| 1. | Choose a site with good drainage and a low permeability soil. A concrete or asphalt pad may be necessary for coarse soils (see the Livestock Diseases Act, Destruction and Disposal of Dead Animal Regulation for location requirements). |
| 2. | Spread a 30 cm deep by 3 to 5 m wide base of shavings, sawdust, or straw. Length will depend on volume of the mortality. |
| 3. | Place a single layer of dead birds on the base of shavings, making sure they are at least 25 cm from the outside edges, and that they are about 4 to 5 cm from each other. |
| 4. | Cover this layer of birds with 10 to 15 cm of substrate of about 1.5 parts (by volume) of layer manure and
1 part shavings or sawdust. The moisture content of the substrate should be about 50 per cent (free moisture on glove after squeezing a sample of the substrate, or use a commercial hay moisture probe). |
| 5. | Repeat Step 3 and Step 4 until the windrow is finished. |
| 6. | Leave the windrow untouched for the primary composting stage (4 to 6 weeks). Windrow temperatures should be monitored and they should reach over 50øC (preferably 55øC for 15 days). |
| 7. | Turn the windrow over with a front-end loader after this initial 4 to 6 weeks or when temperatures fall below 35øC. Add water if the moisture content is below 50 per cent. Re-cover the windrow with a layer of sawdust or shavings, especially if bird parts are visible. Leave the windrow for another 4 to 6 weeks for the secondary composting stage and monitor temperatures. |
| 8. | Windrow should be ready to land apply after these primary and secondary treatments. If land application cannot occur immediately, re-pile the material and allow to cure another 3 or 4 weeks. |
| Troubleshooting guide - composting spent hens (disaster losses) |
| Problem | Cause | Possible solution |
| Temperature too cold |
| . | 1. Too wet | 1a. Mix in substrate.
1b. Protect bin from weather or shape surface to shed water. |
| 2. Low C:N ratio | 2. Mix in carbon source, e.g., straw, shavings, etc. |
| 3. Too porous | 3. Mix in sawdust or another small-particle substrate. |
| 4. Insufficient substrate cover | 4. Add substrate ensuring 30 cm (1 ft) of cover. |
| 5. Too dry | 5. Add water to bin. |
| Failure to decompose |
| . | 1. Low carbon | 1. Mix in carbon source, e.g., straw, shavings, etc. |
| 2. Mortalities layered too closely | 2. Adjust pile ensuring 10 to 15 cm (4 - 6 in) of substrate between layers. |
3. Mortalities placed too
close together | 3. Adjust mortalities ensuring they do not touch each other. |
| 4. Mortalities placed too close to the side of the pile | 4. Adjust bin, ensuring mortalities are placed at least 25 cm (10 in) from the edge of the pile. |
| 5. Lack of oxygen | 5. Turn pile to add oxygen. |
| Odour |
| A. | 1. Too wet | 1a. Mix in substrate.
1b. Protect pile from weather or shape surface to shed water. |
| 2. Not enough cover substrate | 2. Add substrate ensuring 30 cm (1 ft) of cover. |
| 3. Air flow restricted | 3a. Replace or mix existing substrate with a larger-particle substrate.
3b. Adjust pile ensuring mortalities are placed at least 25 cm (10 in) from the edge of the pile. |
|
| 4. Excessive crusting on surface | 4. Break up crusting on the surface and avoid using substrate that is frozen or too wet. |
| B. | 1. Not enough cover substrate | 1. Add substrate ensuring 30 cm (1 ft) of cover. |
| 2. Too cold | 2. Follow steps outlines above under "temperature too cold." |
| C. | 1. Low carbon | 1. Mix in carbon source, e.g., straw, shavings, etc. |
| Flies |
| . | 1. Not enough cover substrate | 1. Add substrate ensuring 30 cm (1 ft) of cover. |
| 2. Poor sanitary conditions | 2a. Remove leachate from around bin.
2b. Maintain a clean, debris-free area around compost site. |
|
| 3. Too cold | 3. Follow steps outlines above under "temperature too cold." |
| Animals/Vermin |
| . | 1. Inadequate protection | 1a. Add substrate ensuring 30 cm (1 ft) of cover.
1b. Construct a fence around the site.
1c. Enclose bin structure. |