Issue 53 APPPA GRIT! Fall 2009 American Pastured Producers Association

Innovation and Hard Work Brings Success: Tom Delehanty By Jody Padgham

It is fun to talk to Tom Wholesalers from all over the Delehanty, organic pastured southwest were clamoring poultry producer from So- for the high quality organic corro, New Mexico, about birds, which were sold in what he is thinking and major grocery chains and doing in life. He is excited natural food stores. Tom was about raising high quality challenged to develop sys- organic food for folks in his tems to manage the turn region, but also loves to around of 800-900 share what he has learned per week, year round. with others. And, as a sixth- generation raising However, as more of the “big poultry for over 50 years guys” got into organic poul- and in his 22nd year of rais- Tom and friends. Photo courtesy NewFarm.org try production, wholesale ing and developing a pas- prices began to drop and tured poultry model, he has learned a LOT. A man of Tom’s profit margin shrank. Organic was much energy and dynamic thinking, he has concentrated wholesaling at $2.50 per pound, but selling to custom- on figuring out how to do the best job of raising poultry ers for over $4.50 per pound. “We couldn’t make it as possible and was recently willing to share some of his work at $2.50,” Tom says, “But it works well when we thoughts with us. sell direct to the customer and get the whole $4.50 price ourselves.” In the past five years Tom and family Tom farms with his wife Tracey and two children on 34 have pulled back production to about half of what it irrigated acres in the Rio Grande Valley. Growing up on was in the late 1990s, have focused on direct market- a farm, Tom wanted to continue on the land, but eventu- ing, and are a lot happier for it. This year the farm will ally left his native Wisconsin for New Mexico, where it produce about 16,000 birds (, heirloom turkeys made more sense, weather-wise and regulation-wise, to and egg layers), which Tom notes “Is a scale of produc- raise outdoor poultry. He’s been on the farm in Socorro tion that works for us.” since 1994. “It was too much work for a small family farm” Tom Committed to organic practices, chicken produced at says about those hectic years. Raising 40,000-50,000 Tom’s farm and sold under the label “Pollo Real” was the birds in a year-round system also took a tremendous first certified organic poultry available In the U.S., and amount of feed, labor, equipment, infrastructure and the only organic poultry available for four or five years. distribution equipment and time on the road. He is a About ten years ago the crew at Tom’s “Real Chicken lot happier to be at the scale they are today. “The Ranch” was producing 40-50,000 birds on pasture in a change has been a savior to our family,” he notes. year-round system to try to satisfy the huge demand. Continued on page 14

In This Issue: 6 Using Geese for Weeds 20 Events 10 Egg CSA 21 APPPA Field Day 2 Coordinators Corner 11 My Time with Turkeys 22 Membership by State 3 From the President 17 Poultry Research 23 Subscription Form 3 Board List 19 GRIT Scratchings 4 End of Year Tips

American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 53 APPPA CONTACT INFO Coordinator/GRIT! Editor: Jody Padgham The Coordinator’s Corner 888-662-7772 PO Box 87, Boyd, WI 54726 [email protected] www.apppa.org Fall has landed here in the Midwest, and as Charles notes on page 3, we are all growing a little weary of The APPPA Grit! newsletter is published six times a poultry production. However, since this is also the year and sent to members of APPPA. To join, visit our heavy market time, perhaps our bank accounts are website or write us. Information provided in this looking a little more flush too! I wish you the best newsletter is believed to be accurate, but readers moving into the busy turkey season. assume all responsibility for actions based on this information. Things have been going well at APPPA. The Execu- tive committee and board have been meeting regu- larly. One major topic of conversation has been prep APPPA - STATEMENT OF PURPOSE for Board member Eli Reiff’s field day (see info on page 21,) which still has room if you’d like to come. We expect to have a fantastic day. The American Pastured Poultry Producers Association (APPPA) is a nonprofit educational and networking organization dedicated to encouraging The board has also been discussing an in-person the production, processing, and marketing of poultry board meeting for this coming January– we’ve found raised on pasture. that getting our governing group together in person at least once every few years is really valuable. But, also a challenge, as we are truly a country-wide (and APPPA exists to facilitate the free flow of multi-country!) organization AND board. We’ll let creative ideas. Member producers are encouraged to you know what comes of that adventure. consider all poultry species and all pasturing models, assuming personal responsibility for adapting ideas and models presented through APPPA. We have finally been able to respond to the demand for an electronic-only newsletter. This issue will be

