Comments on: Aged Manure – Ultimate Food For Red Worms

By: Candin

Candin — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:11:47 +0000

I forgot to add this. If the well aged horse manure is of no nutritional value. It certainly is cheaper then Peat (and renewable) and is great bedding material. Peat adds no nutritional value and is pretty expensive also. Comments?

Candin

By: Candin

Candin — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:08:28 +0000

I just picked up some real aged horse manure at a ranch. It was in a huge pile and me being concerned with the daily worm medication they give them, wanted to ensure the meds had been well leached out. Not as much concerned with nutriion as I am with wiping out my flock. I will test it on a smal scale and perhaps go back for the “newer” manure?

They provide daily deworming meds to their horses here in Texas from what I understand.

Candin

By: Lee in Iowa

Lee in Iowa — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:00:27 +0000

Hey, Nick! You might not “have access to” horse manure, but you can get access to it. Look in the Yellow Pages and try and find a nearby riding stable. Polite approaches to ask for manure have always worked for me, no matter where I lived. Oftentimes the stable manager will direct you to the oldest pile, for manure you can immediately put on the garden, and to the newer piles which you can use for wormfood. Think about it. Every single horse poops 100 pounds a day! They NEED you to come with buckets and bins and shovel up some of their goodies.

By: Bentley

Bentley — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:45:14 +0000

Hi Scott,
‘Worming’ medication should break down in manure as it ages or if it is composted. My suggestion is to test it out on a small scale if you are concerned, and see how the worms respond.

By: scott

scott — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 21:22:47 +0000

I recently found a source for composted manure to use in my, as of yet to be built, raised garden beds. My thought was to possibly use some of it for dressing my e.f. worm bin started in october. Would medicated cattle manure… if it is medicated… I haven’t asked yet, still be a concern in latter stages for either the garden or a worm bin?

keep up the good work….

By: sheryl

sheryl — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 06:51:28 +0000

To All,

As far as composting with “Indian Blue Worms” they eat almost anything, meat, cheese, even pet feces- whatevers.. I do not add seeds, avacado shells common sense stuff. I’ve had my worms for many years now been composting with my pets feces and they are doing awesome. Aging the manure, I would recommend a 5 gal bucket, drill holes for air ventilation add stredded newspaper, mix in cow feed add to worm bin a week later- let it rot. Tips: Add stredded newspaper to outdoor bins when attracting too much flies, this adds carbon especially need when composting with manure. Always bury manure/food good! Works for my worms!

By: Patricia

Patricia — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 05:26:01 +0000

Nick, I used to work for Home Depot and they DID NOT recommend that product for alot of things. They carried it because it was asked for but it hardly sold. Not knowing where you live I would say save your money. JMO

By: Bentley

Bentley — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:06:07 +0000

Hi Nick – the manure you are talking about would likely be considered VERY well aged – that stuff is basically fully stabilized compost. It might be ok to use in a worm bed, but I’m not sure how much food value would be left. It is worth trying out though.

When I think of aged manure I think of material that still kinda looks like manure, but no longer has the pungent manure smell.

By: Nick

Nick — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 06:37:57 +0000

Hi Bentley,

What exactly constitutes “Aged Manure”?
I have no access to a horse stable.
Would manure bought at a nursery or Home Depot (bagged), be considered aged? Will it be suitable for feeding my red wigglers?

Love your blog!
Keep up the great work.

Nick

By: Patricia

Patricia — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 07:57:11 +0000

Sounds good. Maybe I am just overthinking this whole thing. Worms are much easier and less maintainence than cattle and horses. LOL