How will I know when my horse poo is ready to use?

[HeyWayne]

I had a pile of fairly fresh horse poo delivered around Christmas time last year, and I piled it up on the plot and have just left it since.

What are the tell tale signs that it's ready to dig in?

[Flummery]

The horse will have finished with it.

Happy to help!

Actually - it will not be in hard and nasty clumps but will be rich and dark - like baccy. If it crumbles down nicely - it's good to go. I think it might take longer than the 4 cold months of the year

[lainey lou]

I think, (but check first!) that as long as there is no steam or smell it is ok to use.
What are you gonna use it on?

[muckdiva]

I'd say it's probably fine to use by now, but usually the best indication is that it no longer resembles 'droppings' but has broken down into rich looking 'clods' for want of a better word. What the poo was mixed with in the stable, straw, shavings, shredded paper will make a difference. Shavings can take longer to rot down.

I think Flummery's description of 'Baccy' is the ideal, but I wouldn't worry too much - just spread it on top of the beds and let the worms do their work. The main thing you need to be careful of is not to spread really fresh horse poo near plants as it can scorch them.

[HeyWayne]

I was thinking of digging it into a bed for my raspberry canes to go into as a start, but I guess I'd be better digging it in this weekend (weather permitting) and leaving it a couple of weeks before planting?

As far as I remember it's a kinda light brown colour (might be a kind of "crust" though), I haven't dug in to see the "innards" yet.

I don't think it's ever steamed?

[Norm]

Option 2 is to stick your hand in and grab a fist full. When you take your hand out, let go. If it all falls off, it's 'cooked'. If it's still squishy and sticks to your fingers, it's not ready yet. Always a good idea not to try this method immediately before a meal

[Flummery]

Remind me not to shake hands with him!

[Eden]

Does the presence of worms indicate that my poo is cooked and ready? I collected some horse poo this weekend, it was right at the back of the pile at the bottom - it was all shavings and 'bobbles' of poop, I've spread it on top around my blackcurrent and raspberries, but not near the stems - will this be OK

[HeyWayne]

Does the presence of worms indicate that my poo is cooked and ready? I collected some horse poo this weekend, it was right at the back of the pile at the bottom - it was all shavings and 'bobbles' of poop, I've spread it on top around my blackcurrent and raspberries, but not near the stems - will this be OK

I think the presence of worms in your poo means you should see the doctor quick sharpish!

[lainey lou]

LOL!!!
Here we are talking poo AGAIN!
Always talking poo, can't get away from poo.

[Flummery]

If you want the tone lowered - ask Wayne!

[ClayGarden]

Hand in poo! No thanks

[HeyWayne]

LOL!!!
Here we are talking poo AGAIN!
Always talking poo, can't get away from poo.

It's a well known fact that I talk complete poo pretty much all the time *watches several heads nodding*

If you want the tone lowered - ask Wayne!

*speaks in a lower tone* Ahhh yeaah.

Hand in poo! No thanks

But foot is fine?

[Sally]

Bit of an expert on this (all I ever seem to do is shovel it about) - the manure is ready when it starts getting white bits in it, or it looks like its going white. After this it breaks down further and starts to look like stodgy crumbling earth - this is when the worms arrive... thats when its easiest to handle. Then it goes really solid and like clay itself, at this point mix it in with some fresher stuff, which incidently I think is ok (not ideal) to use if you not growing root veg...

[dexterdoglancashire]

Thanks Sally for bring some normality back! Having said that I have been chuckling to myself reading the posts! I now know what to look for in the pony poo I put on my beds before Christmas! Bernie aka DDL