Rabbit manure question

ryanwxbm · January 3, 2014

I'm a first-timer when it comes to working with manure of any kind, so please forgive me if this is a dumb question. I bought my first bag of rabbit manure from a local farmer yesterday. When I got it home to work with it, it was mostly good, dry pellets, but there were a few good sized wet clumps in there as well. Is this normal when getting rabbit manure? My instinct tells me to dry it out and use it, but I wanted to ask the experts before doing anything. Also, it was $7 for a 40LB bag. Does that sound about right?

Thank you!
Ryan

ryanwxbm · January 3, 2014

Here's a pic of one of the clumps.

KarenO · January 3, 2014

It looks fresh, not composted? depending on what you are planning to do with it, you need to be careful that it doesn't come into direct contact with your plants or roots as it can burn them until it has aged and been broken down. It will become an excellent garden amendment but it takes time.
As to price, I am not sure what the going rate is for bunny poop but 7 dollars seems OK to me.
Karen O

FaithHopeLove · January 3, 2014

Hi Ryan,

I raise rabbits and have my own supply of rabbit manure (horse manure also). I can't see your pictures for some reason.

I personally put the manure from my rabbits composted but I mix my manures together.
Like Karen said I don't really know the going rate for paying for it but to me $7 is a good price.

ryanwxbm · January 3, 2014

Thanks, Karen & Faith. Most of the pellets are good and dry but those clumps have me puzzled. Maybe I'll throw it all in the compost bin just to be safe.

KarenO · January 3, 2014

I think that's a good idea and it will help heat your compost as well. It will be black gold for your plants once composted.
Karen

FaithHopeLove · January 3, 2014

Not being able to see the pictures but the clumps are most likely urine

Redbaron · January 4, 2014

Ryan,
Nothing wrong with the manure. You can break up those clumps, which are highly concentrated with urine (nitrogen) and throw them in your compost bin. Dig in or side dress the manure pellets even fresh. This is unique to rabbits. You wouldn't want to use fresh chicken, pig or cow manure as a side dressing. Those you really must compost first or dig in a couple weeks before planting.

Hope that helps.

ryanwxbm · January 4, 2014

Good stuff Scott. Thanks for the info. I already put some dry pellets in with my brussel sprouts & broccoli and I will take your advice and toss the clumps in my compost. Thanks again!

jerryinfla · January 4, 2014

I've been using rabbit poop in my garden and compost pile for about a year now. From my limited experience with it I agree with what others have said here. I add about equal amounts of it with kitchen waste and twice that amount of shredded leaves in building my compost pile. I also use small amounts of the dry stuff as side dressing for crops growing in the garden. As for the price, I pay $5 a 50 pound feed bag for it. The bag of manure doesn't weigh 50 pounds, probably more like 25 - 30 pounds because the bags were empty rabbit food bags and the feed is heavier than their poop by volume.

MR BILL · January 12, 2014

best stuff you can use.. don't waste it .. make a tea...five gallon bucket and add a coffee can to this.. let it sit for a few days.stir a couple of times..use on soil only around the plants. i give my rutabagas a twice feeding with excellent results. around tomatoes peppers squash thrive on this tea. u can add water a couple with good results of times (rain water best)i even run manure thru my old kemp shredder mixing leaves in.. run it thru again very fine mix..use on my garlic when i plant in fall. the 7$ is a good deal.. mr bill milford ct..

ryanwxbm · January 12, 2014

Thx Mr Bill! Is tap water a bad idea for tea?

MR BILL · January 12, 2014

tap water is ok ... we use city water at the community gardens in milford and we never had any issues with this..i buy buckets from home depot with the lids and store my tea in two batches so i have ample supply for the season..these buckets also make great tomato planters....A few holes in the bottom and some stone to drain water off..wish i could find another manure supply this is great stuff for the garden .. have a good day from mr bill in milford ct.

meadowyck · January 13, 2014

we are at 5 for what ever size bag you bring. I love this and horse and goat and mushroom compost are my favorites.

