View Full Version : Fertilizer Question
Willow87
10-12-2010, 08:09 AM
I have 4 birds that produce alot of "mess" I was wondering if its safe to use their mess as fertilizer in flowerbeds? Would I need to compost it first or is it even worth using? Thanks
The Hollyberry Lady
10-12-2010, 08:49 AM
Interesting question and I have a bird too so I'll be curious to hear some of the answers...
: )
Richard
10-12-2010, 10:09 AM
Definitely compost it: 180 days in an open compost pile, or 45 days in a tumbler-type unit, or scatter it on top of several inches of mulch in a planter bed so that it has to break down before reaching the soil.
The nutrient composition of bird poop is generally good for growth, root development, and flowering of annuals or herbaceous perennials. It is proportionally low in potash and thus a poor choice for development of fruits in vegetables. The phosphate content is relatively high and thus a poor choice for native plants of Australia and some other phosphate-sensitive plants. The over-all concentration of nutrients is about 1-1-0.5 to 2-1-1, and thus would take about 50 pounds of the dried composted material per year to be a significant source of nutrition for large shrubs and trees.
Bird poop often contains viable seed, especially if you sweep it out of a bird cage. Depending on your perspective, this can add some interesting sprouts to a garden bed.
Willow87
10-12-2010, 10:26 AM
Thanks Richard. I guess I'll just stick to other fertilizers lol. I thought I could recycle it and make use of the mess. There is someone nearby that is giving away free rabbit manure and they had 200 lbs of it. They said that rabbit manure doesn't burn plants even if you directly put it around the plants, is this true? Are all animal manures low in potash? I would love to collect some next year if they still have any available. Thanks again Richard
Richard
10-12-2010, 01:22 PM
The comments I made about bird poop also apply to rabbit manure -- with the big exception that it typically does not contain viable seeds of grains. The N-P-K of composted rabbit manure is around 2-1.2-0.4 to 3-1.8-0.6.
Willow87
10-12-2010, 01:55 PM
Ok. So I'll avoid those and stick with other fertilizers and amendments. Thanks again Richard I really appreciate the info.
Angelstar
10-12-2010, 04:33 PM
Bird poo also burns plant leaves unless it is composted first
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