Start the compost pile using leaves, straw or woody materials as the base layer. These brown materials are are high in Carbon and low in Nitrogen. Use 3 volumes of the these materials for each volume of chicken manure. Continue to add layers forming the compost pile like a lasgna. In order to achieve optimized heating build the pile to over one cubic meter in size. The use of long stem thermometer can be used to track the compost process. The compost pile should be moist but not sopping or squirting water. When the temperature goes down the practice is to mix and reform it and it will reheat once again. Three or more reheating cycles give a mature compost which should not have bad odor. If you grab a sample and put into a sealed plastic bag with moisture the sample should not develop a bag smell. If your sample is generating odors continue to compost.

Check this link

Conference Paper Compost production from farm waste

Please have a look at some of these documents , hope you find them useful...

Dear Dra Zukhra Islamova

I hope this paper can also help you to make decisions::

Carneiro, J. W. P., Muniz, A. S. and Guedes, T. A. 1997. Greenhouse bedding plant production of Stevia rebaudiana (Bert) Bertoni. Can. J. Plant Sci. 77: 473–474.

Sincerely

Walter

Dear Zukhra,

Here attached are a few, selected paper related to poultry manure and its effect on soil fertility. I hope these documents fulfill your needs. Thanks!

Dear Zukhra,

We have used chicken manure for commercial vermicompost several times blending it with a carbon source such a paper mill solids. The benefit of vermicomposting versus direct application is a reduction in pathogens, odour reduction and producing a more stable soil humus like product. Plus all the benefits from unlocking phosphorous and adding plant growth stimulators....

To my experience it is important to overcome the high ammonia concentration in the chicken manure as this is effecting worm health and performance negatively. We use paper mill solids as these have a high absorption capacity for almost everything. Noticable in the instantly odour suppression after blending.

I can imagine that leaves have a lower absorption capacity for ammonia as they might have a wax layer. It therefor might take some times eventually a few weeks of maturing before worms can start processing the feedstock.

If thermal composting is your option with leaves, please be aware of the higher risk of leachate. Please make sure you are sealing the base.

Best to integrate any of the technology by rotating the site on farm land and grow a catch crop afterwards.

I am looking forward to read about your success in the near future. Good luck.

Regards

Michael

Good points Michael, foul smell from chicken manure is an issue to deal with plus the health of the earthworms affected by ammonia release ..

In commercial vermicomposting the compostable material is given a quick one month thermic compost when then it is broken down and cooled the thinner worm layer is allowed to be feed for the worms and care is taken to allow the worms to work it and once well wormed more material is added in thin increments to assure the temperature does not elevate to inhibit the worms. Worms work off a near neutral pH and adequate calcium which are prime nutritional considerations for worming to process along with moist but not soppy environment and a well protected shaded environment.

An emerging concern will arise from large scale chicken farms and the often related intensive use of pharmaceuticals (antibiotics) and insecticides. The manure will most likely be 'contaminated' with those residues. I strongly believe that vermicomposting is the most effective technology to decompose these substances and to mitigate negative effects on environment and people while producing a high quality soil conditioner and plant fertiliser at low costs. Not just for developing countries ...

Prepare compost from poultry manure and dried leaves by mixing the two components in a ratio to have a initial C:N ratio of composting substrate mixture ~ 30 :1. The N content of poultry manure is important. Maintain sufficient moisture through out composting and ensure proper turning to reduce the ammonia smell. You can add more of carbon material.Length of composting depends on the initial C:N ratio, pile temperature, frequency of turning and moisture. Mature compost will not have any offensive odor and recognizable particles of leaves.

Dear Zukhra, If you get EM(effective microorganism) ,it will help a lot to solve your problems for making manures and also quicken to form manures.

Chicken manure can directly be applied to land without composting but to kill he weed seeds and pathogens, it is always preferable to carry out the process of composting. Due to high content of N and P in poultry manure, organic substrates with low N content such as straw or leaves can be mixed and decomposed to get high quality manure.Before application of any manure please check its phytotoxicity.

Compost, including poultry residues, is an important soil fertilizer to compensate for lost nutrients, as well as to improve some physical, chemical, fertility and biochemical properties

The composting of chicken manure will help provide a medium for vermiculture worm digestion of the composted materials. The use of straw is used as a primary layer with a sandwich layer of chicken manure covered by straw and build up to at least one meter to ensure the ability to get peak temperature which would kill weed seed. This lasagna method is called Indore composting method seeks a 30 to 1 Carbon to Nitrogen ratio to start. Use a thermometer to ensure the pile heats and cools down. Then breakdown the pile to give a 0.5 meter layer which will not heat up disturbing the worms. The worms will be kept moist but not sopping wet. Under a roofed facility the conditions for the worms can be maintained. Beside the generation of castings as a organic amendment worms can be used as animal feeds. Best results with worms starts with an initial short compost and depend on layer control and providing optimized environments.

Dear Zukhra,

I am attaching here a few articles that may be of interest for your studies on compost, vermicompost and chicken manure.