We have piney woods all around us and there is no shortage of stuff growing in there. So hard to imagine it could be harmful on a path. Since it was kiln dried it would be "cured" to some extent. I would think by the end of summer if some ends up getting into your soil, it would be ok. I use shavings in my chickens, then gets composted and then to the garden. Also I mulch my flower beds with pine bark. I think it's the fresh stuff going directly on the bed that is the real issue. It sounds like you're concerned that it will leach something over onto your growing bed, and as I understand it the issue with fresh shavings is that it pulls nutrient from the soil. As to the earlier post about won't it blow away, the minute it gets wet, it will stay put, so wet it down with a spray hose to get it to stay where you want it.

cavamarie, people have concerns about e-coli and I know nothing about that. I've used fresh manure in gardens almost every year I've gardened and I've never sacrificed fruit for foliage as you would expect. I've only had a problem once---in a spot where a ton of fresh chicken manure sat for a month before I could get it spread. Everything we planted in that drenched spot died. Mix the manure in well before you plant and I think you'll have results similar to mine, providing you, like me, need to apply nitrogen fertilizer every year. I have 16 chickens. I clean their house once a year (where I suppose, it's technically been composting)and spread it on my garden straight from the coop prior to planting. I used much fresher chicken manure in my early 20s---sometimes with dead chickens in it---which I got from a farmer. With really fresh manure I spread it three weeks before planting per advice I received from an "Organic Gardening" course I took in 1974. People always tell secondhand horror stories about chicken manure, but I've never heard a horror story from someone who's actually used it. I'm always worried that my experience with chicken manure won't pan out in the rest of the country, so rather than take my word for it, try it in half of your rows and see for yourself.

Queenbee, you can use either. I would seriously suggest you don't bury the bud unions or crowns (own root) with either and also suggest you use copious water with either. If you have dogs, be aware they LOVE rabbit poop. I presume the manure you have access to is from caged, domesticated rabbits? Most likely, they are treated for parasites. Wild rabbit poop can contain parasites the dogs can contract from it and pass along to you. A vet can administer antibiotics to the dogs. Your doctor can treat you for it. Kim

Not knowing what the horse stall remnants are like, there is no way to suggest if more of those would be appropriate. Basically you need high carbon materials, preferably some with a fair amount of bulk. Cut up grain straw, shredded wood mulch, dry leaves, shredded paper or cardboard, etc. would be decent choices if available. As a reference, by weight a mix consisting of 3/4 shredded corrugated cardboard with 1/4 poultry manure is about a perfect mix.