Chicken manure is one of the best natural fertilizers you can use in your garden. It’s rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other nutrients that are essential for plant growth. Chicken manure helps condition the soil, improve drainage and water retention. It also contains beneficial microorganisms that help suppress plant diseases.
If you want to buy chicken manure, you have several options
Local Feed Stores or Co-ops
A lot of feed stores and agricultural co-ops in the area sell chicken manure, usually by the bag or in bulk. The manure comes from nearby chicken farms.
Advantages of buying from a local store
- Support small/local businesses
- Lower cost
- Often sold pre-bagged for convenience
- Can inspect and smell product before buying
Some drawbacks:
- Limited selection
- Quality can vary
- May need large vehicle to transport bulk purchases
Visit the feed store or call ahead to find out if they sell chicken manure. It’s also sold seasonally by well-known national chains like Tractor Supply Company
Online Stores
Several online stores sell bagged, dried chicken manure that can be shipped directly to your door.
Some of the most popular online sellers include:
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Amazon – Carries various bag sizes from multiple brands, ships via Prime.
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Home Depot – Sells Nature’s Care and Espoma brands in 25 lb bags. Offers free shipping over $45.
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Walmart – Carries Expert Gardener and Organic Mechanics chicken manure. Free shipping on orders $35+ or free store pickup.
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eBay – Individual sellers offer chicken manure, compare seller ratings.
Benefits of ordering online:
- Convenient, delivered to your home
- Wide selection of brands/sizes
- Can buy large quantities with ease
Downsides:
- Shipping costs, especially for heavy bags
- Cannot inspect product before buying
- Potential shipping delays
Make sure to factor in shipping costs on top of the product price when ordering online. Also check the seller’s refund policy in case you need to return unsatisfactory product.
Direct from a Local Farm
Getting chicken manure straight from a local poultry farm is another option. The manure will be completely unprocessed – it will contain more moisture and may have a strong smell.
You’ll need to make arrangements with a farmer near you to purchase and transport the manure. Some things to consider:
- Raw manure may need to be composted further before using
- Transporting bulk manure can be messy and difficult
- Ensure the chickens are not given antibiotics or hormones
- Get manure only from healthy flocks
You can find a chicken farm seller by joining local farming groups or going to farmers markets. This is a more hands-on approach for obtaining chicken manure.
Key Things to Look for When Buying
No matter where you buy chicken manure, inspect it closely before purchasing:
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Color – Should be a dark brown/black color. Avoid manure with green, yellow or white hues.
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Smell – A musty, ammonia-like smell is normal. Avoid foul odors like rotten eggs.
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Texture – Granular texture with some fine powder. Steer clear of manure with large clumps.
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Packaging – Bag should be intact with no rips or tears. Check for expiry dates if applicable.
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Certifications – Look for OMRI listed, CDFA registered or organic certifications to ensure quality product.
How Much to Buy?
Bagged chicken manure is usually sold in 25-40 lb bags. The coverage depends on your soil needs:
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For fertilizing an entire garden: Calculate area and buy 1 bag per 200-500 sq ft
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For individual plants: Use 2-4 lbs per large plant, 1-2 lbs for smaller plants
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For flower beds: Apply a 2-3″ layer and work into soil
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For lawns: Use 20-40 lbs per 1000 sq ft
It’s better to start small and reapply more as needed. Too much chicken manure can burn plants! Buy from a store with a good return policy in case you need to exchange excess product.
Using Chicken Manure Safely
Fresh chicken manure is a great fertilizer, but it has a lot of nitrogen and can hurt plants if you use too much of it. Follow these tips for safe use:
- Allow bagged manure to dry out further before using
- Spread manure evenly and work into soil – don’t leave clumps
- Wait 2-4 weeks after application to plant seeds or seedlings
- Mix with carbon-rich materials like sawdust or dried leaves
- Don’t pile manure around plant stems or trunks
- Wear gloves and wash hands after working with manure
With proper application, chicken manure provides a slow-release nutrient boost. It’s affordable, widely available and improves overall soil health. Check local feed stores first, but don’t hesitate to order online or buy in bulk if you need large quantities.
Buy Raw Chicken Manure
What’s the best fertilizer for growing organic corn in Minnesota? Raw chicken manure is a good way to get the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that many grasses, including corn, need. We’ve been selling and delivering raw chicken manure in and around Central Minnesota since 2012.
There are great results for our farmers when they work with an agronomist to figure out how much chicken manure they should use.
One of the best and least expensive ways to grow an organic crop that gives a lot of food is to use raw chicken litter. Not only will we deliver your raw poultry litter, we’ll spread it for you, too.
Contact Brian at Crop Fertility Services: (320)583-3465
CFS Chicken Manure contains the major nutrients (N,P,K).
Poultry Manure has been shown to decrease the bulk density, and to increase water holding capacity, oxygen diffusion rate, organic matter content, and overall stability of soils.
Crop Fertility Services is also known for it’s pelletized chicken manure, which we sell and deliver throughout the entire Upper Midwest and Canada.
GBO Composted Chicken Manure
FAQ
What plants don’t like chicken manure?
Plants that don’t like chicken manure include acid-loving plants like blueberries, azaleas, and rhododendrons, as well as root vegetables like carrots and parsnips, and some leafy greens.
Is bagged chicken manure ready to use?
Most store-bought manure that comes in bags has already been composted, so there’s no need to worry about that. Many people use it without any issues.
Is chicken manure the best fertilizer?
Fertilizer. About two to three times better than cattle manure, chicken poop is one of the best sources of fertilizer. Remember to age chicken manure for at least one season before use in gardening, fresh chicken fertilizer is “too hot” and may cause nitrogen burn to plants.