Runners like rich living. Compost, well rotted manure, grass clippings anything. I never fertilise mine with anything else so can't comment on the effect artificial fertiliser might have. I am sure they would revel in composted chicken manure.

A traditional method here is to take out the runner bean trench in the autumn and fill it all through the winter with the kinds of stuff you'd put on your compost heap plus any manure you might have. Then you pull the soil back over in the spring and plant your beans.

flora_uk,

Thanks! I will give them some chicken manure along with a bit of organic fertilizer. This fall I will dig the trench and by next spring have it ready for growing the runners -- they will be much happier next year!

DL

DL, to see the difference before and after you apply side dressing, you could snap some pictures. Before and after pics are always, almost always, fun to see.
Just a suggestion....