Thanks for the replies. I remember hearing something about some horse feed that has molasses in it. Right now, I feel like I am brain-dead from all of the heat. I hate being holed-up in the house and not be able to be outdoors. We have had sixteen days of this hot stuff and everything is withering away. On the other hand, after looking around and seeing many worse-off than I am, I feel guilty. Thanks again. Barb

yep, you really can compost most all the so called "compost no-nos" you just need to have the compost management skills to make sure that it doesn't become a nuisance. To compost lots of dead or large dead animals, one needs really large hot composting piles with plenty of cover materials. I personally would not compost a chicken inside my house but that is probably because I'm not going to spend money on fancy , electronic composting contraptions. I figure that since I have a yard, I can have a nice big compost pile out there. We regularly put dead fish, chicken parts, other random small dead critters, all food scraps, and our own personal manure (as in humanure) in that pile. Our pile is often as hot as 160 F. Here is a link that might be useful: TCLynx

This is from vermiposters.com: 've spent some time playing with different sorts of feed stock from New Belgium Brewery over the years and would always advise do some pre-composting with it for safety by getting the volatility out of the feedstock and homogenize it. Add the carbon source to it and hot compost it through two cycles for several weeks and layer the compost on worm beds about an inch or two thick and observe. Let us know what happens. The spent grains by the way have allelopathic properties so careful where you pile them as not much will grow there for a while. I might also suggest to do some sprout testing of the finished casting with cucurbit species at least to make sure it does not still have those adverse affects. If you choose not to go through all of this with just the sediment than top-dress the lawn and garden with it. No-tilling advised.

Sunnydog1994, I'm sure you won't have a problem hot composting in your climate. You might have to play around with the ingredients - it's difficult to say as your description of "yard waste" is pretty generic. If you need more 'greens' you could eat more veggies and fruit for the peels, etc. (and also for your health). Or scrounge veggie waste from friends, relatives, or the nearest grocery store (if they will provide) and used coffee grounds from any source. Every little bit helps. You can also buy alfalfa pellets, various seed meals, or nitrogen fertilizer if necessary. Keep in mind that the composting process can be different for each of us depending on so many factors. Try different ideas to see what works and don't get discouraged when some don't work for you. The following only for others in cold climates... Whenever threads on this topic appear I want to invite some of the people who think anyone can compost in any temperature to visit this northern climate. Here in zone 3 which is also a dry area (20" precipitation yearly) it's not something that's happening. There's snow on top of my pile right now and more coming. Turning or adding water at -40 (C or F - take your pic, they're the same at that temp) would be interesting to say the least. Zero F is *only* -17.77C which might be a reasonably balmy day in the winter here! Of course we're into global warming and the winters aren't as cold as they were. Still, I'm not attempting to run a hot pile, just collect all the kitchen waste in my winter compost bin which by late March or early April I'll layer with the pile I started in the fall and get it going. It all eventually becomes compost, and I've got a ton of patience. Not really but if I say it enough it might be true! Never give up, composting is worth any effort but don't stress about the impossible. Or maybe I should throw an electric blanket over the pile! ;D LOL