Abstract:
This process comprises aerating chicken litter into a first windrow and aerating a second time into a second windrow. Each of the windrows are permitted to achieve a temperature of approximately 130° F. internally. The litter is then spread to completely cover the entire area and a second set of chickens is placed on the litter. The more aeration times that the windrow is made the more the litter is pasteurized and the pathogens and beetles are removed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a process for pasteurizing chicken litter. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Processes have been used for pasteurizing chicken litter, but these have had insufficient results. One process is to remove the crust of the litter over which chickens have been urinating and defecating upon. The process involves removing the crust and leaving a lower portion of the litter in place. Then the crust is replaced with new litter that overlies the older uncrusted layer. However, this is insufficient in that it does not pasteurize the litter and furthermore it requires additional litter to be spread over the old litter so as to replace the crust. This is an expensive procedure and because the crust is replaced requires additional litter. 
         [0003]    Another method of utilizing a process for pasteurizing chicken litter is to place the litter in windrows that are not turned or aerated. This creates a temperature of 130° F. in the center, but does not pasteurize the surface area located at the outside surface of the windrow. It also results in a continual decline in the temperature below 130° F. Furthermore, the windrows are substantially greater in height and also in width than the windrows of the present invention. 
         [0004]    Therefore, an object of the present invention is a process for improving the pasteurizing of chicken litter. 
         [0005]    The process for pasteurizing chicken litter aerates the litter at least two times and places the litter in a windrow at least two times. 
         [0006]    The process of pasteurizing chicken litter provides the further improvement wherein the litter is aerated three times or more times and placed in a windrow at least three or more times before spreading the litter and placing new chickens on the litter. 
         [0007]    The process of pasteurizing the chicken litter places the windrow in a separate part of the floor each time that it is aerated. 
         [0008]    A further object of the present invention is a process for pasteurizing chicken litter wherein the litter is wet to exceed 30% by weight before the process is begun. 
         [0009]    A further object of the process for pasteurizing chicken litter is wherein the windrow is permitted to heat to a minimum of 130° F. at the center. The e outside of the windrow is cooler, sometimes below 130° F. 
         [0010]    A further object of the present invention is a process for pasteurizing chicken litter wherein each windrow is aerated two or more times and moved to create a new windrow wherein the new windrow experiences a center temperature of at least 130° F. 
         [0011]    A further object of the present invention is an improved process for pasteurizing chicken litter which experiences a reduction in mortality rate of the chickens over that of prior methods. 
         [0012]    A further object of the present invention is the provision of a process for pasteurizing chicken litter which experiences an increase of the weight gain per day of the chickens over that of prior methods. 
         [0013]    A further object of the present invention is the provision of a process for pasteurizing chicken litter which destroys the bacteria and pathogens by pasteurization over that obtained with prior methods. 
         [0014]    A further object of the present invention is a process for pasteurizing chicken litter wherein the litter that can be reused at least six times in a year. 
         [0015]    A further object of the present invention is the process for pasteurizing chicken litter which is efficient in operation, durable in use, and reuses litter previously used. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    A process for pasteurizing chicken litter comprises entering an area where a first set of chickens have been defecating and urinating upon a layer of litter. The layer of litter covers the entire area and includes a crust which has an increased bacteria and pathogen level. The process involves aerating a first time litter into first time windrows wherein the litter is piled upon itself in a line. The first windrows are then permitted to set until achieving a temperature of at least 130° F. internally. Then a second aeration is applied to the first windrows and second windrows are formed wherein the litter is piled upon itself in a line. The second windrows are then permitted to set until achieving a temperature of at least 130° F. whereby the litter will have a reduced pathogen level from the increased temperature level. The windrows are then permitted to spread out to completely cover the entire area. A second set of chickens is placed on the litter whereby the second set of chickens will receive a decrease in a death rate over chickens whose litter is not aerated both first and second times and an increase in feed to meat conversion rate in terms of pounds of feed per pounds of bird at the time of slaughter over chickens not aerated with a first and second time. 
