Manure Pile

My manure pile is getting huge! I bought a manure spreader recently and have started pileing up the poop. I used to just harrow the manure to break it up and leave whatever I didn't use on the garden lay. This is poop from my dry lot where the horse spend most of the winter. I want to start spreading it in my pasture with my new spreader next spring. My question is do I have to "turn" the manure pile like you do with a compost pile or can I just keep adding to it. Will it break down on its own without being turned? How often should I turn it if I do? I did turn it a few weeks ago and it sort of was smoking in the middle. Is it suppose to do that? I have also been adding the round hay bale bottoms (if you know what I mean) too. Just old nasty hay the horses won't eat. I don't want it to catch on fire. Will it?

I can't believe no one knows what to do with a manure pile ! :o

I asked my neigbor about this yesterday and he said just pile it up and leave it alone. The sun could dry out some of the stuff it needs to be good fertilizer, just like hay. I trust what he says, he has some VERY beautiful horses and he has been playing with horses for all his life. I have just started my poo pile and 5 horses sure make alot of poopoo. I hope this helps you.

Thanks, I was hoping someone would tell me I didn't have to turn it! 8) I am out this afternoon to scoop. I try to do a little every day but was out of town for a few days so its going to be a job.

Its okay if its smoking in the middle, its just steam being released. (was it a chilly day?) the pile retains a lot of heat, I think its something to do with the chemical breakdown processs..

I have seen steam rising from it on a chilly morning, but this was definitely smoke. Its about 6-8' high and about that wide, it had been sitting for some time and I turned the whole thing with the bucket on the tractor. It was way deep in the pile that was smoking, it may have been just getting air to it and if I had just left it alone it wouldn't have done it

It probably could catch a light like a mulch pile does, never heard of one that has though. You shouldnt have to turn it, it will just break down. If its smoking maybe you should use some of it.

Thats what my husband says! I was hoping to wait until late winter early spring to spread it. I may have to break down and get my new manure spreader dirty sooner than I planned.

I don't really have this problem as I bag up the poop and sell it. Where I live there are a lot of avid gardeners who love "organic' fertiliser

I either use it in the garden or post it on frecycle.com to give away...can't sell it around here to many farmers!!!