Compost and Botulism

[DwayneNLiz]

IMMUNOLOGY, HEALTH, AND DISEASE

• D. Pauly,
• M. Dorner,
• X. Zhang,
• A. Hlinak,
• B. Dorner,
• and R. Schade

Monitoring of laying capacity, immunoglobulin Y concentration, and antibody titer development in chickens immunized with ricin and botulinum toxins over a two-year periodPoultry Science (2009) 88 (2): 281-290 doi:10.3382/ps.2008-00323

Full text:

https://ps.oxfordjournals.org/content/88/2/281.full?sid=8aa55a78-e6d0-4f1a-8957-df0176189377

 

[Folly's place]

It's why we must be VERY CAREFUL when canning produce! One spoonful of the wrong thing can be fatal. Also, it's best not to put animal parts in the compost pile, unless no other critters can get into it. Yuck! Mary

 

[907poultry]

Old thread but today I made another, grave mistake. I disposed of a bag of molded feed in my compost pile. My spring babies got into the pile, and ate the feed. I do hope they don’t die. There were only a few clumps of white mold but I’m sure the whole bag was contaminated.

 

[igorsMistress]

Very informative, thank you!

 

[Iluveggers]

What causes it specifically? I was going to throw weeds and (fresh) fruit/veggie scraps into the chicken run to break down. Would this cause a problem?

 

[907poultry]

What causes it specifically? I was going to throw weeds and (fresh) fruit/veggie scraps into the chicken run to break down. Would this cause a problem?

I am pretty sure it is a particular group of bacteria that thrive on wet matter, I will check.

 

[907poultry]

I am pretty sure it is a particular group of bacteria that thrive on wet matter, I will check.

I guess the bacteria themselves aren’t harmful, it’s the toxins they release?

 

[MadGardener]

The bacteria thrives in oxygen-free environments. They create the toxin, and there will be no sign of botulinum bacteria by sight, smell, or taste.

Freshly pulled weeds are safe. Frequently/recently turned compost is likely saf er. Unfortunately, severe illness is likely to be the first sign of a problem.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

^^^ Key word, "anaerobic" - as in, Oxygen free.

If you have an aerobic composting system going effectively, there is no danger of botulism poisoning. If you simply pile wet "green" stuff on top of older wet "green" stuff it will pack down tight, water will fill all the voids (particularly in certain climates), and suddenly you don't have a compost pile, you have a stinking pile of health hazard.

Every one of us using a deep litter system is composting. We are doing it aerobicly. Thin layers, lots of dry/brown, and the chickens to turn it for us. Fast composting is also often done in tumblers - to ensure frequent aeration. The pile of lawn cuttings forgotten in the shady back corner of the yard? Not so much.

Like so much else, there may be no one "right" way, but there are LOTS of wrong ways.