The Scoop on the Poop

When you have large animals you have manure; an endless supply of manure that needs to be dealt with. You shouldn’t just heap it up. You shouldn’t let it sit out in your field because animals will not eat around their own waste. It will also infect your field with parasites and files. You shouldn’t keep it with in 100 feet for a stream nor by a well.

The proper way to deal with manure is to compost it. Just heaping it doesn’t necessarily compost it. It needs to be heaped and covered so to control the moisture. It may need water if it is too dry. It should be turned on occasion.

Once the manure is composted it will have value to gardener. They will pay for nicely composted material. Sure you might be able to find a chump to take your raw manure, but a person will only fall for that once. Their gardens will grow grains and weeds quicker than what ever they planted.

For best results you may want to consider inviting your local land and water conservation person to pay you a visit. They will take your particular farm into consideration and will send you a design for a composting system that will best match your situation. And they do this at no charge. They may even be able to give you a grant for fencing sensitive areas.

Manures from rabbits and goats do not need to be composted. You can put them on the garden right away, but chicken, horse and cow manure need to decompose before using. The heat generated while composting will break down any viable seeds that may have made it through the digestion process.

When done properly, the manure you collect may add income and help with your over-all animal cost. When you are paying $14.50 for a bale of hay and you see it reduced in to a pile of crap, you will welcome the chance to make some sort of money from it or at least have a good will product for your neighbors.