The message
from "Franz Heymann" contains these words:

This is the time of the year when I always wonder whether to apply pelleted
chicken manure now or whether I should wait till the spring, in case all the
goodness is leached out duting the winter.

Who is prepared to stick its neck out?

I'm still putting it in planting holes for new shrubs because I reckon
it encourages new root development. The above-ground parts won't grow
till next year, but roots should continue growing for a couple of months
yet, and the benefit of that will show next year.

Janet