How to Use Rabbit Manure as Fertilizer

Gardeners worldwide consider rabbit manure to be one of God’s gifts to mankind. The manure of rabbits is an easy-to-use fertilizer, which constitutes 2.4% nitrogen, 1.4% phosphoric acid, and 0.6% potash.

Rabbit Pellets

Unlike in the case of other manures, it is not necessary to age rabbit manure prior to application. Apply it around plants while it is still fresh as it is not harmful in its natural state.

Storage and Application: Collect rabbit manure and store it in a dry condition. When required, sprinkle it easily around the plants or pots by hand.

Pellet Tea

Pellet tea is another form in which rabbit manure can be applied.

Preparation: Soak the pellets in a bucketful of water for some time.

Application: 

• Once the pellets have sufficiently soaked up the water, pour the manure solution around the plant.
• If you usually use a fertilizer spreader to apply fertilizers, then use it to split up the pellets well under water pressure.
• If you are someone who is used to building a compost heap periodically, then add the liquid pellet mixture to the heap to allow it to blend in with the other components.

Rabbit Manure as Food for Worms

In addition to the direct methods of use of rabbit manure as fertilizer, indirect methods wherein it is used as a feeding and bedding material for worms are also beneficial. Do not use fresh manure for this purpose as it has a high percentage of nitrogen and, combined with the rabbit urine that could have gotten mixed with the pellets, could prove to be poisonous to the worms. Prep the manure well before use in such cases.

Preparation:

• Prepare the rabbit manure: In order to prepare the manure, expose it to a temperature of between 130° and 150°F for a few days.
• Test the readiness of the manure: Keep a test tub in which to test out the response of the worms to the prepared manure. To do this test, transfer some of the prepared manure to the test tub and introduce a few worms into it. Put a lid on it and leave it undisturbed for at least 15 minutes. After this time, lift the lid and check if the worms are sticking on to the walls of the tub. If they are, then you know that the manure has to age some more before it can be used on the worm beds.
• Balance out the carbon:nitrogen ratio: Rabbit manure has a greater proportion of nitrogen than carbon. So, it is vital that you balance out the C:N ratio by mixing it with materials with high carbon content, such as wood chips, and straw. Remove excess salts in the manure by passing water through it.
• Add manure to worm beds: Add thin layers of manure over worm beds along with the carbon-rich materials and allow the compost to work its magic.