Effectively Composting Horse Manure on the Farm

[@HarrietsChariot]

Very helpful, thank you for sharing! I'm hoping to set up a similar system on our property later this year.

[@HillbillyHen]

at what heat could the manure catch on fire and how deep would the pile be - thats my biggest fear - im a newbie i need to start composting for my garden and adding ground to my property - i have the horses so i am trying to use what i have to save some money and have better land - the fire part scares me - i dont even have electric in my barn because i am worried a risk of hurting my animals - also i do have chickens - do you add any other typoe of manure into your pile or just horse?

[@SpringhillEquineVet]

You can add any manure. There's not really a fire risk with compost, because you are maintaining pretty high moisture content. It would have to be really dry to catch on fire, but if it was that dry, it wouldn't be composting, and therefore wouldn't be creating heat.

[@emilylewis7642]

How far away from your stalls is the composting area? What would you say is an ideal distance from your stalls to help keep the flys out of the barn but still have it reasonably close enough to dump wheelbarrows? I started building a 12 by 12 compost bay out of railroad ties right behind my barn. It's attached right out the back door, but now I'm second guessing the location. Before I finish it, I'd like to know if it will have much impact on my summer fly population inside the barn. My barn is only 4 stalls. The whole building is only 40 by 60 feet so it's only around 70-75 feet from the first stall inside the front door to the compost bay out the back door. Do flys fly that far to bug horses in stalls? Would it be better to make this my clean shavings bay and build the compost bay farther from the barn? I am in WI if that matters. Thanks for always answering my questions!! My horses and I appreciate you very much!!

[@SpringhillEquineVet]

Ours is literally right beside the barn. You can see the stall windows in the background of the video. We don't have many flies, and the ones we do get tend to stay at the compost bin, as there's no reason for them to leave.

[@orrfamily641]

Here's my question. I've been around horses and work at a farm and ranch retail store most my adult life. So many horse owners use de-wormer pastes. I've been asked by customers who use horse manure in their Vermicomposting bins "Will the de-wormer paste still have residue in the manure and can it kill my worms in our Vermicomposting bins"? I've not been able to find much information about the answer to the question. Can you help me out? Thanks AQ

[@SpringhillEquineVet]

The commonly used dewormers in horses do not affect earthworms and other composting worms.

[@orrfamily641]

@@SpringhillEquineVet Thank you, this helps a lot.

[@emilylewis7642]

I wonder how I am going to keep the temp up to 140 in the middle of winter in WI...

[@SpringhillEquineVet]

It will keep the temp up all by itself. There will be a crust at the top, but inside it will be hot.

[@konnipaysen4896]

😘