Growing Giants · March 3, 2014

I have been growing Giant vegetables for 7 years and gardening for 35 years. I raise rabbits and I have applied fresh rabbit poo on all my gardens and have never ever had a problem. There is no burning with rabbit manure. I have a article off the internet about all forms of fertilizer and rabbit is the absolute best with no burning of plants. Even urine is a great fertilizer. The recommendations are 8 gallons of water to a 5 gallon pail of rabbit urine. With human urine you mix it 40 to one.

January 4, 2014	#8
Redbaron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,488	Ryan, Nothing wrong with the manure. You can break up those clumps, which are highly concentrated with urine (nitrogen) and throw them in your compost bin. Dig in or side dress the manure pellets even fresh. This is unique to rabbits. You wouldn't want to use fresh chicken, pig or cow manure as a side dressing. Those you really must compost first or dig in a couple weeks before planting. Hope that helps. __________________ Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture

January 4, 2014	#10
jerryinfla Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Central Florida Posts: 377	I've been using rabbit poop in my garden and compost pile for about a year now. From my limited experience with it I agree with what others have said here. I add about equal amounts of it with kitchen waste and twice that amount of shredded leaves in building my compost pile. I also use small amounts of the dry stuff as side dressing for crops growing in the garden. As for the price, I pay $5 a 50 pound feed bag for it. The bag of manure doesn't weigh 50 pounds, probably more like 25 - 30 pounds because the bags were empty rabbit food bags and the feed is heavier than their poop by volume. __________________ Jerry - You only get old if you're lucky.

January 12, 2014	#11
MR BILL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: milford conn.. Posts: 14	SMART PILLS best stuff you can use.. don't waste it .. make a tea...five gallon bucket and add a coffee can to this.. let it sit for a few days.stir a couple of times..use on soil only around the plants. i give my rutabagas a twice feeding with excellent results. around tomatoes peppers squash thrive on this tea. u can add water a couple with good results of times (rain water best)i even run manure thru my old kemp shredder mixing leaves in.. run it thru again very fine mix..use on my garlic when i plant in fall. the 7$ is a good deal.. mr bill milford ct..

January 12, 2014	#13
MR BILL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: milford conn.. Posts: 14	tap water tap water is ok ... we use city water at the community gardens in milford and we never had any issues with this..i buy buckets from home depot with the lids and store my tea in two batches so i have ample supply for the season..these buckets also make great tomato planters....A few holes in the bottom and some stone to drain water off..wish i could find another manure supply this is great stuff for the garden .. have a good day from mr bill in milford ct.

January 13, 2014	#14
meadowyck Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: Brooksville, FL Posts: 1,001	we are at 5 for what ever size bag you bring. I love this and horse and goat and mushroom compost are my favorites. __________________ Jan “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” -Theodore Roosevelt

January 3, 2014	#3
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,931	It looks fresh, not composted? depending on what you are planning to do with it, you need to be careful that it doesn't come into direct contact with your plants or roots as it can burn them until it has aged and been broken down. It will become an excellent garden amendment but it takes time. As to price, I am not sure what the going rate is for bunny poop but 7 dollars seems OK to me. Karen O

January 3, 2014	#4
FaithHopeLove Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: Summerfield, FL Posts: 197	Hi Ryan, I raise rabbits and have my own supply of rabbit manure (horse manure also). I can't see your pictures for some reason. I personally put the manure from my rabbits composted but I mix my manures together. Like Karen said I don't really know the going rate for paying for it but to me $7 is a good price.

January 3, 2014	#5
ryanwxbm Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Pensacola, Fl Posts: 12	Thanks, Karen & Faith. Most of the pellets are good and dry but those clumps have me puzzled. Maybe I'll throw it all in the compost bin just to be safe.

March 3, 2014	#15
Growing Giants Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Missouri Posts: 77	I have been growing Giant vegetables for 7 years and gardening for 35 years. I raise rabbits and I have applied fresh rabbit poo on all my gardens and have never ever had a problem. There is no burning with rabbit manure. I have a article off the internet about all forms of fertilizer and rabbit is the absolute best with no burning of plants. Even urine is a great fertilizer. The recommendations are 8 gallons of water to a 5 gallon pail of rabbit urine. With human urine you mix it 40 to one.