Chicken Manure - Questions about selling it - Anybody do it?

[wordgirl]

I hope I'm posting this in the right spot.

I am trying to find ways (in addition to selling eggs

) to make a little money with my chickens. I've heard of people selling manure (or the compost?) and was wondering exactly how that was done and if people even want to buy it. What would be involved in getting it ready for sale, and what would you sell it for?

Thanks!

 

[Colored Egg Farmer]

we have sold some to regualr farms to put on there fields fresh from the barn but that was in bulk (trailer load)

I would do something like compost since most would put it straight into there garden but you could sell it both ways becasue some people like to compost it themselves. I always thought of just selling manure by the 5 gallon bucket full or by the truckload and having them pay me what they think its worth etc etc. but woudl have a minimum in my head like maybe 20 dollers for a truckload or 2-3 doller a bucket load with the buyer bringing there own buckets.

 

[greenSearcher]

Questions are to get a scope on what you might do. So to start, how many chickens do you have, layers and all age groups.

How much manure do you generate? 12 chickens seem like they make lots of manure, but I had less than 3 cubic yards of composted manure, bedding and yard waste compost. This year I will double it or more but I have increased my flocks to about 40.
Is it "straight" or mixed with bedding? Shredded paper bedding composts faster, pine can take 3 months unless you do lots of pile turning. Bedding materials should be as clean as possible. I use only white office paper, or not glossy papers nor newsprint because newsprint jams the shredder. If you know someone that works in an office or other place that has to shred copies of ID it can be a good source of paper.
How are you going to advertise? On your web page w/ a calendar of coop cleaning days could draw gardeners that wish to compost their own.
How will you package it? I read of one lady that alternated layers of poop board scrapings and hay in 5 gal buckets she bought from a local bakery for .50 and sold the compost for $5. Do you have a place to store the stacks of cooking buckets. They will need turning/shaking and topping off during the year. Her egg customers generally were her compost customers and would order ahead for the next season . I am thinking of reusing the scratch and feed bags.

These are some of the questions I have been pondering, since I know there is a need for good compost in our area.

 

[Barry Natchitoches]

I am an avid organic gardener, and use alot of manure. In fact, I got into raising chickens because I wanted the manure for the garden. The eggs were just an extra benefit.


Having said that, I would NEVER PAY MONEY for chicken manure!


The reason for this is because there are too many farmers and chicken growers who are willing to give me their material for free. Or maybe for some help cleaning the coop.


I have no problems at all finding farmers or chicken growers who are willing to give me their manure. For free.


Of course, I make sure and return during harvest season with a heaping basket of fresh, organic vegetables. Finer quality food than they can buy in any grocery store. And frankly, after they eat some of my veggies, they are glad to call me back for more manure.


Why pay good money for something that most people will just give you for free?

 

[tammyd57]

Quote:
I guess that would all depend on where you live too. A lot of towns and cities won't allow residents to have more than 4 chickens. That's not a lot of poop, those chicken owners would probably buy good compost, and their chickenless neighbors would for sure! If you lived near one of those places you could probably really 'clean up' on your cleaning up.

 

[kathyinmo]

I have never sold it. Never thought of that. Actually, I would be happy if someone would come carry off my big ol' pile of shavings and poop. They could have it for free!

 

[justbugged]

I have tried to sell CM, but I had no response to the craigslist ad. My inLaws take some of the CM, and I am going to use more of it in my gardens.

 

[NHchicks]

Does chicken manure have to "mature" for a while before you can add it to your garden? I thought I heard someone saying to let it sit a year first or the ammonia will strip the soil.

 

[CKNWSPR]

I am an avid organic gardener, and use alot of manure. In fact, I got into raising chickens because I wanted the manure for the garden. The eggs were just an extra benefit.


Having said that, I would NEVER PAY MONEY for chicken manure!


The reason for this is because there are too many farmers and chicken growers who are willing to give me their material for free. Or maybe for some help cleaning the coop.


I have no problems at all finding farmers or chicken growers who are willing to give me their manure. For free.


Of course, I make sure and return during harvest season with a heaping basket of fresh, organic vegetables. Finer quality food than they can buy in any grocery store. And frankly, after they eat some of my veggies, they are glad to call me back for more manure.


Why pay good money for something that most people will just give you for free?

Why? Let me answer that as calmly as possible. Because us chicken owners who care for and feed our birds only the best food and give them so much love deserve a little kickback and appreciation for if it weren't us paying the high feed bill and housing them you wouldn't have the chance to take advantage of the benefits chicken manure gives the gardener the best fertilizer known to a vegetable garden. Do you think just our food prices have gone up? I used to pay 14.99 for a 40-pound bag of feed now it's almost 25.00. You sound like a cheap, ugly person for saying that. The money I use to feed my birds is just as good as yours. You may want to rethink your selfish comment.

 

[FunClucks]

Why? Let me answer that as calmly as possible. Because us chicken owners who care for and feed our birds only the best food and give them so much love deserve a little kickback and appreciation for if it weren't us paying the high feed bill and housing them you wouldn't have the chance to take advantage of the benefits chicken manure gives the gardener the best fertilizer known to a vegetable garden. Do you think just our food prices have gone up? I used to pay 14.99 for a 40-pound bag of feed now it's almost 25.00. You sound like a cheap, ugly person for saying that. The money I use to feed my birds is just as good as yours. You may want to rethink your selfish comment.

I read that post you are objecting to as a severe difference of personal opinion, not as an attack. I totally see where you're coming from and think that it is reasonable to charge money for good compost (I would pay for it), but you may want to rethink the personal attack. Not cool.