Compost piles are an invaluable tool for property owners. They keep yard waste out of the landfills while transforming leaves, grass and weeds into nutrient-rich fertilizer for flower and vegetable gardens. While foraging animals like raccoons and bears are a nuisance to the compost pile, several other animals help the process, either by accelerating the transformation of plant materials into garden soil or by providing manure for the compost pile.
Worms and Related Species
Several invertebrates help break down green, nitrogen-rich materials such as grass, leaves and weeds. As they consume the pile, they create a more hospitable environment for the fungi and bacteria that enrich garden soil, according to Cornell University. Slugs, snails and millipedes are among the most common invertebrates that help shred this plant material. Additionally, worms not only consume plant material, but other decaying matter and tiny organisms, which lead to nitrogen-rich worm castings. Beneficial worms range from tiny nemotodes to large earthworms. Earthworms in particular build tunnels through the pile, which allow rain and air to penetrate the entire compost pile.
Ants
Ants help the compost pile in several ways. First, the presence of large numbers of ants signals that the compost pile is too dry. Wet the pile thoroughly with a garden hose; the usual advice for the ideal compost pile is that it should have the moisture of a wrung-out sponge. Additionally, ants hasten the decomposition of the compost ingredients.They also bring beneficial fungi to the compost pile, as well as minerals rich in potassium and phosphorous.
Poultry
Among the most nitrogen-rich sources of manure are cow, horse and poultry waste. For the gardener more interested in good soil than in raising cattle, however, chickens and other poultry represent the most logical animals to use for composting purposes. Because most people use either hay or sawdust in their poultry sheds, simply shoveling the barn litter into the compost pile allows you to add both carbon and nitrogen in one step. Ohio State University recommends adding wood ash or lime along with the barn litter to counteract any acidity of the manure. To prevent introducing dangerous pathogens to garden soil, do not spread compost containing fresh animal manure for several months. Keeping poultry also aids compost piles through the addition of calcium-rich eggshells.
Rabbits
As with poultry, rabbits make ideal garden aids without adding the burden of care that cows and horses represent. Many people keep a worm composting system directly under the rabbit pen, ensuring a doubly-rich, odorless manure product. Rabbit manure also resembles poultry manure in that it is twice as rich in nutrients as cow or horse waste, notes the Washington State Extension Service. This potency enables the small-scale farmer or gardener to get by with less manure for the same results.
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