I have had chickens for 4 years now (nope, not getting so many eggs anymore but that's the way it goes). I used to have such a lovely rose garden in the back yard and used commercial fertilizers. With the chickens I moved to compost tea and added compost on a regular basis. Alas, the girls really like to eat my roses. I think I got the billy-goat kind of chickens and they are masquerading as cochins. I no longer fertilize anything in the back yard and the apple & orange production is off as well.
Does anyone have a good source for fertilizer with chickens? Thanks.
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I know that roses need acidic ph and pine needles are great for that. Try using them for mulch around your rose bushes. They are great for blueberry bushes also.
We use fish emulsion, liquid seaweed, rabbit manure, goat manure, and composted poultry manure here on our little farm. For the past 2 years, we have raised our rabbits underneath a few of our citrus trees, letting their excrement drop right on the ground. The citrus trees are gorgeous and have done very well with this type of fertilizer. I also use rabbit manure for our apple trees. Additionally, since you have chickens, you can compost their manure in a compost pile with kitchen scraps, garden clippings, and the like, and put your chicken poo to work for you. :) Sarah
Awesome Sarah, I use primarily goat and rabbit manure, but the fish water is something new for me. I still compost it by putting it in the fallow beds and cover with straw a month prior to planting. I have been told that it can go directly in with the planting, but the urine makes it a little too acidic. I do not have any trees to feed (yet) but I could see how they would love the rabbit stuff right from the bunny.
I have chickens and that goes to the compost pile as you have suggested. All my animals are fed an organic diet so that is also a benefit. I love this stuff!
I use fish emulsion for roses. Actually, this last year, I have been using the fish water from my aquaponics set up.
I will give that a try. thanks