So, can you use chicken manure for lawn fertilizer? Absolutely. Other than the fact that your lawn may stink a bit (yes, even if you use pellets), chicken manure is one of the best organic fertilizers in the world.
Chicken manure from residential backyard chickens may be used in the garden, but as it's high in ammonia it is highly recommended that you first compost the manure to 'treat' it. Apart from the flies and ammonia issues, untreated chicken manure is too 'strong' to be applied to plants and can even burn them.
Poultry manure is a smart choice for fertilizing lawns, thanks to its high nitrogen content. It also has an abundance of phosphorus, which supports root development in grass and other plants. And because it's less likely to contain diseases than other types of manure, it's one of the safest choices for a home yard.
The manure can (and will) burn plants and their roots. This, however, is easily overcome—simply don't use the manure when it is too fresh. It should also be noted that chicken manure has the ability to harbor bacteria and pathogens like salmonella.
Like other animal wastes, chicken manure and litter may harbor pathogens, such as E. coli, Salmonella, Cryptosporidium and others. To reduce risk to humans and pets, proper handling and precautions are necessary. Stockpiled manure should be kept in a protected area where children, pets and livestock do not have access.
Fresh and composted poultry litter may contain bacteria that are harmful to humans. Avoid breathing in the dust of these products, wear gloves when handling them, and avoid eating and smoking while working with them.
Fertilising is an essential part of lawn maintenance, encouraging growth and healthy grass all year long. We suggest doing it twice a year – once in the autumn months to protect it throughout the winter and once in spring to help boost the growth and carry you through the summer months.
Seasol Lawn Care is the perfect combination of seaweed and trace elements to revitalise your lawn and soil. It helps promotes healthy growth, enhances foliage colour and protects your lawn from heat and drought stress. Seasol Lawn Care is ideal to use after mowing.
Milorganite Slow-Release Nitrogen Fertilizer
Slow-release fertilizers are the best fertilizers for grass because they gradually release nutrients into your soil instead of all at once.
Disadvantages of Manure
The manures are reported to provide fewer nutrients to plants, and they are unable to provide high-yielding crops. Manures are slowly absorbed by the plants, and they add a lot of humus to the soil. They are made in fields, so transportation is difficult for manures.
Chook poo is a nutrient dense powerhouse booster but it must be composted for at least three months before use. A great way to do this is to make a watery slurry of chook poo and tip it over your compost heap, water in well.
Left alone, chicken waste should be safe for garden use after about one year, but high-heat composting can shorten this time considerably.
A good soil amendment, chicken manure adds organic matter and increases the water holding capacity and beneficial biota in soil. A good fertilizer; chicken manure provides Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium to you plants (more than horse, cow or steer manure).
Fortunately, poultry manure is a complete fertilizer because it contains the major nutrients of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium and the minor elements all crops require.
Broadcasting is the most common and practical way to apply poultry manure. Spreading may be followed by incorporation where possible; however, in a pasture situation, the litter requires rain or irrigation to wash it into the soil. Calibrate equipment to apply litter evenly across a paddock.
Do not apply Seasol and PowerFeed during the heat of the day. As PowerFeed is a fertiliser it may burn the foliage of the plant or lawn. If fungal problems are an issue, it is best to apply Seasol and PowerFeed in the morning to avoid moisture residue on the foliage overnight.
Do you water your lawn after applying Seasol or PowerFeed lawn products? Seasol Lawn & Turf Starter, Seasol for Lush Green Lawns and Seasol for Buffalo Lawns are all liquids, which are readily absorbed into the lawn and the soil. Therefore you do not need to water them in.
After mowing apply Seasol hose-on to strengthen leaf blades to reduce stress from heat and drought. Apply it early morning so the grass has time to dry before the onset of a cool night. For more details check out our video “How to Care for Lawns – Mowing & maintenance”.
Blending manure into the top layer of topsoil will help encourage root growth and health because the manure is packed full of nutrients. The main nutrient released is nitrogen which is needed for plants and vegetables to grow in a sustainable manner.
Apply nutrients in the spring just before growth starts. Avoid using manures and fertilisers in late summer or autumn where they may be lost over winter and pollute water bodies.
Late winter/spring is the best time of year to spread as this is when crops are most likely to be able to take up nutrients, so you can maximise yields, reduce fertiliser costs and minimise nutrient losses to the environment. Spread when your crops need nutrients to grow - usually late winter/spring and summer.
Poultry droppings are better manure than cow dung (or other farmyard manure) in nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium content, the elements most deficient in Indian soil. Poultry produce about twice as much fresh dropping (on a wet-weight basis) as fuel eaten.
Chicken manure is more than a fertilizer though. It is also a good soil amendment; it adds organic matter to the soil, which improves soil structure, moisture-holding, drainage capability, and aeration. Also, soil high in organic matter is less prone to erosion and retains fertilizer better.
Compost and manure are both great options for working into lawns, but manure's higher nitrogen content (especially chicken manure) gives it the edge over compost.