My 2 Dexters are in a smallish winter pasture for winter and I've been clearing the cow poop and piling it all in one area. My chickens get in it and break it down, but will leaving it in one area just make a sludge pile or will it compost? Should I be adding something else or just leave it? Soon it will be covered in snow, it doesn't heat up like a regular compost pile, maybe because there is no green stuff in it, what are your thoughts?

-- Carol k (ck7951@bluefrognet.net), November 27, 2001

Answers

Our various (chicken, goat, cattle) piles have broken down into nice compost. It just seems to take a bit longer - perhaps about a year.

-- Trisha-MN (coldguinea@netscape.net), November 27, 2001.

Had to giggle....I am sure that there is plenty of green stuff in your cow pies!heehee! We use manure from the chickens and the cows on our garden. We put it on in the fall and let it compost over the winter. Then till it in the Spring. I would not put it on heavy though or it will be too strong. It will be great compost if left to set out. Ashes, old straw, leaves, anything else that you add to the pile will just make it better!

-- Nan (davidl41@ipa.net), November 27, 2001.

If your pile of poop isn't heating up, it isn't for lack of "green stuff." It's probably for lack of air, particularly if you're using field manure rather than barn manure with all that carbonaceous bedding material mixed in. It could also be for lack of water, if the manure is already dry when you put it onto the pile. Compost should be damp, not dry, not soggy. About like a wrung-out sponge. Too wet, and it goes anaerobic (read: stinky and cold), too dry and nothing much happens at all.

With the moisture right, I would be layering in straw, shredded leaves (whole ones just make an impenetrable layer), shavings, or other high bulk, high carbon materials. Also, if you have a big pile, get some of those PVC drainage pipes with holes in them and poke them vertically into the piles, and leave them there, building the piles up around them. This will let the air circulate better, which will make the compost heat up better and finish more thoroughly.

-- Laura Jensen (lauraj@seedlaw.com), November 27, 2001.

If it doesn't get too thick it will rot down on its own with no problems. Large piles can "ensile" in the middle and protected by the outer layer of rotted material, can last for several years this way. So when you dig into it you come to preserved manure that has a silage smell. I can't imagine you would have too much trouble with just two cows, though. I think it will break down pretty fast for you. When spring weather hits and you move the pile it will REALLY break down fast.

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@nospammail.com), November 27, 2001.

It needs air. Carbon in the pile would be good too or a lot of your valueable nitrogen will excape into the atmosphere.

Carbons would be stuff like straw, sawdust, leaves, etc.

-- Paul Wheaton (paul@javaranch.com), November 27, 2001.

Thanks Guys, I have plenty of chopped up leaves and straw, so will use those. I just didn't want a gooey mess everywhere!!

-- Carol K (ck7951@bluefrognet.net), November 27, 2001.