Composting Pine shaving

[obsessed]

I have added and added the pine shavings from the ducks and the chickens to my compost pile for the first time this years. As I turned it the other day I notice that there was a white stuff like mold growing on it . It was also very very hot.

Sorry forgot to ask the questions
What is the white stuff and is it ok?

 

[momofdrew]

If it was hot and steamy then the white stuff probably is the mico-organisims that are creating the decompostion and is a good thing...

 

[patandchickens]

The white stuff, if it was sort of near the surface, probably *is* mold (fungi in general anyhow). Other than try not to breathe in too many snootfulls of spores I would not worry about it, it will normalize itself out as the pile matures. Hot is good. Check it in a few days or a week, and if it is cooling off then time to turn the pile (try to get the outside parts to be more towards the inside of the rearranged pile) if you want optimal fast composting.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat