Troubleshooting Poultry Mortality Composters

Composting of poultry carcasses has become the method of choice for disposal of normal mortality losses on many Virginia poultry farms. Principles of dead poultry composters are presented in VCE Publication 442-037, available from your local VCE Office. There are several different versions of composters available, but they must all meet the following requirements:

• Must be practically odorless.
• Must operate at temperatures high enough to destroy pathogenic bacteria (150° F).
• Must provide for complete decomposition of carcasses-only minimal amounts of feathers and bones remaining.
• Must be adequately protected from flies so that larvae are not a problem.
• Must keep out vermin, wild, or domesticated animals
• Must reduce risk of disease spread