PASTURED POULTRY
What
is Pastured Poultry?
Poultry that is raised on pasture and feed. No growth enhancers of any kind are used. Pastured poultry are usually housed in a portable building or pen. The confined poultry are moved to fresh pasture every day.
Why raise Pastured Poultry?
· To produce a high quality, farm fresh, all
natural product.
· To improve profits through direct marketing,
lower feed costs, healthier birds, improved pastures and to meet
the strong demand for this product.
· To provide an opportunity to farm profitably
during a 6 month growing season.
Who should raise Pastured Poultry?
Agricultural
entrepreneurs with a self motivated personality and a willingness
to adopt a new production and marketing model for livestock. It can
be done on a relatively small acreage.
Getting Started!
· Start slow with only 100-400 birds.
· Acquire used equipment (start-up is approximately
$1000 or less)
· Concentrate on learning the production and
local marketing model.
· Set up a brooder house (10 sq. ft. for 100
chicks)
· Buy chicks (Cornish Cross recommended)
· Build pens (prior to chick arrival)
· Set up processing facility.
· Start developing your customer list.
YOU
ARE READY TO GO!
Brooder Stage!
This is a
three-week period. Keep them warm, clean and dry and ensure proper
carbon-nitrogen ratio in absorbing waste. Pine
shavings or straw are the best materials.
This will eliminate odor, promote natural decomposition and ensure
a healthy environment. For fryers and broilers, use a starter mash
or crumble pellets containing 20-23 percent protein. Roasters require
a 20-percent protein starter for the first 6 weeks and can then be
fed a 16-percent protein grower feed. At least 23 hours of light
per day is recommended for meat birds. Use one 25-watt bulb per 100
square feet.
Out to Pasture!
At
2 to 3 weeks of age move chicks
to a 10’x12’ mobile grazing shelter
with approximately 85-90 birds
per grazing shelter. Move shelters
a minimum of once a day. Provide
water, feed and fresh pasture
for approximately 5 weeks.
Processing!
Birds can
yield a 3 lb. to 7 lb. carcass. Processing should be done on-farm to
maximize profits. Volunteer to assist an existing producer to learn
the process. Reward system is built in by processing in
the morning and selling in the afternoon.
Minimum processing equipment
· Poultry crates to
handle live birds.
· Poultry
kill cones to ensure proper bleeding.
· A
propane-fired scalder fashioned from a metal drum and capable of handling
three or four birds at a time
· A
stainless steel processing table.
· Chilling
tanks.
· Knives
and scales
Marketing!
This is frequently
direct marketing straight to the customer, through a farmers market,
or by word of mouth. These
methods have the following benefits.
· The profit margin is high.
· The customer inspects the produce.
· A relationship is developed between producer
and customer
· The middleman is eliminated.
Compiled
by Don Dysart
Resources
This system
is based on Joel Salatin's book Pastured
Poultry Profits, Net $25,000 in 6 Months on 20 Acres Published
by Polyface, Inc which can be ordered for $30 (plus $3.50 postage)
His video is also available for $50 (plus $3.50 postage). from:
The Stockman
Grass Farmer
PO Box 2300
Free info packet from ATTRA (Appropriate
Technology Transfer for Rural Areas), includes introduction to free-range
pastured poultry, semi-intensive, and yard and coop systems. Breeds,
feed options, flock health on-farm processing, alternative marketing,
using flocks to weed and till, and more. Call ATTRA from 8:30 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m. (CST) Monday through Friday at 800-346-9140.
1. Sources
Committee for Sustainable Farm Publishing
1995-96 Jefferson Printers. gvdw@delphi.com http://people.delphi.com/gvdw/pp.htm
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