anyone use chicken litter pellets?

mjw357 · Aug 30, 2016

saw an ad on CL, says the composition is 5-3-2. Says 'very high source of nitrogen'. I read that composition as 5% nitrogen, 3% phosphorous and 2% potassium. So I'd need to apply a ton/acre to get 100#/acre N. Anyone know the cost?

super55 · Aug 30, 2016

you are correct in that you will need a ton of litter in order to get 100# of N to the soil. At 100# of litter pellets you will end up with 5#, 3# and 2# of your NPK. As for cost it is really going to be dependent on location. If you are around chicken farms the cost might be ok per ton. If you are going to buy it bagged I am going to guess it will be substantially more expensive.

For our gardens we were using chicken litter and it was costing us about 10 dollars for 50# a bag. Bulk should be substantially cheaper especially if they are trying to get rid of it.

roadhunter · Aug 30, 2016

I've seen cattle manure pelletized and sold in garden centers as well as used for organic farming. I'm sure it would work well.

farmer2009 · Aug 30, 2016

Don't use it pelitized but do use it straight. Real nice rich source of nutrients. I sell what I can't use by the ton to local farmers. By the time they have it loaded hauled and spread they are in to the $30-35/ton range. The last sample I had taken came back as a 59-30-70 per ton. But it also has a lot of variability.
Hay fields get 3 tons for 2 years then a skipped year. Pastures are on a maintenance application of 19-19-19 as they've had too much litter.

mjw357 · Sep 1, 2016

They only sell by the 25 ton truckload, quoted price delivered to my place is $205/ton. They must be hauling it in from out of state for that price. I'll stick to the coop 3 miles down the road for my fertilizer.

Industrial Toys · Sep 1, 2016

I had one heck of a surprise on Monday, when this showed up.

45 Ton of Chicken Manure for the guy that farms our place. It came from two hours away and cost $2500.00 CDN. Never knew such rigs existed!

But an even bigger surprise awaited me in the cab!

18!

roadhunter · Sep 1, 2016

I love those trailers. I have 115 yards loads of wood chips delivered and love watching them unload.

More and more women truckers these days it seems. More power to them! I have an appreciation for women who work as opposed to high maintenance women who expect to be pampered all the time.

mjw357 · Sep 1, 2016

Industrial Toys said:
45 Ton of Chicken Manure for the guy that farms our place. It came from two hours away and cost $2500.00 CDN.

Wow, that's about $42 US / ton versus my $205 US / ton quote. I'd consider using it for that price if I could get it.

Industrial Toys · Sep 1, 2016

He said Tons but probably meant tonnes 2200lbs, and what is the dollar difference these days?

I managed to score a bucketfull (3/4 yrd) for the garden, but the farmer warns that it is VERY potent.

So how much do I use? When? How should I store, what I don't use?

Maybe, I should ask, how do I get near it?

Thanks

mjw357 · Sep 1, 2016

Industrial Toys said:
He said Tons but probably meant tonnes 2200lbs, and what is the dollar difference these days?

I managed to score a bucketfull (3/4 yrd) for the garden, but the farmer warns that it is VERY potent.

So how much do I use? When? How should I store, what I don't use?

Maybe, I should ask, how do I get near it?

Thanks

$1 us = $1.31 cdn

Read my original post as far as usage. I'd hardly consider that 'potent'. It's gotta be a lot cheaper per ton for me to choose that over commercial dry fertilizers.

If you are going to store it outdoors, maybe just a big tarp with tires to weigh it down.