the first that will be available as an electronic-only APPPA passionately embraces humane, people- option. For now that will be available only to Pro- friendly, environmentally-enhancing, pasture-based ducer Plus members, as the electronic copy will be production models. While we respect the freedom of available on the password-protected pro-plus yahoo others to engage in industrial confinement factory groups webpage. If you are a pro-plus member and farming, we believe our approach is superior. would be happy to download the GRIT from now on, please send me an email at [email protected]. Ar- APPPA assists both producers and consumers chived copies of the newsletters will continue to be to transact business with as little government posted on the private APPPA pro-plus webpage. intervention as possible. APPPA does not discriminate in membership or programs based on We are moving into event and conference season. If the business size of producer or consumer. there are workshops or regional conferences in your Realizing that production models must be profitable area, please let me know so that I can put a notice in to be successful, APPPA's interests include future newsletters and on the web. We always enjoy processing, packaging, cooking, marketing, and ACRES– USA, which will be in St Paul, MN in early any other topics related to pastured poultry Dec, Southern SAWG January in TN, and of course enterprises. PASA and the MOSES Organic Conference in Feb. So inspiring to see all our poultry friends at these great APPPA's world vision is to see pastured poultry events. adopted as the model for environmentally, emotionally, and economically sensible poultry I hope you enjoy the diverse articles in this issue. As production. This vision includes decentralized food always, we’d love to hear about YOUR operation. systems, farmstead-sized processing, and as much Drop me a line if you’d be wiling to be interviewed interaction as possible between producer and about what you do. I’m convinced that everyone has consumer. a good story to tell... (Adopted by the APPPA Steering Committee, August 27, 1997) Happy fall ! Jody Padgham

2 American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 53

From the President

It is at about this time in our season that we find ourselves get- ting a little dreary of this pastured chicken business. For months now our first chore each and every morning is to take care of the chickens. Pulling pens, checking watering systems, and filling feeders can begin to get a little mo- notonous.

Therefore, we must keep reminding ourselves of the important task we have. We have the task of providing our friends with the best food money can buy. Remem- ber this: without food nothing else happens or matters. Whole civilizations have fallen because of lack of good nutrition. Farming was the first profession and is cer- tainly the most noble. It provides the basis of our being and physical needs. With- out providing basic nutrition, the wheels stop.

If you raise pastured poultry, you don’t just farm, you farm with a passion. You are providing your customers with the best. So, tomorrow morning when you get up and put on your rubber boots, load the truck with feed and head out to move your chickens, keep in mind that what you do will have a huge effect on a lot of folks.

You have a great reason to be excited…..folks are counting on you.

Keep’n cluck’n,

Charles Ritch President

APPPA Board of Directors - Contact Information

Don Brubaker Eli Reiff (Vice President) Tom Wadson Board member 2007-2009 Board member 2009-2011 Board member 2005-2009 The Fertrell Company Wadsons Farm Poultry Man POB 456, Bainbridge, PA 17502 PO Box SN 528, Bermuda, SNBX 922 Conley Rd, Mifflinburg, PA 17844 (717) 426-3594 (441) 238-1862 (570) 966-0769 [email protected] [email protected] Charles Ritch (President) Greg Gunthorp Board member 2002-2010 Jennie Watkins Board member 2009-2011 Pond Farm Board member 2009-2011 Gunthorp Farms 298 Goose Pond Rd, Hartselle, AL 35640 Ananda Hills Farm 435 N 850 E, La Grange, IN, 46761 (256) 751-0987 553 Embody Road, Port Ludlow, WA (260) 367-2708 [email protected] 98365 [email protected] (360) 732-0111 Scott Jondle (Treasurer) Summer Steenbarger (Secretary) Board member 2007-2010 Board member 2008-2009 Joel Salatin Board member-at-large Abundant Life Farm Dee Creek Farm 16055 Gilliam Rd, Dallas, OR 97338 P.O. Box 387, Woodland, WA 98674 Polyface Farm (503) 623-6378 (360)225-9711 363 Shuey Rd., Swoope, VA 24479 [email protected] [email protected] http://www.polyfacefarms.com

