I have to clean out my chicken coops soon. I've used a deep litter system since last July. My question is: I think that the bottom half of the litter will already be composted from the heat of the layers above it, can I mix all of this together and layer it on the garden now? I won't be able to till for at least another month. The manure is mixed with shavings, with a little hay. My thought is that if I layer it now the rain will wash some of it down through the soil and I'll till in the rest.

Your thoughts?

Stacy Rohan in Windsor, NY

-- Stacy Rohan (KincoraFarm@aol.com), April 04, 2001

Answers

Careful it is real easy to put too much on when using chicken manure. You can easly burn your plants with the high nitgren content. It would probably be best to compost the manure and bedding with other plant matter and then use it.

-- David (bluewaterfarm@mindspring.com), April 04, 2001.

We have done what you are suggesting Stacy and had it work o.k. for seed crops like beans, corn etc. More sensitive stuff like peppers seemed by stressed by it.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), April 04, 2001.

This exact same question has been asked before - check the archives.

-- David C (fleece@eritter.net), April 05, 2001.

Thank you all for your input. I think I'll pile compost it a while first.

Stacy Rohan in Windsor, NY

-- Stacy Rohan (KincoraFarm@aol.com), April 06, 2001.

Stacy- I use the deep litter system in my chicken tractor. I let the litter pile up till it is about 6-8" deep, then move the tractor. I can plant right in the litter as long as I add some potting soil around the root zone of the transplants. I have some killer tomatoes growing right now in one of the beds I had the tractor on.

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), April 06, 2001.

Stacey, I would suggest that in the areas of your garden that you are going to plant seeds it would be alright to till in a little bit of chicken litter. But for transplants like tomatoes, peppers, squash, etc., try making tea. Take a toe sack, or like, and put in about a gallon of chicken manure and place it in a 30 gallon trash canister and fill with water. Let stand for a couple of days and use approx. a cup full per plant when transplanting.

-- russell (rhays@sstelco.com), April 07, 2001.