myself to hear some folks talk.

Love the tree Lynnie.

Where you been hiding Pirl. We birthday folks got to stay in touch.
pirl
Southold, NY
(Zone 7a)

October 26, 2009
02:02 PM

Post #7210416

Ha!

Up on the rocky coast of Maine to rest before finishing autumn jobs that should have been done in summer, Jim. Loved the pumpkin decorating in Damriscotta!

Thumbnail by pirl
Click the image for an enlarged view.

daisylovn
Wilmer, AL
(Zone 8b)

October 26, 2009
02:31 PM

Post #7210527

Gotta love a place where people so openly discuss POO!! : )
pastime
Waterman, IL
(Zone 5a)

October 28, 2009
09:42 AM

Post #7216417

This is a "poopular" thread.
1lisac
Liberty Hill, TX
(Zone 8a)

November 02, 2009
11:38 AM

Post #7233429

I think this thread should be a sticky called "the scoop on poop".

This message was edited Nov 2, 2009 9:39 AM
themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA
(Zone 9a)

November 02, 2009
11:45 AM

Post #7233450

Daisy, perhaps that is because only gardeners realize the true benefits and advantages of manure...or that so many of us are full of it...grin
pirl
Southold, NY
(Zone 7a)

November 02, 2009
12:23 PM

Post #7233597

I love this thread!
cathy4
St. Louis County, MO
(Zone 5a)

November 02, 2009
02:56 PM

Post #7234175

I'm posting my bi-annual request on Craiglist for bunny poop, I get fun answers, but I also find bunny poop for free. It is amazing how many people have bunnies. I put it in the gardens with the chopped leaves in the fall, in the early spring I top off the veggie garden with it. Great stuff bunny poop.
Jim41
Delhi, LA

November 02, 2009
09:40 PM

Post #7235575

An original song for cathy 4. Poopy in the morning, poopy in the evening, poopy at supper time. You can find bunny poopy, just about any time.
cathy4
St. Louis County, MO
(Zone 5a)

November 02, 2009
10:02 PM

Post #7235647

haha, thanks Jim.
1lisac
Liberty Hill, TX
(Zone 8a)

November 02, 2009
10:30 PM

Post #7235755

I knew I had all these dang animals for a reason.
pirl
Southold, NY
(Zone 7a)

November 02, 2009
11:11 PM

Post #7235880

Love your sense of poopy humor, Jim!
Jim41
Delhi, LA

November 03, 2009
10:59 PM

Post #7239366

Thanks pirl, you're a sweetheart.
pirl
Southold, NY
(Zone 7a)

November 04, 2009
07:45 AM

Post #7239917

How sweet, Jim!

A neighbor has chickens so I'm curious: how long does the chicken poop have to age and should I mix it with anything? Do I keep it in a closed bag, back by the compost piles, or what are the rules about it?
rentman
Frankfort, KY
(Zone 6a)

November 04, 2009
09:31 AM

Post #7240094

"Give chicken manure time to age by spreading fresh poultry manure over your soil and turning the dirt at the end of the growing season to allow it time to decompose over the winter.

You can also try making "tea". Chicken manure fertilizer tea; sounds delicious, eh? To make fertilizer tea, scoop the chicken manure into a burlap bag. Then, throw a rock into the bag to weigh it down and place the whole thing into a 35-gallon garbage can. Fill the garbage can with water and let it sit for about three weeks. Once the three weeks are over, you will have nutrient-rich chicken manure fertilizer tea as the water becomes infused with the nutrients from the chicken manure. You can use this fertilizer tea to water your plants to give them a vitamin boost.
Your plants will love you for it. Here's to bigger tomatoes! "
...
So I would think if you just put in the garden this fall it will be ready to go in the spring.
The 'tea' can be used right away...as can Compost Tea.
My Dad, when I was a kid, I am 71 now, used to just , thinly spread it along the rows of the garden, but we had no internet back then.
pirl
Southold, NY
(Zone 7a)

November 04, 2009
09:37 AM

Post #7240108

Thanks, rentman. I could mix some of our compost with it and get more power to the bucket of tea. Great.
themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA
(Zone 9a)

