Chicken manure

[rubygarbanza]

I have just acquired a load of manure that is about half cow manure and half chicken manure. I have been told to use it very sparingly because of the high chicken manure content. It does smell a little of ammonia.

So I was wondering about using a thin layer of this covered with a thick layer of autumn leaves, as a mulch on empty beds that would be replanted in the spring. Will this work? Or should I mix the manure and the leaves together and do it that way? Or leave it ro rot down more (which then still leaves me with the problem of what to mulch with this autumn)?

[charles]

 There is manure and there is manure…. the key point is, how old is this manure, and does it contain straw or other bedding? It is true that chicken manure is rich in nitrogen but if it has been in a heap for four to six months or more, with bedding too and also the cow manure, it will have stabilised into compost and you can happily spread it as autumn mulch. 
If it is fresher and with less bedding, I would keep it stacked in a heap until about December, then spread it. Some leaves is possible but not too many as they may get in the way in spring, and host slugs.

All in all it bodes well for abundant growth on your beds in 2014.

[rubygarbanza]

Thanks Charles. It seems quite well rotted already but I think I am going to play it safe and leave it until later in the year to mulch, as you suggest.

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