It's only natural; the cycle of digestion. A byproduct of digestion is ripe and stinky dookie, manure, dung, poo, whatever you want to call it. Some creatures excrete chemicals or gas byproducts during this process, and some creatures have different diets. Let's dive into a full breakdown on all things crappy. Which ones to use and which ones to avoid.
First and foremost, when it comes to plants, manure can be classified into what I would describe as two main groups: Rich and Safe and Lacking and Complex. While all feces are technically compostable and will provide nutrition to plant flora, safety of the plant consumers and waterways is the main differentiating factor. The reason for this, for simplicities sake, is that the more complex and Lacking feces can contain bacteria, parasites, and other human transmittable diseases. They may also not have much to offer in terms of viable organics. I'm not saying you can't use your pets poo to enrich your property's soil nutrition, but you should definitely think twice about location and use. You don't want to risk contaminating your vegetable garden with transmittable E. Coli and ringworms.
Even "Safe" dookie needs to be aged and composted accordingly in order to be safe for plants. Fresh poo from chickens, for example, will contain various salts which can be detrimental to flora, Salmonella and E. Coli, and very high Nitrogen levels.
By giving this waste time to compost and age, we can break down the organic matter, the pathogens, and other harmfuls, but it takes time. 120-180 days is a relatively safe time for composting Fowl poop.
Now, we can't forget about the more simplex varieties such as worm dookie, which can be used as fertilizers right out the chute. This is true for most caterpillars and other insects as well.
Generally Rich & Safe:
Worm, Insect, Chicken, Horse, Bovine (Cow), Porcine (Pig), Goat, Sheep, Zebra, Boar, Pelicans and Seagulls, Bat Guano, Most Herbivore Waste
ℹ️ Even these though, should not be used on root vegetables unless you applied to the soil at least several months prior to growing or harvesting. Don't apply manure to your carrots or beets the week before harvest, it's just not a great choice.
Generally Lacking & More Complex:
Canine, Feline, Human (Please don't poop in your pothos. It's just not sanitary and there are much better options. It is however possible to safely process human waste.)
Temperature and oxygenation are very important factors here as well. The more pathogenic the feces are, the more heat you're going to want. It is typically suggested that your compost should reach 145⁰F for a week to kill off those nastys. Aerobic bacteria and conditions are typically better compared to anaerobic buggers, so it's important to routinely fluff and flip that compost.
Compared to mineral based fertilizers, organic Manures such as chicken manure (which is generally regarded as one of the best) provide a more bio-friendly option. So next time you're thinking of what to feed your houseplants or your flowers and veggies, give manure a try! If you can get past the initial stank, you will be rewarded with healthy plants. Good Nitrogen is commonly found in Manures so you should see some healthy foliage growth.
ℹ️ Did you know it's possible to utilize heat generated by composting? That's right! I have seen people place copper tubing through their compost bins and pump water through and into their greenhouse in the winter. I do this here as well with several large vessels that cook all Winter generating heat for our heated greenhouse.
Weekly Deal: Use code CHKNPOO and get 4oz of composted and aged chicken manure for free with any purchase. It's that simple.
Don't miss out on this one. Just add 4oz or more of Chicken Manure to your order and apply the code at checkout.
Take it one step further and add some mycorrhizae to your soil. Synergistic effects will definitely be noticed.
I apologize for the lack of content lately, but life has it's twists and turns and I'm doing my best to keep pushing out content for you. I'll try to get weekly content out more regularly!
Thanks for reading and taking the time from your day. And as always, stay safe out there and have fun growing & knowing!
-Steve :)
*Notice an error or have a question? Let me know by leaving a comment!