There’s a timeless secret to growing lush and vibrant gardens: using manure. While you might not raise your own livestock, you can still reap the fertility benefits right in your backyard. At Ace Hardware, we offer a variety of animal manure options, including cow and chicken manure, all conveniently packaged for easy application. This organic fertilizer is nature’s way of nurturing your garden without harmful chemicals.
Chicken poop is one of the best natural fertilizers for farms and gardens. It is full of nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that plants need to grow a healthy life. Finding a good source of chicken manure in your area will give your soil a great nutritional boost. It will tell you everything you need to know about getting chicken manure close to home.
Why Use Chicken Manure as Fertilizer?
Chicken manure makes an outstanding fertilizer for several key reasons
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Full of nutrients: Chicken manure has a lot of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, all of which plants need. Dried chicken manure usually has levels of 3% to 4% nitrogen, 3% to 3% phosphorus, and 2% to 2% potassium. This balance helps plants grow lush, green leaves and lots of fruits and vegetables.
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Safe to use when composted, fresh chicken manure can hurt plants because it has a lot of ammonia in it. But chicken manure that has been properly composted is safe to use. This is because the composting process breaks down the ammonia to a level that is safe for plants.
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Improves soil: In addition to adding nutrients, chicken manure boosts the overall health of soil. As it breaks down, the organic matter helps improve soil structure, aeration and moisture retention.
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Sustainable fertilizer source: Using chicken manure puts waste to good use. Instead of becoming pollution, chicken manure gets recycled into an organic fertilizer that nourishes plants and enriches soil.
Where to Find Chicken Manure Locally
You have several options when sourcing chicken manure in your local area:
Local Farms
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Check with small farms in your region that raise chickens. A lot of people will sell or even give away chicken manure to people who garden.
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Try contacting 4-H groups or Future Farmers of America (FFA) members that raise chickens for their projects. They often have extra chicken manure available.
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Visit farmers markets and ask vendors if they can source chicken manure from local farms. Some may sell composted chicken manure.
Feed Stores
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Most feed stores sell bagged chicken manure fertilizer, often from local suppliers. Look for brands marked “composted” or “aged”.
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Feed stores are a reliable source if you need larger amounts of chicken manure. You can buy it by the bag or in bulk by the yard.
Garden Centers
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Check the fertilizer section of local garden centers for bagged, composted chicken manure products.
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Some garden centers sell chicken manure in bulk. You can load up a truck or trailer if you need large volumes.
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Time your visit when new stock arrives to get the freshest chicken manure bags.
Online
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Search for “chicken manure near me” online to find nearby farms or garden stores selling it.
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Order composted chicken manure online for delivery if you can’t find a local source.
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Join community groups like Facebook or Nextdoor and ask if anyone in your area has chicken manure to spare.
What to Look for When Buying Chicken Manure
To ensure you get quality chicken manure, check these factors when buying:
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Composted/aged: Fresh chicken manure can harm plants. Make sure the product description states it’s composted, aged or dried. This means it’s broken down to safe ammonia levels.
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Pelletized: Pelletized chicken manure is easier to spread than powdered form. Pellets also resist compacting in the bag during storage.
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OMRI listed: The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) certifies products approved for organic use. Look for the OMRI logo if you grow organically.
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N-P-K ratio: Check the fertilizer analysis or guaranteed analysis on the bag. Ideal chicken manure NPK ratios range from 3-4% nitrogen, 2-3% phosphorus and 1-2% potassium.
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Reputable brand: Stick to known brands like Espoma, Whitney Farms, Expert Gardener or Happy Frog. Avoid generic chicken manure with no company information.
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Good reviews: Check product reviews online or ask store staff for recommended chicken manure brands. Happy customers indicate a quality product.
How Much Chicken Manure Per Plant?