         [0017]    One feature of the present invention involves aerating a third time the second windrows into third windrows and letting the third windrows set until achieving a temperature of at least 130° F. before the spreading step and the placing step. 
         [0018]    The process takes no more than six to twelve days. 
         [0019]    According to another feature of the present invention the process may be repeated at least six times with six different sets of chickens. 
         [0020]    According to another feature of the present invention the process involves forming the first and second and third windrows having a 2 to 3 foot height and a width of 6 to 9 feet. 
         [0021]    According to another feature of the present invention the litter is wet to exceeding 30% by weight. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the machine for aerating and putting the litter in a windrow. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  shows a first stage in the process involving partially placing the layer of litter below a windrow. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  shows a removal of the windrow to the right to create a first windrow. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  shows a partial removal of the left and right windrows. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  shows the completed step with three first windrows. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  shows the aeration of the three first windrows into three second windrows. 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  shows the aeration of three second windrows into three third windrows. 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  shows a cross section of the first, second or third windrows. 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  is a graph showing a comparison of temperature over several days. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a machine  10  is shown having a tractor  12  and a front aerator  14 . Front aerator  14  may be mounted at the rear of tractor  12  or at the front of tractor  12 . The primary requisite of the aerator is that it be capable of providing an aeration of the entire windrow and also movement of the windrow  16  laterally while at the same time exposing the floor  26  of the shed  27 . Several machines  10  are available for aerating and moving the windrow. A preferred machine is made by Brown Bear Corporation, Corning, Iowa. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 2-7  show a typical shed  27 . Referring to  FIG. 2  the litter  24  covers the entire floor  26  of shed  27 . The litter  24  can be wood chips, sawdust, or other material that is loose, but covers the entire floor  26  of shed  27 . A partial windrow  22  is formed by a first pass that removes the litter  24  from the floor  26  and places it upon the litter  24  adjacent the exposed floor  26 . 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 3  a first windrow  28  is formed by again passing the machine  10  along the partial windrow  22  and moving the windrow  28  and the litter  24  below it to the position shown in  FIG. 3 . This leaves an exposed floor  26 . 
         [0034]    Then a partial windrow  30  and a partial windrow  32  are provided by passing the machine  10  at the outside walls of the floor as shown in  FIG. 4 . By making passes five and six it is possible to form the first windrow  34 , the first windrow  36  and the first windrow  28  as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 8  shows leaving of the windrow  28  in the position shown in  FIG. 8  for approximately 72 hours. During this time the center portion  50  achieves a temperature of 130° F. or greater. Similarly, the temperature  52  at the outermost regions of the windrow  28  achieves a temperature that is less 130° F. The windrow  28  has a height 1½ to 3½ feet. Similarly the width of the windrow  28  is approximately 6 to 9 feet. This defies earlier judgments that the greater the windrow height and width, the greater temperature would be achieved at hot spot  50 . However, it has been found that a height of 1½ to 3½ feet and a width of 6 to 9 feet results in a hot spot  50  that is greater than 130° F. 
         [0036]    The process as shown in  FIG. 6  shows an additional pass of aeration equipment  14  to create second windrows  38 ,  40 ,  42 . Essential to the creation of second windrows  38 ,  40  and  42  is an aeration of the first windrows  28 ,  34 ,  36  and also the moving to a portion at floor  26  to create the second windrows  38 ,  40 ,  42 . 
         [0037]    A third turning and aeration of the windrows as shown in  FIG. 7  creates a third windrow  44 ,  46 , and  48 . Similar to the encounter by machine  10 , the windrows  44 ,  46 ,  48  should be aerated and also should be removed from the floor  26  to a third position on floor  26 . 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , a graph  54 , a graph  56 , and a graph  58  are shown. Graph  54  shows a single windrowing wherein the windrow is not turned. Graphs  56  and  58  show turning the windrow a second and a third time. There can be additional turnings of the windrows, and each turning shows additional pasteurization. However, a second or a third time are preferred. 
