Compost corner - doggy do's

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Compost corner - doggy do's
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Maranne

Joined: 12 Apr 2005
Posts: 16
Location: Orkney Islands, Scotland

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 05 6:40 pm Post subject: Compost corner - doggy do's
Sorry to be indelicate, but what is the reason that some books advice not to put dog droppings on the compost heap. I have been composting my canine friends droppings for several years now with no obviuos ill effects. Is there a real danger or is it just British sensiblity?? Cheers Martyn.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 05 6:42 pm Post subject:
I think the risk is from worms or other parasites. General rule of thumb is to only use vegetarians manure. I have no idea what parasite though so if anyone has any 'solid' I'd also be interested.

Nanny

Joined: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 4520
Location: carms in wales

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 05 6:44 pm Post subject: doggy doo's
i always assumed that it was because dogs have a diet high in meat content which made it the wrong stuff to compost......like kitty clunks - you don't compost them either though yo can compost the cat litter if it is wood or paper based our doggy do's and kitty clunnks go directly into the septic tank there to disintegrate with our own..............

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 05 6:57 pm Post subject:
I think the problem is roundworm, Toxocara Canis. Have a look here: https://www.extension.umn.edu/projects/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/h238manure-dog-cat.html

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 05 7:00 pm Post subject:
I won't copy, but I will have a look later at the HDRA site - they have advice on composting...that kind of stuff...the advice is generally against and there are several warnings, linked as people say here to spreading disease, as far as I know. But then, it's got to go somewhere I wonder if you have a reed bed system etc for your house, presumably, you can dispose of Fido's produce in there?

SparklyWellies

Joined: 24 Mar 2005
Posts: 88
Location: Oxfordshire

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 05 7:22 pm Post subject:
I don't have anything technical to add like all you wise persons but I just couldn't add my doggy's finest to my compost as a matter of yuk yukky yuk. Sorry, not very helpful.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 05 7:25 pm Post subject:
No, helpful I think! I don't really have much problem with the chicken's...er, well the other thing that comes out of the egg end...(I just have a problem with referring to it). But yes, the mutt's stuff, well, it's just nasty. It can't be how substantial it is because I don't look on sheep or cow or horse stuff the same way.

SparklyWellies

Joined: 24 Mar 2005
Posts: 88
Location: Oxfordshire

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 05 7:31 pm Post subject:
Edited for using long words and not saying what I meant. I can't use my doggy's stuff because it makes me feel a bit ill lovely as she is. Sorry Bugs. Last edited by SparklyWellies on Fri Apr 22, 05 7:54 pm; edited 1 time in total

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 05 7:35 pm Post subject:

SparklyWellies wrote:

So I can't ever imagine adding to anything I might grow for eating.

Sorry.

Oh no, definitely the advise is no to things for eating. But you can potentially keep a different heap/location for that, and if necessary it could be used on ornamentals, hedging, lawn, etc (once it's in a fit state).

I'm not advising it - I share your concerns - but I wouldn't say anyone was wrong to find a solution of their own for it

Maranne

Joined: 12 Apr 2005
Posts: 16
Location: Orkney Islands, Scotland

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 05 7:38 pm Post subject:
Thanks for the links and the info folks. It seems that doggy do is potentially a valuable fertilizer but the risk of worm infestation is greater than the gain. I suppose I had better chuck it away in the septic tank. I must admit that I'm not surprized by the reaction of some to this product and that is why I thought the reason might be emotional rather than scientific Cheers Martyn.

SparklyWellies

Joined: 24 Mar 2005
Posts: 88
Location: Oxfordshire

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 05 7:39 pm Post subject:
Oh OK

Gertie

Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 1638
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 05 8:02 pm Post subject:

Hi folks, reading this thread reminded me of the doggy loos you used to be able to buy a few years back - you dug a hole in your garden, fitted this plastic receptacle in it. You could then put your dog's poo in it and something that was added into the 'loo' would help break it down - probably a load of chemicals.

I can't remember seeing these advertised lately - did they get banned or something? Or did they just lose favour?

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 05 8:09 pm Post subject:
Going a step further I've thought about adding man made stuff from a reed bed system to a veg patch or fruit garden. My main concern would be a concentration of heavy metals etc but I've not get that much info. If I have room I like the idea of using that sort of waste in a woodland.

JonO

Joined: 05 Mar 2005
Posts: 119
Location: South Birmingham

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 05 8:36 pm Post subject:
The doggy toilets dug into the ground are still around, I'm sure I saw one at the pet shop the other day.

gavin

Joined: 10 Feb 2005
Posts: 93
Location: Leeds, W Yorks

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 05 8:42 pm Post subject:
The same applies to cat litter - don't use it on the compost heap, for the same reason. I've read somewhere that if you compost at so many degrees, for so many days, the parasites are indeed killed - but small domestic compost heaps don't reach that temperature. All best - Gavin

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