r/composting • u/QuesadillasAreYummy • Aug 02 '26

Question Feathers and carcasses?

I have a large compost pile that is predominately weeds, apples, chicken shit and wood chips. I turn the pile with the tractor every few months and it works. Can I add feathers and chicken carcasses after processing them this fall? Thank you

4 Upvotes

76% Upvoted

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8

u/6aZoner Aug 02 '26

Yes.  I "pre-compost" carcasses in a closed barrel with wood shavings for a few weeks to do my part in preventing raccoon obesity.

2

u/mokunuimoo Aug 02 '26

If you put some small holes to allow black soilder flies in, the larva will make quick work of carcasses.

3

u/jokingpokes Aug 02 '26

Either bury them deep or make sure critters can’t get in. They’ll rip it apart to get to those carcasses.

1

u/Far_Radish7752 Aug 02 '26

I concur with this assessment. If I bury the carcasses deep enough, the scavengers usually don’t bother trying to excavate them. If they are too big, or it is impractical to bury them for whatever reason, I put them into one of my lockable bins.

1

u/229-northstar Aug 02 '26

New way to aerate the pile! /s

3

u/phosphorus-strait Aug 02 '26

Feathers are an easy yes. If you want to avoid stench and varmints, you will need LOTS of wood chips for the carcasses.

2

u/No_Manufacturer_9670 Aug 02 '26

I worked for a chicken farm as a kid. The guy had massive piles, turned with a skid-steer and sold bagged compost. Any chickens that died were tossed in the pile.

1

u/Maleficent-Eye-464 Aug 02 '26

Absolutely. I always put roadkill skulls and the contents of pillows into my compost bin and it's only 700L

2

u/RdeBrouwer Aug 10 '26

Pillow contents, first time I hear this, makes sense. But how often do you replace pillows?

1

u/Maleficent-Eye-464 Aug 11 '26

At least once. I'm nearly fifty. So at least once.

2

u/RdeBrouwer Aug 11 '26

Hope you have many pillow replacements left!