By popular demand - things to do with Poo!
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2022 8:49 am
As they're designed to be used for heating, thought this section the most appropriate! 
I did know about the idea of compressing manure into bricks/blocks/logs years ago, but it was brought to my attention again recently. Considering the rising costs of heating fuels, it seemed like an appropriate time to take it on as a serious addition to log burning.
I am very fortunate to have a pony and donkey, and I currently collect their droppings (I'll try to keep the words polite!) which eventually break down for excellent compost called "ponkey poo". Let's go one further, and collect the fresh stuff, ram it into moulds, tip out and leave to dry for a few weeks. Then, it becomes a very valuable addition to mix with logs in a woodburner stove. At the moment I've just used a couple of surplus loaf-shaped cake tins (non-stick of course!
) which works well. Poo in it's purest form works best - without shavings or straw. So if you have any equines near you, I'm sure the owners would be more than happy for you to help yourself! 
For the squeamish, the digestion of horses is pretty rubbish. They don't digest stuff well, hence when it comes out t'other end, it's pretty much just mushed up grass/hay (and whatever hard feed they get). That's why they need to be constant grazers of little and often. So, when the "poo bricks" have dried enough, it doesn't smell at all as it resembles mushed up dry grass/hay. I'm trying to perfect my method of making the bricks, without having to invest in an expensive poo-press (but if it works that well, it may be worth it). Just a bit of my time and effort - it's free and never ending! And it keeps the field clean - which is also important for the animals' health.
Chicken poo would work well too - although you'd obviously need a lot more of it, but if it's mixed with their bedding (and still wet), it should stick together.
The last of the first bricks: Looks a bit like weetabix - sorry, are you having your breakfast?!
I did know about the idea of compressing manure into bricks/blocks/logs years ago, but it was brought to my attention again recently. Considering the rising costs of heating fuels, it seemed like an appropriate time to take it on as a serious addition to log burning.
I am very fortunate to have a pony and donkey, and I currently collect their droppings (I'll try to keep the words polite!) which eventually break down for excellent compost called "ponkey poo". Let's go one further, and collect the fresh stuff, ram it into moulds, tip out and leave to dry for a few weeks. Then, it becomes a very valuable addition to mix with logs in a woodburner stove. At the moment I've just used a couple of surplus loaf-shaped cake tins (non-stick of course!
) which works well. Poo in it's purest form works best - without shavings or straw. So if you have any equines near you, I'm sure the owners would be more than happy for you to help yourself! For the squeamish, the digestion of horses is pretty rubbish. They don't digest stuff well, hence when it comes out t'other end, it's pretty much just mushed up grass/hay (and whatever hard feed they get). That's why they need to be constant grazers of little and often. So, when the "poo bricks" have dried enough, it doesn't smell at all as it resembles mushed up dry grass/hay. I'm trying to perfect my method of making the bricks, without having to invest in an expensive poo-press (but if it works that well, it may be worth it). Just a bit of my time and effort - it's free and never ending!
And it keeps the field clean - which is also important for the animals' health.Chicken poo would work well too - although you'd obviously need a lot more of it, but if it's mixed with their bedding (and still wet), it should stick together.
The last of the first bricks: Looks a bit like weetabix - sorry, are you having your breakfast?!
