"Is it ok to use sheep"

I'm going to assume you meant to ask if it's ok to use sheep manure.

It is.

"If I were to use 25 gallons how much can I use of the sheep manure?"

Do you mean the barrel is 25 gallons? or that you have 25 gallons of something else to which you want to add sheep manure? I'm probably either the best or the worst person to answer this question, depending on how you look at it. I don't measure anything I put in. My compost is usually mostly leaves, trimmed plant material, shredded paper and coffee grounds. I'll toss in some of the high carbon like leaves or paper, then add some high nitrogen stuff like coffee grounds or green plant matter and mix it when I get enough.

I start with roughly equal amounts (by shovelful) of high nitrogen and high carbon, but if I have a garbage bag of leaves and a silver bag of coffee grounds, that's what goes in (or if I have a garbage bag of coffee grounds and a small bag of paper). If it's not getting hot enough, I add more nitrogen and/or mix it up a bit and/or add some water. If it stinks, I add more carbon and/or mix it up. I never have to worry about too much water, but that can also cause it to stink. If you get too much water, add some dry high carbon matter and mix it up.

On the off chance that you really meant to ask if it's ok to add sheep to compost, many people advise against adding meat to compost because it can attract undesirable animals, it can stink and it can promote the growth of disease causing bacteria.

However, if you are able to get the compost hot enough long enough (I think that's 135 or 140 F for two to three days), it's safe to compost meat. Just make sure you put it in the middle and cover with plenty of high carbon matter to keep the smell down. It's also best to use smaller pieces, but I read an article a couple of years ago about Montana composting whole deers because they were having trouble disposing of road kill.

A simple answer is that you can use sheep manure and if you put in about 1 part of that manure to 3 parts of vegetative waste your proportions will be about right.

I meant to ask if I could use sheep manure. I have been told not to use Horse manure as it is too hot. Thanks for your input.
I had tried two years ago and could not get it to compost not hot enough... I think I can handle the 1 part to 3parts ok. I have some leaves not many We have all fir trees and then lots of grass and vegetables scraps. I hope to get this started this week. First I have to gather the bag of leaves tomorrow and then the sheep manure this week also.
Of course got to get the lawn mower going too, then I can begin my composting Hopefully by Saturday....

Lora

You can use paper instead of leaves. Shredded office paper is best, but shredded newspaper it good, too.

One, of many, charts showing an analysis of animal manure (in Rodales Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening) shows that Sheep Manure has an NPK analysis of 0.7-0.3-0.9 while Horse Manure has an NPK analysis of 0.7-0.3-0.6, not significantly different. I have used horse manure as the N source in my compost for many years with good success and there is no really good reason not use horse manure if that is what is available.

Thanks for all the comments, I am ready to begin if it will ever quit snowing! Lora

I have my compost going now! I can hardly wait to see the outcome. Still unsure if I have the proper moisture mixed into it. It looked dry so I sprinkled more water on it and turned it some more. Now to let it set and wait...I will peek again today at it. I assume the temperature should start climbing up daily. The temp now reads 60*
Loralee