SERIES 36 | Episode 27
Hannah explains how to safely compost pet poo.
Animal manures are a rich source of plant and soil nutrients. However, dog and cat manure need to be treated differently to your usual cow, sheep, or chicken manure. This is due to their manure potentially containing pathogens and medications.
Compost in a separate pile or system away from your regular plant and veggie scrap compost. Only ever use it on your ornamental gardens, never your edible crops due to the potential risk of spreading pathogens and coming into direct contact with them. Hannah uses a small plastic compost bin with a secure lid. She recommends adding dry, brown leaves each time you add poo, to balance out the carbon and nitrogen ratio and to help cut down on any smells.
When adding pet compost to the garden, make sure to dig a hole at least 15 centimetres deep and bury it. Pet manure can contain Toxoplasma gondii, which can cause severe illness in people with vulnerable immune systems and can be deadly to wildlife. If you’ve recently given your pet worm medication, hold off composting their poo for at least one week to ensure it doesn’t hurt any worms in your compost system.
SERIES 36 | Episode 27
Hannah explains how to safely compost pet poo.
Animal manures are a rich source of plant and soil nutrients. However, dog and cat manure need to be treated differently to your usual cow, sheep, or chicken manure. This is due to their manure potentially containing pathogens and medications.
Compost in a separate pile or system away from your regular plant and veggie scrap compost. Only ever use it on your ornamental gardens, never your edible crops due to the potential risk of spreading pathogens and coming into direct contact with them. Hannah uses a small plastic compost bin with a secure lid. She recommends adding dry, brown leaves each time you add poo, to balance out the carbon and nitrogen ratio and to help cut down on any smells.
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