All the Ways You Can Use Goat Manure

If you own goats, you know that they produce a lot of manure. While that might sound like a problem, goat manure is actually a valuable resource that can be put to good use in many ways. Whether you’re a gardener, farmer, or just someone who wants to reduce waste, here are some creative and practical ways to use goat manure.

Composting with Goat Manure

How Much to Buy: For a standard compost pile (3×3 feet), you’ll need approximately 50-100 pounds of goat manure.

Goat manure is an excellent addition to your compost pile. Because it contains both nitrogen and carbon, it helps create a balanced compost that breaks down efficiently. When properly composted, goat manure turns into a rich, dark soil amendment that improves plant health and soil structure.

Composting Tips:

• Mix 2 parts manure with 1 part carbon-rich material (like dried leaves, straw, or wood shavings) to balance nitrogen levels.
• Turn the compost every 2-3 weeks to ensure even decomposition.
• Wait 3-6 months before using it in your garden to allow harmful bacteria to break down.

Soil Enrichment & Top Dressing

How Much to Buy: For a 100-square-foot garden bed, you’ll need 20-30 pounds of composted goat manure.

Goat manure is packed with essential nutrients that improve soil fertility, structure, and water retention. It enhances soil aeration and helps plants grow stronger and healthier.

How to Use It:

• Spread a 1-inch layer of composted manure over garden beds and lightly mix it into the topsoil.
• Use 1 part manure with 3 parts soil for potting mixes.
• Apply a thin layer of goat manure as a top dressing around plants to provide a slow release of nutrients.

Mulching

How Much to Buy: For a 10×10-foot garden area, you’ll need 40-50 pounds of manure to create a 1-inch mulch layer.

Goat manure can be used as mulch to help retain moisture in the soil and suppress weeds. When spread around plants, it slowly breaks down, providing a steady release of nutrients.

How to Use It:

• Apply a 1-2 inch layer around the base of plants but avoid direct contact with stems to prevent rot.
• Refresh the mulch every 2-3 months as it decomposes.

Lawn and Pasture Boost

How Much to Buy: For a 1,000-square-foot lawn or pasture, you’ll need 20-30 pounds of composted goat manure.

If you have a lawn or pasture, goat manure can be used to enrich the grass, making it greener and more resilient. It provides slow-release nutrients that strengthen the root system and improve soil health.

How to Use It:

• Spread a ¼-inch layer of composted manure over your lawn and water it in.
• For pastures, apply 20-30 pounds of composted manure per 1,000 square feet in early spring or fall.
• Avoid using fresh manure on grass to prevent burning.

Growing Worms for Vermicomposting

How Much to Buy: For a standard worm bin (2×3 feet), you’ll need 10-15 pounds of goat manure.

If you’re into worm farming, goat manure makes an excellent food source for red wigglers and other composting worms. It provides them with the necessary nutrients to produce high-quality worm castings, which are even richer in nutrients than traditional compost.

How to Use It:

• Mix 1 part manure with 3 parts bedding material (like shredded paper or coconut coir) for a balanced worm bin.
• Keep the bin moist but not soggy, and feed worms small amounts every few days.

Livestock Bedding

How Much to Buy: For a small coop or stall, you’ll need 50-100 pounds of manure mixed with straw or hay.

Goat manure mixed with straw or hay can be used as bedding for chickens or other small livestock. Over time, the bedding will break down, creating a natural compost that can be added to the garden.

How to Use It:

• Use a 3-4 inch layer in animal stalls and replace as needed.
• After removal, compost the bedding for 2-3 months before applying it to crops.

Fuel for Heating

How Much to Buy: To make fuel bricks, you’ll need 5-10 pounds of dried manure per brick.

Dried goat manure can be used as a fuel source for heating. In some rural areas, people form goat manure into dried bricks or pellets that can be burned in stoves or fire pits.

How to Use It:

• Dry manure for 4-6 weeks in the sun until completely hardened.
• Press into bricks or pellets and store in a dry place for future use.

Pest Control in Gardens

How Much to Buy: For a small garden, you’ll need 5-10 pounds of manure to create a thin deterrent layer.

Some gardeners claim that goat manure can help deter certain pests when spread around plants. It’s thought that the scent of goat droppings may keep some animals, like deer and rabbits, from munching on crops.

How to Use It:

• Sprinkle a thin layer around plant beds, avoiding direct contact with leaves.
• Reapply every 4-6 weeks or after heavy rain.

Biogas Production

How Much to Buy: A small biogas digester requires 5-10 pounds of fresh manure per day for optimal gas production.

If you’re into sustainable energy solutions, goat manure can be used in a biogas digester to produce methane gas. This gas can be used for cooking, heating, or generating electricity, making it a potential off-grid energy solution.

How to Use It:

• Feed 5-10 pounds of fresh manure per day into a small-scale biogas digester.
• Maintain a steady temperature of 95-105°F (35-40°C) for optimal gas production.

Mushroom Cultivation

How Much to Buy: For a 10-square-foot mushroom bed, you’ll need 20-30 pounds of manure mixed with straw or sawdust.

Goat manure can be used as a growing medium for mushrooms. Many types of fungi thrive in nutrient-rich manure, making it an excellent substrate for homegrown mushrooms like oyster or button varieties.

How to Use It:

• Mix 1 part manure with 2 parts straw or sawdust to create a suitable growing substrate.
• Pasteurize the mixture by steaming or heating it to 140-160°F for 1 hour before inoculating with mushroom spores.

Buy Goat Manure Straight from Our Farm

If you’re looking for high-quality goat manure for your garden, compost, or farm, we sell goat manure straight from our farm! Whether you need it in bulk or smaller quantities, reach out to us to get your supply.

Goat manure isn’t just waste—it’s a valuable resource that can benefit your garden, farm, and even home energy needs. Instead of letting it pile up, consider using it as fertilizer, compost, mulch, or even fuel. With a little creativity, goat poop can turn from a nuisance into a sustainable solution for your homestead!