Chicken Droppings: Good Or Bad?

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Many summer residents, gardeners and gardeners strive to use only organic, natural, without chemicals and other harmful substances on their plots. Therefore, herbal infusions, rotting food residues and waste of domestic animals, such as cows, rams, horses and poultry, are quite widespread as fertilizers. But if everything is clear with herbal infusions, then you need to figure out with bird droppings, is it useful or not?

And what is more of it: harm or benefit?

The benefits of chicken droppings

Chicken manure is considered to be an excellent organic fertilizer, containing more different nutrients than other organic fertilizers of animal origin. It is thanks to him that various biological processes are intensified in the soil, and the plants receive the carbon dioxide they need.

In addition, this organic fertilizer is washed out of the soil much more slowly than any “chemical” fertilizer. At the same time, in terms of the content of nutrients, chicken (aka chicken droppings) is not at all inferior to expensive purchased mineral fertilizers from various manufacturers.

The main advantages of chicken manure is the duration of its action, that is, it is enough to add it to the soil once every two, or even three years. And all this time, the plants will receive the nutrients they need, including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. In addition, if used correctly, this fertilizer does not burn the roots of plants, improves the composition of the soil, restores the microflora and acidity of the soil, is completely non-toxic and does not cake.

Bigger is not better

This statement perfectly reflects the essence of this type of fertilizer. If it is incorrect and inept to use it on the site, then irreparable harm to the plants can be caused, since the droppings contain up to 2% lime, which affects the quality of the soil. In addition, when poultry manure decays, more than half a cubic meter of gases will be released from a kilogram of the original substance, which is 60% methane. In addition, ammonia is also released, and it is harmful to plants. Therefore, you cannot just take droppings from the chicken coop and scatter it over the beds. Before use, 1 part of chicken manure is diluted with 50-100 parts of water. And only after that they are used for their intended purpose.

Another option is to put the droppings in a compost heap and let it mature there. If the heap is loose, then 1, 5 months is enough, if it is strongly rammed, then it will take about six months.

The harm of chicken droppings

We talked about the benefits. It would seem, how can such a useful substance, if used correctly, do harm? After all, this fertilizer is of great benefit!

However, not everything is so rosy. In addition to the chemical composition, it is important to pay attention to the microflora contained in the droppings. Chicken droppings can contain various microorganisms that are dangerous to humans, including salmonella, bird flu, psittacosis, as well as worm eggs. All these microorganisms, together with droppings, can get to the surface of the soil, and then to vegetables and fruits growing on the site. And already together with them - on the table to the people. Of the entire list of microorganisms, the most dangerous are perhaps the salmonella bacteria, since the disease can lead to very serious consequences.

But to exclude the ingress of harmful bacteria everything is possible, for this add the chicken to the bottom of the planting pits and holes or lay it in special feeding trenches. Although it is unlikely to save from worm eggs.

In addition to various harmful bacteria, chicken manure may contain residues of antibiotics, various growth stimulants and other drugs that are used in poultry farming. This can be eliminated by raising the birds yourself and feeding them only natural grain.

Therefore, despite the enormous benefits, apply this organic fertilizer carefully, dilute in accordance with the proposed rates.