Raising Chickens for Meat on Pasture Funding for this presentation was provided by USDA's Outreach and Assistance to Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (OASDFR) program (Project number ), part of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and Risk Management Agency (Award # 11-IE ).

What is Pastured Poultry? Raised outdoors on grass and other vegetation Birds express natural instincts Seasonal production Birds balance their diet Insects Plants Feed Challenges and benefits Raised outdoors on grass and other vegetation Birds express natural instincts Seasonal production Birds balance their diet Insects Plants Feed Challenges and benefits

Pastured vs. Free Range Pastured Hen “Free Range” Hen *Picture from the Cornucopia Institute

Pasturing Advantages Easy in, Easy Out – Minimal investment – Quick turn around 7 – 10 wks More Marketable – Perception = $ – Real Chicken Flavor – Higher Meat Quality Easy in, Easy Out – Minimal investment – Quick turn around 7 – 10 wks More Marketable – Perception = $ – Real Chicken Flavor – Higher Meat Quality

Pasture Fertility – Productivity and Diversity – 1 broiler ≈ 10 lbs manure High in N, P, K – Manure applied directly to pasture; saves labor Health and Hygiene – Movement = Clean – Sanitation of Elements – No Ammonia Pasture Fertility – Productivity and Diversity – 1 broiler ≈ 10 lbs manure High in N, P, K – Manure applied directly to pasture; saves labor Health and Hygiene – Movement = Clean – Sanitation of Elements – No Ammonia Pasturing Advantages

Predators – Kill your birds and profits Wet Weather – Damage to Pasture – Birds get Cold More feed/less profits Processing – Where and how? Labor – Moving pens – Feeding – Watering – must automate Predators – Kill your birds and profits Wet Weather – Damage to Pasture – Birds get Cold More feed/less profits Processing – Where and how? Labor – Moving pens – Feeding – Watering – must automate Pasturing Challenges

Pasturing Enterprise Diversification: Multi-Species Grazing Grazing ruminants and broilers on same ground Broilers can follow cattle, sheep, or goats – Ruminants “mow” the grass Graze ruminants once pasture responds to poultry manure; avoid health risks Ruminants search for and clean up spilled feed Utilizes acreage multiple ways = $$$ Grazing ruminants and broilers on same ground Broilers can follow cattle, sheep, or goats – Ruminants “mow” the grass Graze ruminants once pasture responds to poultry manure; avoid health risks Ruminants search for and clean up spilled feed Utilizes acreage multiple ways = $$$ Can raise broilers between orchard/vineyard rows

Pasturing Advantages Inexpensive to get started Easily marketable Fertilizing the pasture Clean and sanitary food Pasturing Advantages Inexpensive to get started Easily marketable Fertilizing the pasture Clean and sanitary food

Predators Everything eats chicken Successful strategies – Physical Barriers Fencing Netting “Trained” Local Predators Woodline Distance – Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGD) Can’t shoot/trap out of predation problems Control methods depend on predators Everything eats chicken Successful strategies – Physical Barriers Fencing Netting “Trained” Local Predators Woodline Distance – Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGD) Can’t shoot/trap out of predation problems Control methods depend on predators

Success in Pasture Poultry Knowledge of Costs – Detailed Record Keeping Production as a System – Efficiency/Reduced Labor Proximity to Good Markets – Keep Good Customers Very Low Mortality Strategic Expansion Solid Processing Methods Knowledge of Costs – Detailed Record Keeping Production as a System – Efficiency/Reduced Labor Proximity to Good Markets – Keep Good Customers Very Low Mortality Strategic Expansion Solid Processing Methods Transparency w/ Customer Problem Solvers – Technical, Financial, Marketing – Ability to create markets Excellent People Skills Effective Marketing – High Quality Products – Farm Identity Transparency w/ Customer Problem Solvers – Technical, Financial, Marketing – Ability to create markets Excellent People Skills Effective Marketing – High Quality Products – Farm Identity

Resources Organizations – ATTRA – the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service – – American Pastured Poultry Producers Association (APPPA) Magazines – GRIT! – APPPA Trade Magazine Books – APPPA Raising Poultry on Pasture – Ten Years of Success. 246 p. – Salatin, Joel Pastured Poultry Profit$. 371 p. – Damerow, Gail Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens. 356 p. Organizations – ATTRA – the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service – – American Pastured Poultry Producers Association (APPPA) Magazines – GRIT! – APPPA Trade Magazine Books – APPPA Raising Poultry on Pasture – Ten Years of Success. 246 p. – Salatin, Joel Pastured Poultry Profit$. 371 p. – Damerow, Gail Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens. 356 p.