Zoo Doo Doo and my Hot Box

I know that the title of the thread might come across as something XXX... but I swear it is completely innocent. I titled it and chuckled to myself but I also thought hey... It is what I am talking about.

I know many zoos have a composted poo program. Part of me really likes the idea of the biodiversity available from having a mixture of several dozen species of animals going to create the ultimate in soil amendments but then I think; wel,l if I am not supposed to compost my own poo for veggies would there be similar reasons not to apply other composted animal poos to my growies? Not technically supposed to compost even my cats crap... What a about a lion... Since we are closely related to chimps should I steer way from that too. Would the competition between pathogens in the poos create some sort or balancing factor? Just opening this up for discussion. I am building my hot box outside and trying to think of the best types of poos to put in there to heat things up and to ad diversity to the soil. I thought this would be an interesting way to do that but there are things I am probably not thinking of. Don't even know if my local zoo gives access to their poos... Mostly just a theoretical I will probably just settle on getting Horse and Cow dung.

just thought As I was typing... Medications.... that probably is a thread killer but meh... Open for discussion anyway.

I see you've done your homework. Zoo animals are generally fed very well. Carnivore poop is very rich. I would use theirs over poop from a feedlot. Medication breaks down. I'd be more likely to trust the vet who looks after the zoo animals to use the right amount. Farms often medicate animals who aren't sick.

Using it in a Hot Box makes me wary of the Medications since they wouldn't be broken down yet. Thinking about using it fresh for the Biological heating but like you mentioned, many if not most ranchers around here would medicate their livestock. I like the idea that there would be a good mixture of many different types. Stuff from all walks... Omivore... Carnivore... Herbivores... Insectivores. A real Poo Topia. But maybe I should just try and use my own Rabbits poo. 1 rabbit doesnt' really make enough for the 4'x8' hot box i want though.

It might well be different over your way, but if I buy commercial compost, I buy 'zoodoo'.
It only contains herbivore manure. From their website:
"Hoof stock (giraffe, zebra, elephant, bison, antelope, llama, rhino, hippo and camel) manure, and bedding straw "

Re antibiotics. From their website:
"The manure from any animal that is sick or on any medication/antibiotics
is excluded from our composting and manure is only taken from animals that are well and showing no signs of illness"

This stuff is fully composted and doesn't heat up, so no good for a hot box

Yeah no official product in the USA from what I can tell... I love that this idea not only exists but also has the name I thought i had coined... umm... that whole "there is no new idea under the sun" thing applies.

It might well be different over your way, but if I buy commercial compost, I buy 'zoodoo'.

Ryan Skinner wrote:Yeah no official product in the USA from what I can tell

You in Oregon? zoo doo
Like you say, nothing new under the sun

Contacting my zoo for sure... They don't have a formal program. I will keep you posted.