Why Rabbit Poop!

Rabbit manure is environmentally friendly and organic. It originates from a creature that subsists on a diet of fresh greens and vegetables, so it is free from the harmful products found in synthetic fertilizers that can undermine your plant and soil health. In utilizing rabbit manure, you’re choosing a non-chemical and natural fertilizer that boosts your garden while preserving the earth’s ecosystem. Below are several reasons why it's considered one of the best fertilizers:

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1. Nutrient-rich:

Rabbit manure is rich in essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK), which are crucial for plant growth and development. It also contains beneficial trace elements such as calcium, magnesium, boron, zinc, manganese, sulfur, copper and cobalt, just to name a few, which can lend a hand in enhances soil drainage, structure, and moisture retention. Rabbit manure typically contains 2.4% nitrogen, 1.4% phosphorus, and 0.60% potassium, making it a well-balanced fertilizer.

NPK Values: Let's take a look at the NPK values (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium) of different animal manures:
 

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As you can see, rabbit manure ranks at the top of the list in terms of nutrient content . These nutrients are essential for plant growth and development.

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​(Reference: https://www.allotment-garden.org/composts-fertilisers/npk-nutritional-values-animal-manures-compost/).

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2. Low to no odor and weed seeds: Unlike some other manures, rabbit manure has low odor, making it more pleasant to handle. Additionally, it is less likely to contain weed seeds, reducing the risk of introducing weeds into your garden or farm (Reference: https://riseandshinerabbitry.com/2012/03/31/the-benefits-and-uses-of-rabbit-manure/).

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3. Fast decomposition: Rabbit manures high Nitrogen helps to heat the compost quicker and at a hotter temp which make it  decompose quickly, releasing its nutrients into the soil faster compared to some other types of manure. This helps in improving soil fertility promptly and supporting healthy plant growth and encourages microbial activity that helps to break down the higher fiber things like straw or grass clippings in your pile. (Reference: https://morningchores.com/rabbit-fertilizer/).

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4. Low risk of burning plants: Rabbit manure is usually dry, odorless, and in pellet form, making it suitable for direct use in the garden. Since it breaks down quickly, there is usually little threat of burning the roots of plants. 

(Reference: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/manures/rabbit-manure-compost.htm).

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5. Improves soil structure: Rabbit manure is organic matter and regular application can improve soil structure by increasing its water retention capacity, aeration, and drainage, leading to healthier and more productive plants, while also improving the life cycle of microorganisms in the soil. Furthermore, the earthworms love rabbit manure and these core soil dwellers assist in further improving soil structure and nutrient availability to your plants.

(Reference: https://goairmart.com/articles/exploring-the-benefits-is-rabbit-manure-good-fertilizer-for-your-garden/).

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All of these factors collectively make rabbit manure an excellent choice for organic gardening and farming practices, providing numerous benefits to both soil health and plant growth.

Here are a few more facts about rabbit manure:

• Rabbit manure has four times more nutrients than cow or horse manure and is twice as rich as chicken manure. Cow, horse and chicken manure are considered “hot” and need to be composted (well-rotted) to use as fertilizers, whereas, rabbit manure is considered "cold" and safe to use directly. This means it doesn’t need to be composted.

• Rabbit manure is packed with nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, minerals and micronutrients.

• Nitrogen (N). Rabbit manure is higher in nitrogen than sheep, goat, chicken, cow or horse manure. Plants need nitrogen to produce strong green growth.

• Phosphorus (P). Rabbit manure is also higher in phosphorus than the other manures. It helps with the transformation of solar energy to chemical energy. Phosphorus also helps plants to withstand stress and contributes to more and bigger blossoms, and is great for root growth.

• Potassium (K). Potassium helps with fruit quality and reducing disease; plants will not grow without it.

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NPK Ratios Explained:

• Nitrogen (N): Essential for lush green growth in plants.

• Phosphorus (P): Helps transform solar energy into chemical energy for plant growth and encourages blossoms and strong root development.

• Potassium (K): Vital for fruit quality and disease reduction; it also helps control water content in plants.

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