this is similar to the recent horse hockey thread but here goes...I am cleaning the goat shed today and have a question.

I've heard that rabbit droppings can be used on/in the garden without waiting and know that chicken (and I would assume) duck poop is too hot straight from the manufacturer to use but what about goats? I am forking out my deep layers of hay and have some pellets and a lot of urine soaked organic matter. should this be composted or can I put it on the fast track and dig it into beds? we are short on organic soil additives out this way and would like to use my new haystack this spring. opinions? back to digging - so thanks in advance.

-- B. Lackie - Zone3 (cwrench@hotmail.com), April 14, 2002

Answers

Any pelletized manure can be put right onto the garden, goat, sheep, llama, rabbit, deer, and of them are safe and do not need to be composted first.

Susan

-- Susan in MN (nanaboo@paulbunyan.net), April 14, 2002.

ditto on the pee saturated hay? too high in nitrogen?

-- B. Lackie - Zone3 (cwrench@hotmail.com), April 14, 2002.

If you soil is low on organic matter, then it seems that incorporating the urine soaked hay into the ground would be like adding urea and organic matter at the same time. How concentrated you apply it, will affect how hot it will be. Found this one citation: “Once the protein in the diet from all sources rises above 16%, urine can contain more than 4% urea.” , this might give you an idea of how much urea is in the urine your dealing with and help you decide how to apply it.

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), April 14, 2002.

Hi! Know nothing 'bout goats, other than I admire them a lot, but as to the duck droppings, another plus for ducks! You can use the duck litter as is, it will NOT harm plants. So, don't "assumme" this, naughty, naughty. LOL I use pine shavings under my ducks and all of the "used" litter goes right on all of my flowers and veggies. Ducks drink so much water that the waste is far from concentrated. Boy, time to do more cleaning out, I wish you hadn't reminded me! LOL :) LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), April 14, 2002.

Does this also apply to geese? The used bedding can go straight to the garden? That would be great! Thanks all.

-- Debbie in IL (ddjmck@mynex.net), April 14, 2002.

I have never had trouble with using it right out of the barn. We frequently side dress many of the crops in our garden that way and it does a dual purpose. Fertilizes and mulches.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), April 14, 2002.

If it has alot of hay in it than compost, you will be doing nothing but growing grass in the garden in no time at all if you don't :) If you keep your hay outside like you should this time of year, than you can rake and shovel into the garden straight. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), April 14, 2002.

Vicki - I understand and am willing to deal with my new "lawn" to get the benefits of the free (sort of) organic matter but didn't quite get "If you keep your hay outside like you should this time of year, than you can rake and shovel into the garden straight." part. the hay is coming from a partially enclosed goat shed. you lost me on the "outside this time of year" part. round these parts we just lost our snow cover (finally) but have more forecast for midweek. if you are still following this thread please explain.

BC, LQ and diane - thanks for the answers. sounds like it's a go on using it this Spring which was the hoped for answer. with a duck bedding bonus!

-- B. Lackie - Zone3 (cwrench@hotmail.com), April 15, 2002.

Well for everyone else who is in full blown spring :) having outside hay feeders makes keeping the barn clean, spring, summer and fall a snap! Helps with worms and especially in the south FLIES! Alas sounds as if you will always have hay in your bedding? We dig the shavings out and spilt hay which has built up over winter, Easter weekend, dragging it all out into a huge compost pile. From then on I rake pens every other day, which only contain nanny berries and the smallest amounts of dirt, this goes straight to the plants around the place. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), April 15, 2002.

my hay/straw dyslexia is acting up again. bedding is STRAW, wasted chow is HAY and they've both ended up in one pile. which is currently frozen. brrrrr.

-- B. Lackie - Zone3 (cwrench@hotmail.com), April 16, 2002.