Those with their own garden believe that chicken manure can be beneficial as a compost. It’s true that manure has its own beneficial trait as a compost for plants and other leafy greens, but there are some considerations and precautions to think about. Whereas chicken manure fertilizer may have its own benefits for the plants, you shouldn’t just use it like that. There are some things to prepare before you use the manure, as well as some stuff to do when you finally use it.
About Chicken Manure
You are probably making a ‘yuck’ face when you hear that chicken manure can be used as a compost for your garden. The idea of using feces to make your plants and flowers grow well can be overwhelming. But there's sound science behind it.
You see, having chickens means that you can have fresh eggs on a daily basis. You can even have small-production eggs to sell for extra money. But then again, when you keep living creatures, you get to deal with their excrement, and chickens aren’t different. In fact, chickens can produce around a cubic foot (of manure) in 6 months. You need to do something about it because it stinks and you can’t really let too much ammonia around your chickens.
This is where the idea to turn chicken manure into fertilizer can come in handy. Of course, you can’t really use the manure just like that for your garden because it will be too strong. But you should be able to convert it to fertilizer through composting. Never use raw manure without composting it first because it will actually damage the roots and highly likely kill the plants.
Manure vs Compost
Debates and controversies have been taking place about whether manure is better than compost, and vice versa. You should know that both have their own strengths and flaws. But compost is viewed as more ideal and better for the common and regular gardener and homeowners. After all, you can always compost organic materials without having to worry about the smell or other things that are related to health. For many people, compost is considered safer and easier.
Manure is basically organic, but let’s be honest: It doesn’t smell nice at all. It’s true that once turned into a fertilizer, it can be ‘gold’ with precious and super rich contents. But then again, not everyone is ready with the process. Not to mention that you will have to deal with high temperatures to kill off the contaminants (such as E.coli or Salmonella). When you are composting, you entrust the process of natural decomposition. Although it takes time, it isn’t fussy or complicated.
Processing the Manure
In most cases, to make the process go easier and less complex, some people would use an automatic device that can turn the manure into healthy compost. They will have to spend extra, but it’s worth the spending. Instead of having to deal with the manure manually, they simply put the manure into the device, and let it work its charm.
If you are willing to make extra spending, the manure device can be a solution. But if not, you need to figure out something about your chicken manure before it gets you into trouble.