Brenda Ostrom Board member 2009-2011 Mountain Meadow Farms PO Box 913, Mariposa, CA, 95338 (209) 966-8432 [email protected]

3 American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 53 Tips to help finish your season End of the Year Special! From Jeff Mattocks, of the Fertrell Company

Many things change as the pastured poultry sea- ♦ Don’t forget to turn on the lights – with the son wanes to its end. Some of the key things to declining day length in the fall of the year it is remember could be: advantageous to layer production to supple- ♦ Don’t make your shelters air tight - Air ment light to your layers. You should never add quality is more important than air tempera- more than 30 minutes to the normal day length ture. Many folks in an attempt to keep their per week. It is best to supplement the light in poultry comfortable will close up and make the morning vs. the evenings. (The chickens shelters nearly air tight. This practice of clos- haven’t told me why, yet!) I feel that a 40 watt ing them in to control their environment will bulb is more than sufficient for a 10 x 10 ft hous- actually stunt growth more because of the ing area. The hens should always have access to build up of humidity, ammonia and carbon feed and water at the time the lights come on! dioxide. Lighting should minimize the normal slump of egg production in the winter months. ♦ Avoid cold damp ground if possible - try to schedule your grazing rotation to utilize higher ground with more plant residue during the cooler fall season. When possible try to utilize roosts for poultry species that have enough retained intelligence to use them. (Layers, turkeys, heritage breeds)

♦ Increase diet energy for cooler tempera- tures – When the 24-hour average tempera- tures drops below 65° F you may want to check the dietary energy content of the feed you are using. It should be 1300 Kcal/lb for layers, 1400 -1425 Kcal/lb for broilers and tur- Did You Say Wheat? keys. This slight increase in energy will offset the calories burned to compensate for tem- perature. This can be done easily by adding ♦ Whole wheat for the turkeys – turkeys have 25-30 pound of vegetable oil per ton of feed. an affinity for whole wheat. Offering whole

Continued

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4 American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 53 End of year ... from page 4

wheat combined with the appropriate size grit at the ratio of 4 to 1 will greatly en- hance the turkey’s diet. This can be started at age 8 weeks for the turkeys. You should consider adding an additional feeder with A very touching story, very hard to read, the wheat and grit combination. The tur- about two brothers who were separated keys will still require the mill prepared feed at birth. It is a story of life and death, with the balanced vitamins, minerals, pro- and the cruel twist of fate. teins and carbohydrates. However, turkeys do have a very good ability to diet self select in the last half of their growth period. It has been reported that in the last weeks of grow out turkeys have consumed on aver- age 65% whole wheat and grit and 35% pre- pared grain mix. This will vary, of course, with the overall quality of each the wheat and the grain mix. Caution: this year in the northeast the wheat and other small grain crop has had a higher incidence of My- cotoxins, specifically Vomitoxin. This was due to the untimely rains we have had after the grains had started to ripen and dry down. Before you buy wheat you should verify that the Vomitoxin content is be- low .5 pmm.

