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Please note: These procedures may be revised as the situation develops.

TYPICAL WINDROW CONSTRUCTION PROTOCOL

Three critical elements of windrow construction are: 1) a porous base layer, 2) a uniformly mixed 

windrow core, and 3) an adequate cap (see Figure 1). These steps may be done concurrently or as 

separate steps. 

Figure 1. Cross Section of Compost Windrow

WINDROW BASE CONSTRUCTION 

Before in-house composting, clear carcasses and litter from the windrow location(s) of the poultry 

house to create a 12–15 foot wide work area for construction of the windrow base(s). Distribute the 

material from on either side of the pathway. (See Appendix C for 

in-house variations.) 

Before outside composting, an adequate site must be 

identified (see Appendix A). Site modifications and approval 

from State and local agencies may be required. 

Using the largest loader possible, begin building the windrow 

base. 

The windrow base should be 12–15 feet wide with a depth of 

10 to 15 inches. Base will compress over time. 

Carbon material for the base should be porous and bulky 

enough to allow adequate air flow into and through the 

windrow. Ideal materials for the base include bark mulch or 

coarse wood chips. Other acceptable materials include: straw, 

wood shavings, active compost, small grain hulls, and corn 

stover. Also, coarse woody material in excess of 2 inches in 

size should be avoided to ensure that the resulting compost 

can be land applied as a soil amendment. 

If these materials are not available, poultry litter may be used for the windrow base if it is sufficiently 

dry, porous, and bulky. 

To maintain the base’s porosity and to avoid compaction, do not drive equipment on the base.

Clearing the base (photo by 

Gary Flory)

FY2016 HPAI Response

Mortality Composting: Windrow Construction 

Protocol for Avian Influenza Infected Flocks

May 9, 2016
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CONSTRUCTION OF THE CORE

The windrow core should consist of a uniform mix of 

carcasses and litter. The easiest way to get a 

uniform mix throughout the windrow is to scoop litter 

and birds together in each bucket load and add it to 

the windrow in a manner that thoroughly mixes the 

contents of the bucket. If additional carbon material 

is needed, the material should support heat 

generation (i.e., composting). Suitable materials 

include fresh wood shavings, active compost, poultry 

litter, straw, corn stover, and small grain hulls. In 

many instances this material may need to be 

blended with the existing litter and carcasses to be 

suitable.

Any remaining feed should be blended and mixed 

with the carcasses and litter before windrow construction. Be sure to move infected material as little 

as possible. 

The mix of carcasses and litter should be added from both sides of the windrow. This allows the 

operators to reach the center of the windrow and avoid compacting the base with the tires or tracks of 

the loader. 

The windrow core should be constructed such that 1 foot of base material is exposed on both sides of 

the windrow. 

Add water as needed.

The core should be dome-shaped and of sufficient height to include the litter and carcass mix from 

the area adjacent to the windrow. At this stage, the windrow height should not exceed 6 feet. 

Continue building the core until all of the litter and carcasses have been placed on the base.

CAPPING THE WINDROW

Prior to capping the windrow, remove any carcasses 

that are near the edge of the windrow base and include 

them in the core of the windrow. 

Cap the windrow with 8 to 12 inches of a suitable carbon 

material. Carbon material for the cap should prevent 

flies from contacting carcasses, serve as an insulating 

blanket, and allow air to flow out of the piles. This 

material may be finer in texture than the base. Suitable 

material includes poultry litter, small grain hulls, 

sawdust, new bedding, and wood chips. Straw, corn 

fodder, or similar material may also be suitable; 

however, experience has shown that these products can 

blow off the windrow and may need to be thicker to serve this purpose than other materials. 

Ensure that the entire core is uniformly covered with cap material with no carcasses exposed. 

Avoid compacting the windrow. Do not operate the loader’s tires or tracks onto the sides of the 

windrow while capping.

The completed windrow should be approximately 6 to 8 feet high. 

Constructing the core (photo by Bob Peer)

Smoothing the cap on an outside 

windrow (photo by Gary Flory)