November 04, 2009
10:28 AM

Post #7240265

This thread has all the markings of SLUGS and BASIL...grin. Those were fun, informative threads also. Jim is quite the songster, Pirl, and he plays the guitar...understand he is working on a new song..."Poo for Two"...pickin' on ya Jim, grin.
rentman
Frankfort, KY
(Zone 6a)

November 04, 2009
11:52 AM

Post #7240530

Now on 'House plants' POO Tea is a little (lot) smelly ... but the compost tea, (well it doesn't smell like strawberries), but it's not so bad. :-)

Yes if we could get audio uploads This would Be a POOO ... POOO site.
You know , Jokes have been deleted, in the Joke form for a lot less that this...
themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA
(Zone 9a)

November 04, 2009
12:20 PM

Post #7240639

You are so right, Rentman. I guess it just depends on how you are using Poo...grin
cathy4
St. Louis County, MO
(Zone 5a)

November 04, 2009
12:23 PM

Post #7240651

aww, over in composting, it is way worse than this. Talking about manure always seems to head in silly directions.
themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA
(Zone 9a)

November 04, 2009
12:31 PM

Post #7240672

Those folks on composting are old hands at "Poo talk". this is Beginners POO 101, singing about it optional...grin
pirl
Southold, NY
(Zone 7a)

November 04, 2009
12:41 PM

Post #7240711

Can we write a poo song? How about "Amazing Waste"?

Sorry if that offends anyone. It's meant with all good intentions.
cathy4
St. Louis County, MO
(Zone 5a)

November 04, 2009
12:52 PM

Post #7240759

I'm laughing out loud at that Pirl, I may never be able to keep a straight face in church again.

Amazing waste, how sweet the smell..
themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA
(Zone 9a)

November 04, 2009
12:58 PM

Post #7240778

...can save a gardener like me...
I once was lost but now I've found
poo will even save my tree...

Again, no offense intended
rentman
Frankfort, KY
(Zone 6a)

November 04, 2009
01:00 PM

Post #7240787

Amazing Waste how Sweet the smell, that comes from a wretch like MEEEE...
I once was sweet but now I smell...

I went to church...when I was a little boy.
Need to get out my guitar. Now where is that pick ?

Come on we need more verses...

I just picked up a bale of hay to feed my rabbits...MORE POO is a coming :-)

Thumbnail by rentman
Click the image for an enlarged view.

rentman
Frankfort, KY
(Zone 6a)

November 04, 2009
01:01 PM

Post #7240790

Way to go Moon
cathy4
St. Louis County, MO
(Zone 5a)

November 04, 2009
01:07 PM

Post #7240803

Rent, do you raise your rabbits for food or are they pets? I'd like to learn more about raising them, could I keep them in the greenhouse that stays warm in the winter?
themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA
(Zone 9a)

November 04, 2009
01:12 PM

Post #7240820

I smelled that poo a'coming'
coming round the bin,
It ain't seen the sunshine
since I piled it all in...

Hit it Rentman...lol
rentman
Frankfort, KY
(Zone 6a)

November 04, 2009
01:25 PM

Post #7240869

I grow tomatoes to Eat.
I raise rabbits to Eat...Yummm taste like chicken. :-)
I have two does and one buck, Adam.
They are NZW, a large breed, they have 5 to 7 babies 31 days after their date with Adam...
Last winter I did have them in my GH, but only because their water bottles (the metal tips) would freeze.
They can handle the winter out side with little trouble.
I will not put them back in the GH this winter...but will have to check their water at 3 AM, Oh what fun.
From the 3 adults and their babies I get more poo than I need. I am now drying it, packing it into Plastic bags for use in the spring and to give to a friend down the road.
They are live stock and need care each and every day, so I will have a 'Time Share Teen Ager' take care of them when we go on a Panama Canal Cruise Dec 10.
There is a lot of info on the web about raising them and , I find they are not much trouble for what they return.

PS Rabbits are quiet, not like chickens, cows. I live within the city and check the laws and the only thing I can't do is put the waist from butchering the into the garbage ????? No problem I dig a hole and into the ground they go. I remember my Dad burring fish 'garbage' that way.

