What Plants Like Chicken Manure? (7 with Names)

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As the world has progressed, more studies and research has been conducted, we began understanding how beneficial organic things are. This leads us to use organic matter to improve soil quality, plant health, fruit, and flowering. The use of cow, horse, pig, and sheep manure is common but most of us do not know chicken manure is just as healthy for the plants as the other options. Chicken manure is safe, cheap, and much easier to access than any other kind of organic manure mentioned above.

There is no need to discuss whether chicken manure is safe or not, as we already know adding animal manure in moderation would boost plant and soil health. In this brief article, we decided to enlighten our readers: what plants like chicken manure? And what does the chicken manure do to these poor living things? By the end of the read, you would be able to use chicken manure safely. But let’s first get to know what exactly chicken manure is? Chicken manure is the feces of chickens that are composted for 6 to 9 months to fertilize the nitrogen-deficient soil.

Contents show

What plants like chicken manure?

Well, the appropriate answer to the question “what plants like chicken manure” is, almost all kinds of flowering, fruits, and vegetable plants like chicken manure. Chicken manure is just as healthy as cow, sheep, horse manure so why would any plant hate it anyway?

It’s grass trees that may not appreciate being treated with chicken manure

The grass trees are the only living thing, which requires photosynthesis to live, that may not appreciate being treated with chicken manure. The reason behind this hatred is that they can not handle rich soils. The grass trees are hardy, nutrient-rich soil can burn or slow down their growth. As chicken manure improves the soil condition so the grass trees do not like being treated with it at all.

Chicken manure is rich in all essential nutrients so there is no legit reason left not to like it

To be specific, research says Chicken manure is bombarded with nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus that soil needs to grow healthier plants. Adequate nitrogen in the soil promotes rich-green color and assists in the food-making process called photosynthesis, potassium increases root growth and improves drought resistance, and phosphorus plays a key role in photosynthesis, transferring nutrients and energy to all deserving parts of the plant. So if something is so cheap, does the job effectively, there is no legit reason left to not like it.

Chicken manure has to be in a specific form to be loved by plants

The well-composted chicken manure is just like a breath of fresh air for the plants. To be able to serve the purpose chicken manure must be aged before use.

However, plants do not like fresh chicken manure

According to a recent study, Plants do love chicken manure but not a fresh one. The fresh chicken manure does more harm than good so it should be avoided at all costs. The chicken manure must be composted to the point that it can be referred to as “black gold” before bringing it out for use.

Why do plants like being fertilized with chicken manure?

If we are supposed to answer this question briefly, chicken manure does wonders to the soil, plants like being fertilized with chicken manure because;

It adds organic matter to the soil

We all know how forgiving and beneficial organic matter is for the soil. According to scientific research organic matter in the soil adds carbon that promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria and helps plants to grow and remain healthy.

Improves the soil’s water-holding capacity

The two factors that affect or determine the soil’s water-retaining capacity are; presence or addition of organic matter and soil texture. The chicken manure boosts the soil by adding organic matter.

The addition of organic matter amends and improves the soil structure. The soil begins retaining more water, this improved water holding capacity improves plant growth and soil productivity.

Manages soil biota

Soil biota is composed of microorganisms; bacteria, fungi, and Algae. The soil biota improves the soil condition by decomposing the organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide, and breaking down pesticides and pollutants. The chicken manure manages the soil biota that in turn makes the better condition for plant growth.

Now that the worth-sharing information is served, let’s see what gardeners want to ask and what we have to say about it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is chicken manure good for the garden?

Yes, chicken manure is just as good and healthy as cow, sheep, horse, and cow manure. The chicken manure improves the soil’s water-holding capacity, manages soil biota, and adds organic matter to the soil. It’s rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that soil needs to give birth to healthy plants.

Why should I add chicken manure to my garden?

You should consider adding chicken manure to your garden for a variety of reasons; nutritional supply, improve the water holding capacity and manage soil biota. Moreover, it should be added because it’s cheap, easy to access, organic, and effective.

What is the best time to fertilize the garden with chicken manure?

To improve the soil condition and make it favorable for plants’ health and growth, chicken manure can be added twice a year. Once in February and later in November.

How do I use fresh chicken manure to fertilize my garden?

Well, you should not use fresh manure to fertilize the garden in the first place. The chicken manure must be aged before use. We would suggest you not add fresh manure as it burns and damages the plants instead.

How can you compost the chicken manure fastly?

The chicken manure normally takes six to nine months to compost naturally. However, the hot composting system can quicken up and finish the entire composting process in 15 days. In a hot composting system the chicken manure is heated at least 130F, which makes the chicken manure ready to be used in just two weeks.

Can chicken manure be added twice the suggested quantity?

No, not at all, excess of everything is bad even if it’s organic. Chicken manure is bombarded with nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. Excess nitrogen can reduce fruit and flower growth, potassium disrupts the nutrient uptake, phosphorus even worse, kills the plants.

Can chicken manure kill plants?

Yes, it can, if it is not added as it suggested. The fresh chicken manure and the excessive quantity can both kill the plants. If the chicken manure is aged and properly added, it would not kill but boost health instead.

Summary

All flowering, fruit, and vegetable plants like chicken manure, it’s grass trees that may not appreciate being treated with chicken manure. The chicken manure is enriched in nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus that boosts the plant’s health by improving the soil’s retention capacity, supplying all needed nutrients, and managing biota.

Fresh manure is not good for any purpose as it has been reported to damage and kill plants. The chicken manure must be composted for at least 5 to 6 months naturally or 15 days in a hot composting system before adding it to the soil. It can be added twice a year in spring and fall if one wants to see a noticeable healthy change.

Resources

Lessons Learned from 2 Decades of Modelling Forest Dead Organic Matter and Soil Carbon at the National Scale
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017AGUFM.B33G..06S/abstract