5 American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 53 Using Geese To Control Weeds By Metzer Farms

Weeder geese have been might be suitable for used for years to control life in the suburbs but unwanted vegetation in should not be kept in commercial crops, water- the city. ways and lawns. They have been most exten- We do not believe that sively utilized in Asia, but weeding with geese has have also been tradition- much practical applica- ally used in the U.S. on tion for the small gar- crops such as cotton, ber- dener. Garden crops ries, potatoes, mint, coffee must be kept separated and nut and fruit orchards based upon their palat- ability to geese. On Geese have strong food such a small scale and preferences with grasses with all the other fac- being at the top of the list tors that gardeners and most broad leafed plants being disliked or un- must keep in mind with their diversity of crops, palatable. This is why geese can successfully weed this is not worthwhile. Geese can, however, be certain crops with particular weed problems. kept to "clip" the lawn and keep the grass in or- chards under control. The serious homesteader, Why Use Geese? who raises a sufficient amount of a number of crops, will find a small flock of geese a tremen- The most obvious benefit in using geese as weeders dous help, if the property and placement of crops is to eliminate or reduce the use of herbi- is designed with the geese in mind. Weeder geese cides. Herbicides can be expensive and potentially are most applicable to the commercial grower dangerous. With the growing concern over envi- who maintains a number of fields that have one ronmental and health problems associated with crop per field. This simplifies the management of the use of herbicides on crops, as well as the eco- the geese and makes the labor required for their nomic incentives for farmers to market organically care cost effective. grown produce, there is a growing demand for weeder geese. Which Crops? There are less obvious benefits as well. Geese will Geese can be used in a wide variety of crops and not compact the soil as heavy machinery or people situations as their diet includes few broad leafed will. They will work seven days a week, rain or plants and favors grasses. They are used exten- shine. They can be put into wet fields to work sively in garlic, strawberries, potatoes, cane ber- when machinery would bog down and cause se- ries, tobacco, cotton, mint and other herbs. They vere damage to soil structure. Their agile necks can also be used in sugar beets, tomatoes, onion, allow them to pull weeds close to and within the carrots, hops, blueberries, evergreen and decidu- crop plants, where machine or hoe cannot. At the ous nursery crops, and in orchards. end of the season the grower can also process the geese for meat and feathers. All of this is accom- Other crops are suitable for their use as well, plished while the geese are naturally spreading though more research is needed in this area. For nitrogen-rich manure all over the field. instance, geese can be used in rough leafed varie- ties of pineapple but reportedly will damage vege- When and Where Are They Used? tation of smooth leafed varieties. Each crop re- quires somewhat different management of geese, Geese in general are a useful addition to many rural properties, but because they can be noisy, they Continued on page 7

6 American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 53 Weeder Geese... from page 6 observation. Farmers needing to be financially conservative have a tendency to purchase too which is why there are no definitive answers with few goslings to meet their needs, this results in their use. The only experts are those who have inadequate weeding and an unsatisfactory ex- used them with a specific crop, with specific perience. weed problems, under specific climatic condi- tions, etc. Experiences often vary. One grower has In some crops and climates where weed growth used them extensively under bananas while an- is extreme in the early spring more geese are re- other says they pick holes in trunks. The differ- quired then later in the year. It is critical to start ence is probably management, timing and the nu- with enough animals and eliminate the surplus tritional value of the weeds. as the weed growth permits. If too many goslings are raised some can always be sold after the Which Weeds? weeding is accomplished. Geese will eat young Bermuda grass, Johnson grass, sedge and nut grass, puncture vine, clover, What About Housing and Fencing? chickweed, horsetail and many other weeds. One Geese should have shade to escape the mid-day grower who has 100+ acres in herbs has success- sun in hot climates. This can be provided by fully trained geese to eat weeds they normally shade trees, hedgerows, the crop itself, trailers or don't eat. He feeds the undesirable weeds to the specially constructed lean-tos. If predators are a young goslings so that they develop a taste for problem the geese should have a well con- them. In order to have the weeds available for the structed, covered shelter that they are closed goslings in the spring, he raises a small crop of into at night. They will quickly learn to come to these weeds in his greenhouse. This same grower the shelter in the evening on their own if a grain uses sheep in conjunction with his geese to weed snack is given at that time and the grower will mint. The sheep eat many of the broadleaf weeds simply have to close the door or do a minimum that the geese do not eat. amount of herding. If these shelters are built on skids or are otherwise moveable, they will be If turned into a newly cultivated garden or field, very useful for moving the geese wherever they geese will eat upturned roots and exposed seeds are needed. If severe predator problems are en- of a number of plants whose leaves they do not countered, several strands of electric fence eat (such as dock and thistle). Geese will also eat around the perimeter of their night pen should windfall fruit under orchards and some unhar- eliminate the predation. vested crops and crop residues which can harbor and over winter disease and insect pests. As geese Geese must be confined to the crop they are are vegetarian, a small number of ducks can be weeding. Fencing geese into the crop area is one kept with the geese to help control insects, slugs of the biggest problems with weeding geese and and snails. can be expensive. Fencing should be 4 feet tall, though some operators manage with 3 feet. Ide- How Many Geese? ally, large acreage's should have a well built pe- The number of weeders needed in the field de- rimeter fence with moveable fences to subdivide pends on the crop, the type of weeds and their the field, and concentrate the geese where they abundance, as well as the regional climate and are most needed. Moveable fencing is invaluable how it affects weed growth. Fewer geese are and saves money on materials, but moving it needed if the crop is mechanically cultivated be- around can be cumbersome and costly in terms tween the rows since there will be fewer weeds to of labor. Rebar and chicken wire are popular, eat. we've also seen fish netting used and other mate- rials. Electric fencing does not work well, as the An acre of strawberries in the Northwest that is geese are somewhat insulated from the shock by cultivated between rows will require a minimum their feathers. When the geese move as a group of 6 geese. Less geese are necessary in dry climates they will tumble right over an electric fence. than in humid climates. The number of geese nec- Electric fencing will only work if it is easily seen essary for each site can only be estimated and numbers then adjusted through experience and Continued next page

