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Using manure from a pellet-fed rabbit

11 years ago

Hi all,

I've read that rabbit manure is the best animal manure and I plan to use it when I start vermicomposting. I would just like to know if the manure from the rabbits would be harmful to the worms if I add grain pellets(which is an animal feed) to their diet. I aim to use hays and grain pellets for a balanced diet.

Thanks.

Comments (5)

  • 11 years ago

    There is no need to use rabbit manure with your worms - the manure can be applied directly to the garden from the bunny cage and I'm sure the worms would prefer fresh veggies and kitchen scraps to the manure anyway.

    btw, make sure the buns get plenty of fresh produce along wth their hay and pellets. And they like fruit too, but not too much. I mixed dried fuits into their pellet mix, as well as some grains and nuts. Bunny granola!!

    Here is a link that might be useful: what to feed your pet rabbit

  • 11 years ago

    Thanks for the quick response and the link.

    So, if I use rabbit manure instead of vermicompost, will it still yield the same results when applied to plants?

    Isn't manure a recipe for a proper C:N(Carbon, Nitrogen) ratio along with the substrates that will be fed to the worms? Do veggies and kitchen scraps be enough for a good vermicast?

    If you have any experience using vermicast and rabbit manure, and had the time to compare them, please enlighten me.

  • 11 years ago

    Red wigglers, also called manure worms, really like manure. You could put the manure directly in the garden, but, in my experience, you can also very easily put it in worm bins, and have a thriving worm population that will process the rabbit manure. If you can manage the logistics, put the worm bins under the cages, and allow the manure to drop directly into the bins. Periodically add bedding, and kitchen scraps, paper, etc., and turn the bins when there is a big build up of materials on top. I simply use an extra bin, and flip the first bin upside down into another one. This, in my opinion, is a very effective method of eliminating anaerobic conditions at the bottom of the bin, and making sure that all the newly added materials at the top get proper moisture so that they can be processed. Note that I generally do not dig in any additions to my bins. I lay all the new materials right on top for a couple weeks, and then flip the whole concoction. I am using quite a few rubbermaid worm bins, processing hundreds of pounds of mostly weeds, scrap paper, and kitchen scraps, so mixing in the materials would be too much of a pain. Following this approach with the rabbits would add very little work to your day. I would suggest at least trying some bins with the rabbit manure, and also would not worry about what you feed the rabbits impacting the worms; the worms can process the manure just fine.
    Renais

  • 11 years ago

    I've fed my worm bin with straight rabbit output. I fed the rabbits with pellets mostly, and with some clippings when available in the winter. The bin was under the cages, so it was a direct output to input setup. I do have a liquids collection from the worm bin and I do occasionally rinse the worm bin, which keeps the worms from remaining in their concentrated filth and the rabbits urine salts.

    The worms reproduced like mad in the rabbit manure, and the manure makes a very good worm product too. The rabbit feed pellets have only small bits of fiber, which the rabbits eat... twice... so the resulting worm cast ends up very fine and non-chunky. It will have a bit of fur binding it together, and I recommend an occasional sprinkling of small wood chips for giving a bit of structure to the final product.

    I'm not sure if composted rabbit manure is better than straight manure. The dried droppings are very easy to handle and mix with other ingredients, and you don't have to worry about separating or loosing any worms with the straight manure.

    As far as I'm concerned, since rabbit manure is one of the only manures generally accepted for direct application to crops, and since it gives excellent results when used raw; the only reason I feed it to worms is to keep the worms fed and to reduce the volume of the manure during the winter when everything is frozen. It also helps keep the bin warmer in the winter to have a steady input. Otherwise, it's ready to use fresh from the source or from the pile.

  • 11 years ago

    When we had rabbits, I shoveled the waste in the garden. Nursery man told me it make great fertilizer. No rabbits now so I use Milorganite. It does not burn, but will smother grass if you use to much. It will really give new trees and shrubs a jump start.

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