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

10-12-2010, 08:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
Willow87 Willow87 Willow87's Photo Gallery Location: Plano, Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Name: Cameron Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 2,815 BananaBucks : 119,796 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,016 Times Was Thanked 2,524 Times in 1,487 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 6 Times	Fertilizer Question 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

10-12-2010, 08:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
The Hollyberry Lady The Hollyberry Lady 's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 15,161 BananaBucks : 1,298,685 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 12,042 Times Was Thanked 11,326 Times in 5,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 102 Times	Re: Fertilizer Question Interesting question and I have a bird too so I'll be curious to hear some of the answers... : )

10-12-2010, 10:09 AM	#3 (permalink)
Richard un-Retired Richard's Photo Gallery Location: Vista, CA Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 10b Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9,674 BananaBucks : 508,714 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,636 Times Was Thanked 12,543 Times in 4,721 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,685 Times	Re: Fertilizer Question 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. __________________ Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com

10-12-2010, 10:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
Willow87 Willow87 Willow87's Photo Gallery Location: Plano, Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Name: Cameron Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 2,815 BananaBucks : 119,796 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,016 Times Was Thanked 2,524 Times in 1,487 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 6 Times	Re: Fertilizer Question 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

10-12-2010, 01:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
Richard un-Retired Richard's Photo Gallery Location: Vista, CA Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 10b Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9,674 BananaBucks : 508,714 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,636 Times Was Thanked 12,543 Times in 4,721 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,685 Times	Re: Fertilizer Question 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. __________________ Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com

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10-12-2010, 01:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
Willow87 Willow87 Willow87's Photo Gallery Location: Plano, Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Name: Cameron Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 2,815 BananaBucks : 119,796 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,016 Times Was Thanked 2,524 Times in 1,487 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 6 Times	Re: Fertilizer Question Ok. So I'll avoid those and stick with other fertilizers and amendments. Thanks again Richard I really appreciate the info.

10-12-2010, 04:33 PM	#7 (permalink)
Angelstar Angelstar's Photo Gallery Location: Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire UK Find me on the map! Name: Angelstar Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 12 BananaBucks : 7,403 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 12 Times in 6 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Fertilizer Question Bird poo also burns plant leaves unless it is composted first

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