7 American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 53 by the birds: try hanging flags on the wire and Young Geese In The Field train them to it when they are very young. Single After six weeks, goslings will be able to go into strand electric fencing can be effectively used in the field as long as the weather is mild. They must front of an existing visual barrier, such as a wood be protected from rain or sudden drops in tem- plank fence or hedge row, which the geese could perature for several more weeks. When first in- otherwise get through. The New Zealand nylon troduced to a field or new crop, the geese will woven wire electric fencing is fairly effective and sometimes nibble at young crop plants until they is easily moved. learn that they are an undesirable food. This dam- age is usually minimal and is far outweighed by It is often advantageous to have a smaller holding the benefits of using geese. It is critical that the pen that the geese can be moved to when weeds operator be on hand during this initial introduc- are temporarily depleted. This must be especially tion to observe the degree of any crop damage. well fenced, as they will try to get back to "greener pastures." An older goose can be used as an adopted parent for the young goslings. The older goose will teach What Geese to Use? them what to eat and most importantly, will help As all geese eat the same vegetation, any breed protect them from smaller predators. Several will work as a weeder goose. White Chinese white ducks, such as Pekins, can also be kept geese are often used as they have very active for- with the geese to act as a decoy for predators. A aging habits and their long agile necks make them predator is more likely to kill a duck than a goose very effective grazers. Because of their light body if given the choice, since a duck is less able to de- weight, they do little damage to the crops on fend itself. If a duck disappears, you have a warn- which they might step. ing that predators are around and to take precau- tions, before you lose some of your more valuable geese.

Managing Adult Geese Weeder geese are kept in a state of slight hunger in order to accomplish the maximum weed con- trol. Birds must be continually observed for any signs of weakness or nutritional deficiencies, since the amount and nutritional value of the weeds will change throughout the season. Each day they should be fed a suitable feed supple- ment. This must be done in the evening, because in the morning you want them to be hungrily eat- ing your weeds. This can be a balanced, pelleted A group of White Chinese Geese feed or a combination of whole grains.

Young goslings have a more active foraging habit They also require a constant supply of fresh wa- and more voracious appetites than adults and ter. This can easily be provided in 5 gallon plastic since they are so light they do less damage to ten- buckets. They do not require swimming wa- der crops on which they might walk. For this ter. Geese make frequent trips to their wa- reason, it is best to start with young goslings each ter. This can result in the trampling of tender year under most circumstances. Goslings should crop plants near buckets. To some degree the be six weeks old before they are put into the area in which the geese will weed can be influ- fields, which usually requires a March or early enced by the placement of their water buck- April hatch date. Goslings hatched under a ets. When an area is weeded fairly well, move the mother goose will most probably arrive too late in buckets into an area that is weedier. When the spring to suppress the early weed growth. checking on weeders and doing your weed related chores, carry a hoe with you to quickly get some of the weeds the geese find unpalatable.

