Pastured Poultry

When it comes to our farm operations our pastured poultry is one of our favorite operations.  On Nature’s Choice Farms we raise broilers for meat and our laying hens for our eggs. This year in 2010 we plan to introduce our pastured turkeys as well.

PASTURED BROILERS

At Nature’s Choice our baby chicks start in our brooder house. Currently, we can run about 200 at a time. The brooder provides heat and protection as well they have a dry bed of mulch to run around on.

After three weeks in the brooder they go out into the field in a 10′ x 12′ pen. These pens hold about 75 birds. They are moved daily to a fresh paddock of of grass and bugs. They receive fresh air, exercise, sunshine, protection from the elements and unaltered fresh grain.

In addition, we keep the grass low either by letting cows eat ahead of the broilers or by mowing. The broilers love the short grass and will eat to their full potential.

For more detailed information on how we raise our pastured poultry read the Coops To Compost series below.

EGG WAGON

Our egg wagon allows us portability for our laying hens.  Typically, the egg wagon follows the cows in their rotation. The purpose is to allow the chickens to free range on the pasture eating bugs and scratching through cow pies looking for bugs and cleaning the pasture. By spreading the cow pies the chickens provides natures fertilizer spreader.

We have a large net that surrounds our egg wagon to protect the chickens from predators. Our net is powered by a small electric fence charger to give added protection. In addition to the net we have Sam, our trusted guard dog who’s sole job is to protect the chickens inside the net. He is a wonderful addition to the family.

The laying hens also provide another important function to the farm. By keeping things cleaned… they eliminate the parasites which typically are harmful to the cows.

Nature working in harmony.