Animal Mortality Facility
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Mortality Composting
A roofed structure designed for composting the normal mortality rates at a poultry operation.
Description
Composting provides a safe and desirable method for disposing of dead birds by converting nitrogenous materials (manure and birds) and carboniferous materials (straw or sawdust) into a humas-like substance.
Benefits
- When properly managed, composting substantially reduces the volume of carcasses, kills most pathogens, prevents odors, and produces a stable, odorless, humas-like material that is useful as a nutrient source and soil amendment.
- By eliminating the on-site burial of large numbers of carcasses, composting facilities reduce the potential for groundwater contamination and protect public health.
Planning
- Consider on-farm traffic patterns, wind direction, drainage ditches, sensitive areas, topography, and neighbors when deciding where to place the facility.
- Is a carbon source available?
- What equipment is available?
Tech Notes
- Work with our office to establish this practice.
- Follow the suggested straw-bird-litter ratio to create the compost pile.
- Always cover dead birds completely with dry litter.
- Turn and reactivate compost before applying to land.
- Use a thermometer to monitor temperatures within the compost bin.
- Do not pile birds against composter walls or leave exposed to flies or scavengers.
- Contact the Garrett County University of Maryland Extension Office at 301-334-6960 or wguard@umd.edu.
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Obtain and follow a written operation and maintenance plan from the NRCS in our office by contacting william.gindlesberger@usda.gov. Instructions should outline the materials to be used in the compost mix, moisture content, temperature to be achieved, aeration schedule, and end use for compost.
The compost facility should be inspected at least twice a year when empty for structural integrity.