What are your thoughts on using chicken litter for fertilizer on coastal rye grass in the Crockett area as opposed to conventional fertilizer.

Thanks,

Richard

We are currently growing an "improved Coastal" for hay production and some limited horse grazing. After several years of inattention, the owner decided to fertilize with chicken litter. The little smelled awful for quite some time (about 2 months) before the stinch dissapated. We recieved rain the afternoon after the application which did nothing to improve the smell. Damp litter= stronger smells!
The litter initially worked well as the fields had been totally depleated and once the grasses began green up, we noticed a "striping effect" apparently caused by the spreader (the litter provider spread the material) not adequately spreading the litter completely, ie.. the heavier material dumped out from the belly conveyor belt rather than hitting the spreader fins. We applied at the rate of 40 tons per acre and aside from the obvious "stripes" of greener grass the litter performed as anticipated. The striping effect dissapated after about 5 months as the fertilizer dissapated.
We are located around Tyler, TX and the litter was apparently a very cost effective method for us versus the cost of granulated fertilizer as we are fairly close to the chicken production houses. The litter also seemed to give us a good method of reestablishing our fields after a long period of neglect. While I cannot tell you exactly what specific benefits aside from the obvious we gained as the owner did not allow for another soil test after application-I just manage what they give me as I merely suggest and reccomend, do the work they decide on and they keep the financial info., production from previous years to themselves and hold the purse strings-tightly....hope this helps you!