Shed full of sheep dung

johngalway · 06-10-2010 08:15PM #1

Right, as per title, the ould fella has one of these. Shed isn't in use so it's been there a fair long time.

I have been thinking of using it as fertiliser. But I figure I would prefer it to be chopped, or shredded up in some way

The question is, how? Not having access to machinery...

mayo_lad · 06-10-2010 08:48PM

most of the good minarils would probaly be gone out of it by now but if i was you i would load it straght from the shed to a muck spreader or if you are lacking machinery you could clean the shed as you normally would and pile it up then get a contractor to spread it for you

bogman_bass · 06-10-2010 09:33PM

Nitrogen is probably gone but should still have P and K

pakalasa · 07-10-2010 07:07AM

If you pile it in the corner of a field and dont spread it, you'll have nettles in that spot for over 20 years.
Speaking from experience on that one.:D

LostCovey · 07-10-2010 08:05AM

johngalway wrote: »

Right, as per title, the ould fella has one of these. Shed isn't in use so it's been there a fair long time.

I have been thinking of using it as fertiliser. But I figure I would prefer it to be chopped, or shredded up in some way The question is, how? Not having access to machinery...

John,

That stuff is gold dust to anyone with a garden. I think there will be plenty of N, P and K left, but regardless, it is a superb soil conditioner on sandy, peaty, or heavy clays, especially if there is a good share of composted bedding/hay in it.

As regards shredding it, I think elbow grease is the only way. However if its deep enough get an old-style hay-knife and cut it out in benches like turf banks. Otherwise, take a file to your spade and get a good graip.

I emptied a shed of that kind of stuff once and borrowed a small sprinkler from the neighbour (small plastic thing, a few quid in the garden centre), ran it for a day then left the stuff to soften for a weekend. It really worked on the upper levels, it just depends how deep it is.

Anyone who grows their own veg will tell you the value of it.

LostCovey

reilig · 07-10-2010 08:49AM

johngalway wrote: »

Right, as per title, the ould fella has one of these. Shed isn't in use so it's been there a fair long time.

I have been thinking of using it as fertiliser. But I figure I would prefer it to be chopped, or shredded up in some way The question is, how? Not having access to machinery...

Hi John,

The ideal thing to do with it is to take it out and make it into a pile. This pile needs to be covered with a plastic cover to protect it from rain. The plastic cover needs also to be sealed which will help the bedding and manure to ferment (Like silage). As bogman Bass said, the nitrogen would be rightly gone out of it, but by effectively composting it in the way described above you will have a manure next spring that will be high in P and K. It will have rotted well and be almost dust - very easy to handly and suitable for land spreading or for use around the garden on flowers or veg (The smell will go from it too). Composting it for 4 to 6 months will also reduce the volume of the manure by about 25%.

When I'm cleaning out a shed like that I use a silage knife to cut out blocks - its similar to a hayknife, but you operate it with your foot to get the cutting action. I have a buckrake for the tractor which I cut the pins short in (About 3 ft) and I back in underneath it and just lift it out in the blocks. But even if you are going to fork it out, cutting it into blocks will make it easier to get out. Whatever you do, don't wet it - like I did once with a hose - it made each block twice as heavy to lift out and created a real mess.

johngalway · 07-10-2010 09:19AM

Don't talk to me about nettles :rolleyes: When it was put up first the dung used to be horsed out through the side of the shed. Nettles, nettles and more nettles, still!

Contractors, muck spreaders and heavy machinery are all out I'm afraid. The land which will be receiving the dung/compost isn't suitable for much wheeled abuse. Had a 4wd tractor ferrying readymix by transport box through what we considered a dry field. Turned it to sh1te. It may get transport box again yet though with a lighter tractor, would mean a lot of trips! Getting ahead of myself there anyhow.

As for cutting it out. Often cut this shed out with a razor sharp spade and draining drag (not sure if that's the right name, long handled four pronged fork with the prongs bent at 90 degrees to the handle). Smelly work when ya got down to the green gassy stuff

I'm not all that bothered about missing N. Trying to move to a grazing system which will reduce the input of N anyway. I can always throw on a few bags of granulated if it needs it in Spring.

The conundrum, not being able to use the perfect job - the muckspreader, was to have the dung in small enough bits for land spreading. But I think Reilig has solved that for me now with the composting idea.

Would black polythene do for the plastic, or does it have to be clear to rot the dung? I could put a sheet under the dung and a sheet over it and roll and weight the edges maybe to seal all that sheepy goodness in, lol.

reilig · 07-10-2010 09:26AM

johngalway wrote: »

Would black polythene do for the plastic, or does it have to be clear to rot the dung? I could put a sheet under the dung and a sheet over it and roll and weight the edges maybe to seal all that sheepy goodness in, lol.

Black will do the job. I never put any on the ground either - just make sure its secure around the edges and let nature do its work

johngalway · 15-10-2010 05:28PM

Thought of a question about the piling of muck outside. Would the ould lad get into any trouble for me piling the muck up outside, covered by polythene? It wouldn't be on concrete as there is none! Would I br breaking any regs? He's not in any scheme like REPS.

reilig · 15-10-2010 06:20PM

johngalway wrote: »

Thought of a question about the piling of muck outside. Would the ould lad get into any trouble for me piling the muck up outside, covered by polythene? It wouldn't be on concrete as there is none! Would I br breaking any regs? He's not in any scheme like REPS.

Yes you would. Unless its covered and has a drain to a storage tank for runoff you would be breaking the deadline date for slurry / manure spreading. I had that issue with manure in a shed - planner stated that I could clean it out and put it in a pile in a field so long as it was within the dates for slurry spreading.

Has it put a spanner in the works????? :rolleyes:

johngalway · 15-10-2010 06:25PM

reilig wrote: »

Yes you would. Unless its covered and has a drain to a storage tank for runoff you would be breaking the deadline date for slurry / manure spreading. I had that issue with manure in a shed - planner stated that I could clean it out and put it in a pile in a field so long as it was within the dates for slurry spreading.

Has it put a spanner in the works????? :rolleyes:

Yep, rather large one too, holed below the waterline methinks

Could it be heaped inside? Still no tank, and won't be.

johngalway · 15-10-2010 06:38PM

johngalway wrote: »

Yep, rather large one too, holed below the waterline methinks

Could it be heaped inside? Still no tank, and won't be.

If I was to be within the dates for spreading, and I know that's just passed, could I shove it out to compost without tank?

reilig · 15-10-2010 08:35PM

johngalway wrote: »

If I was to be within the dates for spreading, and I know that's just passed, could I shove it out to compost without tank?

I don't know for sure, so it would be safe to check with your planner. I have a neighbour who's an organic sheep farmer and he has his piles out in the fields and covered them a few weeks ago. So it could be a runner.

Maybe you got your sheds cleaned out last week

Shed full of sheep dung

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