         [0039]    As can be shown in  FIG. 9 , the graph  54  quickly heats to in excess of 130° F. in approximately one day. Graph  54  reaches a height of approximately 150° F. and then begins its descent to below 130° F. at approximately day 7. The graph  54  continues its descent below 130° F. 
         [0040]    This can be shown in  FIG. 8  wherein the hot spot  50  represents the temperature which exceeds 130° F. However, the outside temperature  52  is less than 130° F. and requires additional turning of graphs  56 ,  58  as shown in  FIG. 9 . Graph  56  shows a reduction in the temperature of hot spot  50 , but quickly shows it increasing to a temperature exceeding 140° F. At the sixth day the material is turned again into a third windrow, and while initially there is a drop in the temperature between the sixth and seventh day, there is an increase thereafter. As can be seen in graphs  56 ,  58 , the temperature of hot spot  50  continues to stay above 130° F. whereas the graph  54  shows a continuing decline. Thus it is possible to turn the graph  54  between the fourth and sixth day as shown in graph  56 , and then turn the graph between six and nine days to create a third windrow. While graph  56  is sufficient to pasteurize all of the pathogens, additional windrowing of the third windrow  44 ,  46 ,  48  results in increased reduction of pathogens. 
         [0041]    Among the factors that affect windrowing, is the bedding material. This is a source of carbon to compost high nitrogen poultry litter. It involves rice hulls, sawdust blend, shavings, or other materials. Rice hulls are the best because they are available in carbon and are good particle size. Shavings suffice because they are high in carbon, but they are sometimes not available, and some have large particle size. It may be possible to combine the rice hulls and the sawdust to compost the material. Other materials may be used. 
         [0042]    Another factor is the moisture in the litter. Preferably the moisture in the litter should exceed 30% by weight. 35 to 60% is ideal, but 65% or exceeding that is the least desirable. 
         [0043]    How the deep the litter is is also important. Preferably there is less than 4 inches and they should be placed in two or three windrows in 36 to 43 foot wide houses. Four to six inches is ideal. Exceeding six inches should have some material taken to the litter shed for further composting or for composting mortalities. 
         [0044]    How long since the house was totally cleaned out to the floor is also important. After 4-6 sets of chickens the house should be cleaned out to the ground and then start composting the next flock. 
         [0045]    The time the grower has between flocks 21 to 28 days is ideal. More percentage of disease bacteria and pathogen is killed using this process and the nutrients are stabilized. This is best for beetle control. 
         [0046]    20-11 days also will work. There is potential for ammonia and may need some litter amendment. Some beetle control but not as good as 21-28 days. 
         [0047]    11-4 days is still good. Possible high ammonia and may need more litter amendment. Good beetle control. 
         [0048]    Windrows should be turned every three to five days for 21-28 days and then as needed to dry litter below the 35% moisture area. Beatles, mites, and disease bacteria and pathogens should be eliminated by this process. 
         [0049]    Before windrowing poultry houses, all water and feed lines need to be raised as high as they can go. Old cables, cords, box heaters, sorting tubes, trash and curtains should be cleaned out of the litter. 
         [0050]    The house should be washed or blown down so that bacteria and pathogens and bugs in the dust and cobwebs also can get composted so as to not reinfect the house. 
         [0051]    The advantages of turning windrows are that the turning assures aerates the litter and gets more of the windrow in the core heat zone. It also provides better pathogen reduction, and moves the windrow so that the floor will dry out under the windrow. Flash off of steam or moisture and the ammonia gas is also achieved. The process breaks up chunks of the cake, and blends dry with wet materials. An advantage involves the trapping of beetles and beetle larvae in the core heat zone. 
         [0052]    In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, these are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in the form and the proportion of parts as well as in the substitution of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as further defined in the following claims.