manure

I have access to fresh horse manure, I understand it's best to leave it for 6 months before using. Can I add it to my compost heaps (which includes hen droppings) or should it be kept separate until it's useable?

I would add it to your compost heap and mix it well in - it'll help activate the decomposition process and the heap should really heat up.

Yup another vote for adding it to the compost heap. Years ago my old neighbours kept horses, and he used to bring back bags of horse poo for me. The descendants of the worms from that are still thriving in my bins!

Great, thanks for the help.

Hi, as I have said in previous replies please be very careful of where you get your horse manure some horse owners sprayed their fields and meadows with a weed killer called Forfront there are many different trade names to this chemical but if is present in the horse muck it can take up to 3 years and maybe more for it to break down , it causes potato Hume's to curl like the fonds on bracken and the leaves of bean peas to wilt .

Derek

Hi Me again if you are not sure of the horse manure  do NOT add to your compost as this will become infected as well  .

Derek

That's really helpful information, I'll certainly ask before I take any. Thanks.