Cow or chicken pellets?

[Peanut]

Which would be best to scatter over veg and fruit beds and maybe mix into some potted greenhouse stuff to. Should I go chicken or cow? I've only ever used chicken before but was told cow is better.

Here's a list of NPK plus other stuff.

Cow
Total Nitrogen (N): 2.0%, Phosphorus (P) as P2O5 - 3.0%, Potassium (K) as K2O - 4.0%, Magnesium - 1.1%, Calcium (CaO) - 2.5%

Chicken

Nitrogen content (N): 4%, Phosphorus (P) (P2O5): 3.6 %, Potassium (K) (K2O): 2.9%, Magnesium – 0.63%, Calcium – 3%

Thanks all

[ameno]

At those nutrient levels, I would say chicken is best for leafy veg (brassicas, etc.) and cow for everything else.

The person who told you cow manure is better, did they specifically say in pelleted form versus poultry manure? Because well-rotted cow manure is certainly generally considered better than well-rotted horse manure, because it has a higher nutrient content and usually a better texture, but in pelleted form manures behave very differently.

Also, where are you getting pelleted cow manure from? I've been really struggling to find any poultry manure for a halfway reasonable price this year...

[Peanut]

Thanks ameno We were talking about non pelleted, well rotted from the farm. I've found some cow on Ebay, and chicken on Amazon, both are stupidly expensive though. Everything has gone up so much.
I figured it would be cheaper to buy one of each of these and scatter them over the beds than sacks of manure or mushroom compost which would cost me around £80-£140 to top dress, which I have left way too late as I always do!

Cow Manure Pellets 5/10L - Natural Fertilizer & Soil Enricher for Garden Plants | eBay UK

6X strength Pelleted Chicken Manure. 1 Bag of 20KG ( 1 X 20KG ) : Amazon.co.uk: Business, Industry & Science

[ameno]

Thanks ameno We were talking about non pelleted, well rotted from the farm. I've found some cow on Ebay, and chicken on Amazon, both are stupidly expensive though. Everything has gone up so much.

If that's the case, then that changes everything.
Those nutrient figures are the dry weight figures. They will be accurate for pelleted manure of either type, as the pellets have had their moisture removed. But rotted manure from the farm will be well over 50% water, so the nutrient content will be that much lower.

[rary]

I've never came across pelleted cow manure but have used 6x manure swhich is a flake rather than a pellet, of the two I prefer the chicken pellets for scattering over the soil and the cow manure flakes better for mixing soil for pots, having also used both fresh cow and chicken manure from the farm I prefered the cow manure, as I felt the chicken manure too strong , I can't tell you the analysis of either one just going with growing results

[Peanut]

If that's the case, then that changes everything.
Those nutrient figures are the dry weight figures. They will be accurate for pelleted manure of either type, as the pellets have had their moisture removed. But rotted manure from the farm will be well over 50% water, so the nutrient content will be that much lower.

Yes those figures are from the pellet packaging.

[Peanut]

I've never came across pelleted cow manure but have used 6x manure swhich is a flake rather than a pellet, of the two I prefer the chicken pellets for scattering over the soil and the cow manure flakes better for mixing soil for pots, having also used both fresh cow and chicken manure from the farm I prefered the cow manure, as I felt the chicken manure too strong , I can't tell you the analysis of either one just going with growing results

I'd never come across cow pellets before yesterday either Rary. I think I'll bite the bullet and get one of each and use as you suggest. I am trying to be extra thrifty this year

[muck lover]

I’ve been collecting urine…..
mostly pouring it into compost heaps or leafmould or woodchip piles during winter, but I’m intending to dilute it out a bit and use as a liquid fertilizer this summer. Maybe not on leafy greens but I think tomatoes, fruit bushes, courgettes and cucumbers and pumpkins might like it. It’s free which I really appreciate.

[Peanut]

I’ve been collecting urine…..
mostly pouring it into compost heaps or leafmould or woodchip piles during winter, but I’m intending to dilute it out a bit and use as a liquid fertilizer this summer. Maybe not on leafy greens but I think tomatoes, fruit bushes, courgettes and cucumbers and pumpkins might like it. It’s free which I really appreciate.

I think Bob Flowerdew does that too!

[Nicos]

For an interesting read, have a look at this archived thread…check out the first link…it’s an amazing comparison of NPK values of organic manures…(even though many aren’t available in the uk.)

https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...c-n-p-k-values

[Peanut]

Ooh that's handy, thanks Nicos

[burnie]

I have used urine as an accelerator in my compost bin in the past when the bin was hidden behind some bushes lol..............................

[rary]

Urine was used by a lot of gardeners to feed their leeks, and yes also as an activator for the compost heap but do not use it if you are on antibiotics

[smallblueplanet]

We previously bought (Greenvale) aka 'Rooster Poo' organic (Soil Association) chicken manure pellets. But they seem difficult and expensive to find online

So after a bit of googling I found this brand 'SoilWorx' - they are Irish and say they provide fertilizer approved for use on organic farms. As well as chicken manure pellets they do some with added seaweed. There are some garden centres selling them and on eBay. I've ordered some from this place, I don't know who they are but they have low delivery charges! #fingerscrossed

https://smdirect.net/soilworx-poultr...-227250-p.asp?