Beginner Farmer Resources Pastured Poultry Production Animal Management

Beginner Farmer Resources Pastured Poultry Production Animal Management This presentation template was developed by NC Choices and project partners to be shared in full for educational purposes. NC Choices, funders, and project partners are not responsible for content selected or adapted outside of the original slide deck presentation. The project is supported by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program competitive grant no. 2018 -70017 -28550 of the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Beginner Farmer Resources Questions to consider before you start your flock… • Local ordinances – are you allowed to have chickens? Roosters? A specific number of birds? • Have you discussed having chickens with your neighbors? • What breed of chicken are you planning to raise? • Where will you get your birds? • This presentation focuses on layers, but dual purpose birds are also available (meat and eggs).

Beginner Farmer Resources Municipal Ordinances • State law says poultry have to be kept on your property • Be sure to have your poultry properly fenced in - don’t be a nuisance • Neighbors- have right to complain if poultry are constantly a problem • This will vary depending upon city limits, ordinances, animal control, etc • Poultry owner- Be a good neighbor! Don’t give any reason for complaints and don’t let your birds cause property damage Photo Credit: Cornell Cooperative Extension Washington County

Beginner Farmer Resources Buckeye Delaware Leghorn Choose your Breed! New Hampshire Minorca Barred Plymouth Rock

Beginner Farmer Resources Bird Types, Flock Size, and Breed Considerations • • Egg layers Meat-type birds Dual-purpose breeds Each type is genetically selected to satisfy the best attributes for each type No single breed of bird will provide the best characteristics for all three purposes Size of area for coop or run Family’s egg consumption

Beginner Farmer Resources Meat Production • • • Importance of Access Hatchery customer service Hatchery location Delivery • • • Time Personnel Shipping • • • Other Factors All females • • No male aggression Tranquil flock • • Larger birds in same time period Uniformity • • Cornish Game Hen Roaster All males Customer preference

Beginner Farmer Resources Meat Production Beyond Cornish Crosses • Silver Cross (5 lb ~ 9 weeks old) • Cebe Red or Black (5 lb ~ 9 -10 weeks old) • Other lines Label Rouge (Canadian Source) • Selected for free range environment and flavor • Low mortality • 5 lbs ~ 12 weeks old Free Range Broilers Redbro

Beginner Farmer Resources Starting your Flock… • Chicks – • • • must be brooded less expensive more time consuming higher risk more rewarding • Pullets • more expensive • ready to lay

Beginner Farmer Resources Management: Brooding your Chicks • Requires some equipment and some time • Heat source • Thermometer • Box (cardboard or wood) • 2’ x 3’ box 18” deep can brood 25 chicks • Water container • Feed • Shavings or shredded newspaper (absorbent material)

Beginner Farmer Resources Brooding and Rearing Temperature • • Chick environment should be 95ºF at 1 day of age Reduce the temperature 5ºF/week until = ambient • Low temperatures cause paralysis of lungs, piling and diarrhea • High temperatures cause panting, diarrhea, dehydration, and general weakness • Watch the birds - are they too hot? too cold? just right? • Adjust temperature based on behavioral cues from birds Ventilation • • Provide good air quality oxygen and carbon dioxide removal Remove dust and ammonia

Beginner Farmer Resources Brooding and Rearing Humidity • Chick environment should be 30 -75% relative humidity (RH) • Below 30% = dehydration of chicks • Above 75% = wet litter Space • Provide adequate floor space • Floor • Heater (bird comfort) • Feeder (2 - 3 inches / bird) • Waterer (nipples 15: 1 to 8: 1; trough 1”/bird)

Beginner Farmer Resources Brooding… • Birds huddled under lamp are cold (up the wattage) • Birds along the outside walls are too warm (lower wattage or move lamp further away) Photo Credit: Virginia Cooperative Extension

Beginner Farmer Resources

Beginner Farmer Resources Brooding…

Beginner Farmer Resources Brooder Box Examples

Beginner Farmer Resources Brooding Equipment About $6 About $9 Jar about $3 Bottom feeder/waterer about $4 Pack of 2 for ~$8

Beginner Farmer Resources What do you need in a chicken coop? Nest boxes Roosting bar Feeders (can also be located elsewhere) Waterers (can also be located elsewhere) Dust bath (usually located in an area outside the coop) • Safe place for your birds • Clean! • • •

Beginner Farmer Resources Fencing • Fence material selection • Keep chickens in & bad stuff out • Electric-boards- woven-chicken wire • 3 components of a good electric fence • Charger • Grounding- ground rods • Conductor- wire

Beginner Farmer Resources Egg Production

Beginner Farmer Resources Egg Production • Young hens start to lay: 16 -25 weeks • 12 hens will lay 9 or 10 eggs per day • Peak production: 32 -36 weeks of age • Eggs laid in morning

Beginner Farmer Resources Biosecurity - Prevention An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure • The goal of biosecurity is to stop the spread of disease. • This includes bringing problems in or sending them out to our neighbors. • Disease is spread through contact or proximity to a host or vector. • Good husbandry: clean water, feed, shelter and daily management • Sanitation: cleaning & disinfection of equipment and housing • Biosecurity: Limiting disease challenges

Beginner Farmer Resources Biosecurity…or not? Vectors are everywhere! • Any organism that transfers pathogens from one host to another • People are often the most dangerous vectors, mostly mechanical transfer • Clothing, shoes, vehicles, equipment Photo Credit: https: //ratemds. com

Beginner Farmer Resources Biosecurity • Rodent control- vectors for many diseases, destroy feed & equipment • Control of insects (including parasites) • Protection from predators • Prevent contact from wild birds

Beginner Farmer Resources Thank you! • Are there any questions? MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS: Dr. Donna Carver for slides and pictures Richard Goforth for slides and pictures Regional Chicken Project Orientation Presentation for slides and pictures