As Chris says for rotating the piles, although we use three. I would suggest though keeping wood shavings separate from straw. Straw rots down quickly, so is ready in one to two years if it's well wetted before you start. Shavings can take several years. If you spread shavings which have not fully rotted then the continuing rotting process will actually take nitrogen from the soil, rather than adding it. If you use certain persistent wormers then they will still be active in the dung and actually kill the tiger and earthworms you need to work the heap.
If you spread the manure in the autumn then the worms will work it into the soil so that by spring it will all be incorporated, both fertilising and adding humus. The less you rotavate or plough the quicker you will build up a good soil structure for planting.
Incidentally, compost is slightly different as it's made from plant material, has a lower nutritional value and is used in slightly different situations to farm yard manure (FYM)