Poultry specialist explains spectacle of chicken composting amid bird flu outbreak [Lancaster Watchdog]

Key Points:

• Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, a leading poultry producer, is at the center of a national outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, with infections confirmed at major farms including Esbenshade Farms, now owned by Kreider Farms.
• Upon detection of bird flu, standard procedure involves culling all birds and disinfecting facilities; at Esbenshade Farms, millions of birds are being composted on-site in large piles to safely neutralize the virus.
• Composting heats the bird carcasses to temperatures up to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, effectively destroying the virus, and the resulting compost is USDA-approved for use as a soil amendment, similar to manure.
• Measures are in place to prevent environmental contamination, including setbacks from waterways and monitoring of runoff, with the compost acting as a biofilter to protect local water sources like Chiques Creek.
• Workers wear full-body protective suits as a biosecurity precaution to prevent disease spread, but the virus poses minimal risk to humans and does not affect the safety of eggs or poultry products available to consumers.