No question, just a tip.. Our local county fair ground will actually load up your truck bed with manure from the exibit pens after livestock shows and fairs.It is a mix ,cow ,sheep, horse etc. with wood shavings and straw in it. We were astounded...what a deal! I bet you have a Fair ground near you that would do the same.Happy Gardening.

Can anyone tell me how long it takes for fresh manure to decompose enough to add it to the garden??

You might want to be cautious about the sort of manure you end up with. Horses, for example, are often given wormers that animals whose flesh or produce are destined for human consumption are not allowed to use. And the kinds of things that may be used on show animals? I don't claim to know much on this topic, like what sort of things what sort of animals are subject to, or how long it might take for any of these things to be rendered harmless by composting, but I have seen recomendations that organic gardeners stick to dairy cow manure.
I hope someone else knows more on the subject than I do.
Best wishes - Jen in Tulsa

cow manure seems to break down quicker than horse manure, since cows chew their cud several times. my father-in-law prefered horse manure, since he thought it had more value as a fertilizer. yes, horse manure does take longer to break down, but after all i am a gardener and have the time to wait for the end results. as for the chemicals that are given to animals, whether horse or dairy cow, give some time in the composting process and i would feel confident about using that manure. peace be with you and may your garden be full of manure.

most, but not all, fresh manure will burn your garden if it is not given time to decompose. rabbit droppings could go right into the garden, while most livestock like chicken, cows and horses(is chicken considered a livestock) need to decompose some before use. usually, the smaller the manure the shorter it takes to decompose. other factors would include things like how often do you turn it, watering and is it mix with other compost. in most cases when the manure is not as recognizable as manure, then go ahead and use it in your garden. hope this gave you a little bit of info to know when to use manure. peace be with you and may your garden be well fertile.