I started my compost pile back in November. I used oak leaves, one wheel barrow of chicken manure/straw. We mulch the chicken house with straw. I also have some kitchen scraps in it, along with around 5 wheel barrow loads of horse manure/straw that I had left on the ground next to the pile for probably a month before mixing all this stuff together. I also used 3 wheel barrow loads of topsoil. I weetted every layer for good moisture incorporation. The pile just hasnt heated up. Now after building the pile we have had some consistenly cold weather. Lately its been in the 50's. It just hasnt heated up. I also mixed it all up and turned it a few times and have not seen any signs of decomposition. Just I had more manure. I compare that pile to this smaller one I just built with 3 loads of chicken manure/straw, some rotten decaying straw, leaves, and topsoil and it was 140 degrees the other day. IM going to get a large truck load of horse manure today, I could reincorporate that for some heat if necessary. The thing is I wanted it ready for spring. Ive made compost in 3 monthes, but the weather needs to get better. thanks