Continued next page

8 American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 53 Weeder Geese... from page 8 with the geese, herding them to areas where The timing of the use of geese is critical. When weeding is most critically needed. Weeder geese, weeds are depleted in a field, geese must be re- to the contrary of rumors, are not mean and moved to a holding pen, pasture or another crop. workers will have no problem with them. If they are left in a weed depleted field, they will starve unless supplemental feeding is increased, What Happens To The Geese At The End Of and in some cases will damage the crop. There are The Season? many factors involved here. One 30 acre potato For some crops, such as nursery stock, adult geese farm had tremendous success with geese, until can be over wintered and used for many late in the season when they began digging pota- years. Some operators do not find this to be cost toes and dying. They had depleted the nutritious effective, especially since young geese are more weeds and were now eating nothing but the active weeders than the older ones. Since the abundant horsetail weed, which provided mini- adults will be ready to lay the next spring, they mal nutrition. Some of the geese were starving to can be sold locally as breeding stock or as a small death while others had discovered the nutritious farm stock. tubers. In some geographic locations adult geese are eas- Grasses lose much of their nutritional value in the ily sold and in others it is difficult. If fattened on late summer and geese may look around for some- corn for several weeks, they can be butchered for thing else to eat. A large flock of geese which was meat or sold for others to butcher. If butchered at maintained for several years under a very young an inspected plant, you might be able to sell them orchard would start nibbling at the bark of the to gourmet restaurants for Thanksgiving and tress about the second week of August each year. Christmas. They were then transferred to another pasture. It is very important to have a pen to put geese into For more information on geese, we recommend at these times, while leaving a few in the field to The Book of Geese, written by Dave Holderread control new growth. Each crop has its own man- we sell for $18.95 plus postage. If you have used agement characteristics. Cane berry growers in weeder geese and have experiences you would Washington have found that geese will eat back like to share with other growers, please give us a the emerging prima canes, making harvest easier. call or drop us a note at The geese are then removed from the fields in time [email protected]. We will include to allow the desirable growth to take your suggestions in the future. place. Geese must be removed from crops such as raspberries and tomatoes before the fruit ripens. Geese should also be removed from fields where We can ship day old goslings anywhere in the fertilizers, pesticides or slug bait is being used United States through the US Postal Sys- until the danger is past. tem. Typically they are hatched on Monday with arrival at your post office by Wednesday morning,

at the latest. They can withstand transit without Adult geese are not difficult to herd once you food and water for up to 48 hours or more as the learn how. Walking slowly behind them, veering egg's yolk is absorbed into the gosling's body im- to the right and raising your right arm will move mediately prior to hatching and this provides ade- them to the left and vice versa. A stick held in the quate nourishment during shipping. hand will increase their responsiveness. Geese can be herded quite a distance, but this is not good for their legs. This article was contributed by Metzer Farms, 26000 Old Stage Road , Gonzales, CA 93926 800 424-7755 http:// The U.S. Forestry Service has developed a trailer www.metzerfarms.com/ into which the geese are herded and driven to dis- tant fields. The USFS, as well as several other large operators, have also found it cost effective to have field workers who work throughout the day

9 American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 53 How About an Egg CSA? By Jennie Watkins

It was January this past year and one of my regular her front deck as a spot for a weekly drop off of a cooler egg customers came by to pick up eggs. She found me filled with eggs. People then sent in their checks –either at the kitchen table, perhaps I had an anxious look on $100 for 20wks of eggs (weekly pick up) or $50 for my face. She then asked how winter time finances 10wks of eggs (every other week pickup). I emailed di- were. She had read my mind, as I was struggling to rections to everyone and placed a sign-in book next to figure out how I was going to purchase the unex- the cooler the day of delivery. It worked great! Occa- pected, additional amount of hay I needed as well as sionally someone forgot to come get their eggs, but on start to order spring supplies. I told her the situation the whole most remembered. and she suggested I start an egg CSA to get some fi- nances up front. , I went back and got the cooler at the end of the day or early the next morning. If eggs still needed to be claimed It was almost the end of January and egg laying was in May, the CSA members then picked them up at the starting to pick up again. I calculated how many cus- weekly farmer’s market I attended, which was a mile tomers I could take on and guarantee they would from the drop off site. Other people buying eggs saw have eggs weekly or biweekly. I then sent out an that CSA members got priority, always got eggs even email to people I thought might be interested. The when I had sold out. So then I had more people signing response was perfect for the amount of eggs that I up for Egg CSA at market just to be guaranteed they got had/anticipated coming on over the next couple of eggs. So now when I go to market, almost all the eggs are weeks. presold. I just wish I had more!