This message was edited Nov 4, 2009 12:37 PM
The first rabbits I butchered, my daughter asked for a rabbits foot, she wanted to dry them and make key rings, I gave her 12 and now every one has a Lucky Rabbits Foot.

This message was edited Nov 4, 2009 12:42 PM

This message was edited Nov 4, 2009 12:42 PM
rentman
Frankfort, KY
(Zone 6a)

November 04, 2009
01:26 PM

Post #7240873

What happen to pjmerritt ??? he started the 'mess'
Jim41
Delhi, LA

November 04, 2009
06:35 PM

Post #7241858

Pirl, I'd mix the chicken poop with the compost. Chicken poop is hot. Dad always kept chickens. Had his roost built where he could rake them out with a hoe into 5 gal. buckets. One spring when we were planting Irish potatoes, he decided that would be a good place to use the poop. Took a turning plow and opened the rows real deep. He then put about 2 inchs of poop in, raked dirt over it and planted the taters. Course the poop went through a heat and warmed the ground up and in a few days the taters were up and going. Got about six inchs tall and the roots got down to the pure stuff, the next day all 10 rows of potatoes were dead.

Don't mind if you pick at me Moon, know you got a thing for "Jims."

Sure hope they don't sing "Amazing Grace" before I preach Sunday.
pirl
Southold, NY
(Zone 7a)

November 04, 2009
07:02 PM

Post #7241941

They'll wonder why you have such a big grin on your face, Jim!
themoonhowl
Prairieville, LA
(Zone 9a)

November 04, 2009
07:07 PM

Post #7241959

You are so right, I do like my Jims...grin I hope they don't either...I can just see you having to excuse yourself to the congregation...like to hear your explanation though...lol


Rentman, I think pjmerrit wanted an answer and when he got that answer he went off to shovel a little poo. Either that or he was so impressed by the wealth of information, he became a subscriber and joined the Compost Forum...but I could be mistaken...grin
Lynnie6868

(Zone 5b)

November 04, 2009
08:43 PM

Post #7242318

Jim this reminds me of a funny story at work...I have to get the kids to bed but I'll be back to tell you...
Jim41
Delhi, LA

November 05, 2009
08:39 PM

Post #7245808

On pins and needles, Lynnie. You should have seen me the time I was marrying a young couple and asked the man, "Will you have this woman to be your lawfully bedded wife." Hard to over come that.
pirl
Southold, NY
(Zone 7a)

November 05, 2009
09:14 PM

Post #7245927

For a preacher you have a wee touch of the devil!
cathy4
St. Louis County, MO
(Zone 5a)

November 05, 2009
09:41 PM

Post #7246018

I'm guessing his answer was YES! I love fun weddings.
Jim41
Delhi, LA

November 06, 2009
01:17 AM

Post #7246587

I said, "I think I said that wrong." He said, "I kinda like it." Even the bride had a smile on her face. Did I mention the wedding was in a barn.
Lynnie6868

(Zone 5b)

November 06, 2009
06:23 AM

Post #7246763

were the hay bales full of funny tomatoes?
Jim41
Delhi, LA

November 06, 2009
05:01 PM

Post #7248201

The only fruit I saw was "road apples."

You cannot post until you register, login and subscribe.

Other Beginner Gardening Questions Threads you might be interested in:

SubjectThread StarterRepliesLast Post
zone 9 berry/fruit bushes, any ideas? Assorted 24 Aug 15, 2009 8:16 PM
first raised veg garden- top soil question sdant00 2 Aug 25, 2009 7:16 PM
Just Beginning NoGreenThumbnTN 44 Aug 28, 2009 8:48 PM
composting KarenNEIA 32 May 16, 2008 9:18 PM
shredded cotton fabric in compost bin? dryer lint in compost sharonlacreta 10 Jul 27, 2009 9:21 PM


We recommend Firefox
Overwhelmed? There's a lot to see here. Try starting at our homepage.

[ Home | About | Advertise | Mission | Acceptable Use Policy | Tour | Privacy Policy | Contact Us ]

Back to the top

Copyright © 2000-2009 Dave's Garden. All Rights Reserved.
 

NameMedia Home and Gardens
Share on FacebookShare on Stumbleupon

Hope for America