I do use chicken manure. However as you said it is really hot so I do use it somewhat sparingly and let it cool off by putting it my raised beds in the fall. I have been using it for 5 years now and I like my results. You can also buy composted chicken manure mixed with soil.

In the Soil, Compost, and Mulch form I saw this link. http://search.gardenweb.com/search/?term=chicken+manure&x=0amp;y=0

I hope it will give you some helpful info. Carmellia

Hi andrea - Did this article explain how or why this supposedly works? And did it stress composted manure rather than fresh stuff?

I have used chicken manure in my compost for years and that compost gets added to the garden of course. But adding straight CM directly would seem to be awfully hot and high in N for tomatoes. Definitely so if it is fresh. Not to mention the smell and fly attractant problems it has. ;)

Dave

PS: I thought I had read somewhere that V. Wilt wasn't a problem in CA. Is that true? According to the article is this supposed to work for other soil-borne diseases as well?

I use Cockadoodle DOO which is a pure organic dried chicken manure that is heat sterilized and made granular. It has NPK ratio of 5-4-3. That is a well balanced fertilizer. Also the 9% calcium content is great for tomatoes. This is a locally made product produced here in New Hampshire though so it would not be cost effective for California.

Never use raw manure in the garden, it is unhealthy and is NOT ORGANIC either. Use of raw manure in any form is strictly forbidden for organic gardening according to the government certification regs. You have to compost it first.

Hi andrea - Did this article explain how or why this supposedly works? And did it stress composted manure rather than fresh stuff?
I have used chicken manure in my compost for years and that compost gets added to the garden of course. But adding straight CM directly would seem to be awfully hot and high in N for tomatoes. Definitely so if it is fresh. Not to mention the smell and fly attractant problems it has. ;)

Dave

PS: I thought I had read somewhere that V. Wilt wasn't a problem in CA. Is that true? According to the article is this supposed to work for other soil-borne diseases as well?
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hi dave,

we do have verticillium wilt here in california. the article did not say HOW chicken manure works to reduce the incidence...i imagine that it probably promotes some sort of fungal or bacterial activity that attacts the v-fungus.

they didn't say to use composted poultry manure...but i thought that was just good common sense ;) .

i'm wondering though...for people who add the chicken manure in the fall, i garden year round. i plant cole crops in the winter. will i still have the benefits of chicken manure if i add it in the fall or will my cabbage and chard suck up the nutrients before i set my tomatoes out in spring?

I'm in Georgia an I used chicken manure on 2 of my tomato plants an they are wilting it was fresh, mixed it with the soil. Will not do it again. You have to compost it first.