Circular No. 22. April, 1909. 



MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



Amherst. 



POULTRY MANURES, THEIR TREATMENT AND USE. 

 By William P. Brooks. 



The total number of fowls kept in the state is estimated at two 

 and one-half millions. The average night droppings of medium 

 breeds according to determinations made in this station must amount 

 to 40 pounds per fowl per year. On this basis the amount of poul- 

 •try manure easily collectible from the fowls of the state annually is 

 50,000 tons. If the plant food in a ton of average fresh poultry 

 manure be purchased at current prices in fertilizers, the outlay would 

 amount to nearly $7.50. Observations and experiments indicate 

 that as poultry manure is frequently handled it suffers a loss of one- 

 half or more of the nitrogen it contains when voided before it 

 reaches the land. If a loss of one-half correctly represents the 

 average, the total money value of nitrogen annually wasted from our 

 poultry manures must amount to about $160,000. It is the aim of 

 this circular to show how this loss may be prevented. 



Poultry manures are particularly rich in nitro- 



General character gen and their general characteristics are such 



and composition of that they readily decompose As a result of 



poultry manures, decomposition the manure heats and there is a 



rapid and large loss of moisture and of ammonia. 



The composition is subject to wide variations, due to some extent 

 to differences in feeding, but in far greater degree to methods of 

 handling and keeping. 



The following tables present the results of recent analyses made 

 in our laboratory.* 



♦Credit for these analyses is due Mr. H. D. Haskins and L. S. Walker, Chemists in the 

 fertilizer division of the station. 



