Advantages and Disadvantages of Poultry Manure

In the UK, there’s a recent demand for organic products and sustainable agriculture. It leaves farmers investing in various methods to meet these needs. One of those is introducing poultry manure into their farming systems. 

Poultry manure mostly contains chicken faeces and urine. This might seem like a basic farming by-product. However, this fertiliser comes with specific execution methods farmers must oblige to. If not, businesses could face serious environmental issues, as well as legal ones.

In this guide, we’ll look at why farmers use poultry manure, what the advantages (and disadvantages) are, and how to use it safely within your farming business.

Why do farmers use poultry manure as fertiliser?

Farmers are always looking for ways to grow healthy crops and vegetation in an efficient manner. Pelleted poultry manure provides valuable benefits – to both plants and the business. Not only is it cost-effective, but it can encourage sufficient crop growth.

However, applying poultry manure isn’t as simple as you think. Farmers are obliged to use it without causing environmental damages. Some risks include nutrient imbalances, pathogen risks, and odour issues. Any number of these could lead to serious health and safety risks.

We’ve weighed up the advantages and disadvantages of poultry manure in the farming industry. Let’s look at these factors in more depth.

What are the advantages of poultry manure?

Rich in nutrients

One of the biggest advantages of using poultry manure relates to nutrients. Believe it or not, this form of manure is bursting with essential minerals necessary for plant growth. Some of these include phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium.

Some farmers choose to use other forms of animal manure as part of their fertiliser system. However, chicken manure has higher levels of these plant-enhancing vitamins. It’s definitely a preferred choice for many businesses. 

Faster growth qualities

When using poultry manure fertiliser, the molecular structure of the soil is like nothing else. This super-boosted version is found to have all kinds of enhanced organic qualities.

For example, soil structure, water retention, and aeration methods. With these super-growth qualities, poultry manure soil helps enhance any plant they host.

Cost-efficient option

Believe it or not, poultry manure is actually the most cost-efficient fertiliser out there. Some people may see this as an annoying waste-product in farming. But this product helps farmers make significant savings.

Poultry manure is also a lot cheaper than most chemically-made fertilisers. So, you can imagine why this is an appealing option for everyone, not just chicken farmers.

Sustainable benefits

Recycling plays a huge part in the farming industry. What portrays this better than utilising your poultry manure? Finding a way to reuse mass waste, like chicken poop, is something many in the farming industry have learnt to adapt.

In the end, farming is an industry whose actions have a heavy impact on society and the environment. In the end, it’s all about making a smarter choice for the business and beyond.

Longevity of production

In agriculture, it’s not about the parameters of your land that’s important – it’s the quality of the ground. When your soil is exceptional, it helps with the longevity of your vegetation production.

Poultry manure is said to release nutrients at a slow, controlled rate. This might sound like a bad thing; but a steady trajectory is a good thing. It means crops can receive a sufficient nutrient supply throughout the entire season.

What are the disadvantages of poultry manure?

Not suitable for all plants

Whilst the nutritional qualities are arguably higher in chicken manure, it doesn’t mean it’s suitable for all plants and vegetation. 

For some crops, poultry manure causes an overload of nutrients, which can actually stunt growth. And it’s not just plants, it can also overwhelm others in surrounding areas. For example, it can cause nutrient imbalances to the PH levels in natural bodies of water.

Causes poultry dust hazards

Poultry dust is a mixture of harmful substances; like faecal material, chicken skin, bacteria and fungi. These can collectively cause acute and chronic respiratory illnesses to those in regular contact.

Workers who remove manure from hen houses are at highest risk. Farmers must risk assess the process and provide appropriate training and respiratory protective equipment.

Attack from pathogens

Dangerous bacteria, like Salmonella or E. Coli, are found in traces of poultry manure pellets. Not only are they seriously harmful to humans, but they can also affect plant health, too.

Farmers must follow strict procedures to ensure poultry manure fertiliser doesn’t possess such pathogens. If not, you could end up spreading an active virus to surrounding areas.

Causes odour issues

Another major downfall that comes with poultry manure… is the smell. This might seem like an unavoidable issue for farmers, but it can lead to problems of odour pollution.

Without proper procedures, smell issues may affect neighbouring people and businesses. Odour problems usually occur when the compost isn’t produced or aged properly.

Overproduction of weed seed

Some farmers have found poultry manure soil is a leading factor for weed production. Weed seeds are hard to manage, as they can disrupt and impact the growth quality of plants.

Farmers must manage their composting methods to minimise the risk of weed seeds from sprouting. This not only benefits their crops, but also the surrounding lands.

How to use poultry manure on your farming premises

The farming industry plays a huge part when it comes to sustainability – and that can include using poultry manure. When used well, farmers can encourage healthy growth for the business and their surrounding environment.

Let’s take a look at how to use composted poultry manure on your farming premise:

Create your composting process

The first step farmers should take is creating a composting process. If you decide to add poultry manure pellets to your compost, it must be done through proper methods. 

Through the right techniques, manure can be made safely whilst protecting your crops and the environment. One wrong move may cause all kinds of problems; like pathogen levels, weed growth, and smell issues.

Test your soil levels

Farmers should follow methods to test poultry manure compost nutrient levels properly. This should be done before, during, and after applying this super-manure to your crops.

With proper testing in place, farmers can prevent nutrient imbalances that ruins the soil’s growth abilities. This results in poor harvest and overall business productivity.

Manage your application methods

The next step you should consider is how to apply manure into the land. The right amount should be used to help crops properly, without affecting the environment nearby.

When this process is managed well, you’ll be able to control nutrient dispersion and over-usage. Your methods should also include fertiliser management during seasonal issues, like heavy rain.

Align with pest management 

Dealing with pests is part-and-parcel in the farming industry. Whatever method you use, be sure it aligns with your fertiliser methods.

Managing this method ensures your soil’s health is cared for, as well as plant growth. It can also help control and even eliminate the use of chemical pesticides – helping you manifest a more environmentally-friendly farming system.

Get expert advice on managing poultry manure with Peninsula

Farmers will use all kinds of methods to help enhance their crops and harvests. When using poultry manure as fertiliser, it’s always best to ensure its managed properly without affecting the environment.

Peninsula offers expert advice on managing poultry manure. We offer 24-hour H&S advice – ensuring your employees work in the safest manner. 

Want to find out more? Contact us on 0800 028 2420 and book a free consultation with one of our Health and Safety consultants today.