Chicken manure is powerful fertilizer. A little goes a long way. Follow these guidelines for how much to use:
- Vegetables: 1-2 lbs per 100 sq ft
- Flowers & herbs: 1 lb per 100 sq ft
- Trees & shrubs: 1-2 lbs per plant
- Containers: 1 Tbsp per 1 gallon pot
Start with less if you’re new to using chicken manure. It’s easy to over-fertilize and damage plants. Mixing your chicken manure 50/50 with compost reduces the intensity.
Always do a soil test first to check nutrient levels. Add chicken manure only if your soil needs extra nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium.
When to Apply Chicken Manure Fertilizer
Timing matters when fertilizing with chicken manure:
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Spring: Apply early in spring to energize plant growth as weather warms.
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Summer: Side dress growing plants every 4-6 weeks through summer.
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Fall: Add chicken manure several weeks before first fall frost to support plants going dormant.
Avoid fertilizing with chicken manure during peak summer heat or winter cold. Wait for moderate temperatures so plants can properly absorb and utilize the nutrients.
How to Use Chicken Manure in Your Garden
Using chicken manure correctly ensures your plants get the benefits without risks:
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Always wear gloves when handling chicken manure to avoid bacteria.
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Check soil temperature is at least 55°F before applying chicken manure.
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Spread chicken manure evenly over the soil surface surrounding plants.
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Lightly mix the chicken manure into the top few inches of soil.
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Water thoroughly after applying to help dissolve nutrients.
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Wait 2-4 weeks before harvesting edible plants to allow for breakdown.
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Clean up spilled chicken manure. Don’t leave it to touch plant stems or leaves.
Follow these simple guidelines to safely unlock the nourishing potential of chicken manure for your garden.
The Bottom Line
Enriching your soil with local chicken manure is a smart organic gardening practice. Chicken manure releases nutrients steadily to grow healthier, more productive plants. Look for composted chicken manure from reputable sources near you. And apply it properly when your plants can benefit the most. With the right chicken manure fertilizer, you’ll grow a thriving garden that keeps getting better every year.
The Power of Cow and Steer Manure
Cow and steer manure is a fantastic organic fertilizer, rich in essential nutrients, thanks to the natural diets of cattle. Typically, cow manure has about 3% nitrogen, 2% phosphorus and 1% potassium, the perfect balance for thriving plants. Adding cow manure compost to your planting bed can help plants grow strong and have lots of leaves.
However, keep in mind that fresh cow manure often contains high levels of ammonia, which can harm your plants. It’s vital to use aged cow manure compost for your garden. This ensures that the ammonia is broken down, making the manure safe for your plants.
Why Compost Manure Is Crucial
Understanding the importance of composting manure is key to a successful garden. Fresh manure can burn tender plants due to its high ammonia and nitrogen levels. Thankfully, when you choose a packed manure product from Ace, you can be certain that it has undergone necessary aging, allowing you to spread the fertilizer safely.
Many of our products also combine cow manure and compost to ensure that mineral concentration remains at safe levels. This mix helps create a nurturing environment for your plants while keeping nutrient levels balanced.
GBO Composted Chicken Manure
FAQ
Can you put chicken manure on top of soil?
Applying Chicken Manure to Land: Chicken manure that has been broken down should be spread on the ground to prepare it for planting seeds or transferring seedlings. It can be applied directly onto the soil or around root zones.
Does Home Depot sell chicken manure?
The Niu 0. 75 cu. ft. Chicken Manure is an excellent source of organic nutrients for your plants. Chicken manure is a composted, all-natural fertilizer that is ideal for use on fruit trees.
Which chicken manure is best?
Composted Chicken manure works pretty well. Steer manure can work if given time. Horse manure works good if you spread on a lawn before winter. Horse manure that has been piled for a season or two generally has a lot of undigested seed and might present a problem in your garden.
What plants don’t like chicken manure?
Plants that don’t like chicken manure include acid-loving plants like blueberries, azaleas, and rhododendrons, as well as root vegetables like carrots and parsnips, and some leafy greens.