Page 15 - Poultry Mortality Composting

The following points should be taken into consideration when designing a mortality bin composter.

1. Surface water should be diverted away or around the compost site to eliminate contamination.

2. Depth of compost bins should not exceed 1.8 m (6 ft). This will reduce compaction effects and the potential for spontaneous combustion.

3. Since small carcasses are usually placed inside the primary compost bins by hand, the front of the bin should be designed so that carcasses will not have to be lifted too high. This can be done with removable drop boards that slide into vertical channels or with doors that split horizontally.

4. The width of compost bins is usually selected to accommodate loading/ unloading equipment. Tractor front-end loaders or skidsteers are typically used. Bin width should be at least 0.3 m (12 in) wider but preferably 0.6 – 1 m (2 – 3 ft) wider than the bucket. If wheels on the equipment are wider than the bucket, the bin should be widened accordingly.

5. The length of the compost bins is generally 1.5 m (5 ft) for poultry. A disadvantage of longer bins is that they are more difficult to enter and exit. 6. Several smaller primary composting bins work more efficiently than a few very large bins.

7. Even though calculations may indicate fewer, a minimum of two primary bins is required. This allows use of the second bin while the last additions to the first bin are composting.

8. Secondary composting volume may be provided in bins that are duplicates of primary bins or a large bin.

9. It may be desirable to add one or two extra primary composting bins. These bins can be used to store ingredients such as litter, sawdust, etc. If unusually high mortalities occur, the extra bins could be put into service. Experience has shown that some ingredient storage at the composter site greatly facilitates management of the process.

Bin composting improves the aesthetics of mortality composting. As described previously, the primary stage lasts 4 to 6 weeks before moving to a second bin or to a windrow for the secondary stage. The layout of the composter should be flexible. This will accommodate existing features, restrictions, traffic patterns, equipment or other factors particular to a given operation. No specific layout is best in all cases.