Thinking of using chicken manure compost from a commercial source for my tomato bed. I am wondering if the anti-biotics and hormones used in the feed will break down during the composting process. How long and what temperatures are needed for them to breakdown. I try to keep my vegetable garden organic.
Thanks,
Bob

Chicken factories do not use hormones but they do use antibiotics (though less and less), vermicides (wormers) and really really bad feed-cheapest grains they can find supplimented with things like urea, animal byproducts, etc.

Most antibiotics and all pathogens will breakdown and/or die off with a properly done composting regime which has the pile stay at 1300F for 15 days and is turned 5 times in that time. After that the compost should be allowed to rest for 9 to 12 months and than it can be consoidered organic compost. If you bought the copmost from a commercial source but it is not cewtified organic it probably did not go through this process as any compost that is not certified organic is not regulated at all. But all certified compost is now well regulated.

Since you are not certified organic and doing the best you can with the materials you can find, don't worry too much about this but if you still worry go out and find materials to start your own compost piles. Every gardener should have a minimum of 3 so one is ready to use at all times

Thanks Ohiorganic for the information. I was mainly wnting the chicken manure for my tomato beds, as the heat from the manure really helps the growth. I have great compost bins,but was looking for that extra oomph. I have access to Llama poo, but it is not as hot as chicken poo.

If you are getting heat than the manure is not composted and, especially with chicken manure, which is the hottest of all the manures, you will burn or even kill your plants. Raw chicken manure should only be used on things like trees that can take the burn.

Also Chicken manure is very high in Nitrogen which tomatoes can easliy get too much of and not make a lot of fruit.

Llama manure, is very different from chicken manure in its chemical make-up and thus is not nearlky as hot. i believe it is common to use llama manure uncomposted but no one in their right mind would attempt the same with poultry manure.

If you need heat consider black plastic mulch or something like wall o' waters or putting up a hoophouse over the plants.