Since the road to the farm is full of potholes in the Jennie Watkins is on the APPPA Board and with her family owns winter, one of the interested customers volunteered Ananda Hills Farm in Port Ludlow WA.

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10 American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 53 My Time With Turkeys By Jody Padgham

My interview with Tom Delehanty got me thinking- Several years ago I constructed a two-wheeled rolling how might I simplify things on my farm? As I was troll- hen house to take my 50-member laying flock out to live ing through my operations in my head, I realized that I with the sheep. After a few years the hens (now down have already done a pretty good job of simplifying- to only about a dozen) decided after a bad coon scare especially with my turkey set up. I thought I’d share that they’d rather range out of their winter quarters in my simplification experience with you all. the barn, and walked in from the pasture. I decided I’ve been raising white broad breasted turkeys on a small scale (one dozen to three dozen per year) for to not force the is- about eight years. Like many of you, it seems like every sue and now let them stay in the year I try something different. For several years I was barn yard year- using a spare broiler pen or two (the “Mike Hansen cattle panel pen” in the APPPA Book) to house them, round. with the door open or closed, fenced or not, depending on my mood each year. Each year I’d run into new chal- That change has lenges, but I generally saw good survival and good freed up the rolling growth. house for other uses. It is about 9 feet

long and 5 feet wide, The rolling house– in its hen days In the past three years I seem to have fallen on a system with a tarped top that really works well, with little stress on either me or supported by cattle panels that stands about 7 feet off the poults. the ground. It has a large swinging door with a small flapped door cut at floor level on one end (the flapped Continued POULTRY MAN LLC Eli M. Reiff 570-966-0769 922 Conley Rd Mifflinburg, PA 17844

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11 American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 53 Turkeys... from page 11 the night. After about 3 nights they all seem to get it that the rolling house is home and where they roost at night. After that door is about 12” x 10”), three long roosts inside I will often go out at night to check, but everyone is always and a extruded metal floor. The rolling house inside by 8:30 pm or so. This protects them from the patrolling has become the perfect turkey quarters. owl. I have been so bold as to not close the door at night, as I think the low door discourages the owl from coming in My poults always come around the (although I know that is fourth of July, when the brooder is a possibility, and am often filled with chicks. One sum- ready to do evening door mer about 3 years ago I was at wits duty if I see any sign of end the week before the poults predatory mischief.) I were due, when I walked by that open the closed door in empty rolling house and had an “a- the morning when I come ha” moment. The rolling house was out to feed and water quickly moved into the machine (both still set up inside). shed, an old carpet laid on the metal floor and a brooder lamp and bell By the end of August the waterer set up. Voila! Travelling poults are big enough turkey brooder! that I don’t think they Turkeys love a good walk... will fit through the The poults arrived and happily woven wire, and I have adapted to their new quarters- the carpet is easy opened up the electo net so that they can roam the entire ½ for them to walk on, and they are cozy in the acre corral. They are now so bonded to the rolling house that shed with the brooder light on. It can get a little they are extremely loyal and come home to roost every night dark, as the house is well tarped, but that hasn’t no matter how far they roam. I could probably let them roam seemed to have bothered the little guys I could beyond the fenced corral, but there is some comfort in know- always put a light in if I thought it was needed. I Continued have put a ten inch board inside on the floor across the front of the house, so that when I open the swinging door to put in feed, the little guys don’t some tumbling out. After a few days I start putting in small amounts of wood shavings to adsorb the droppings.

At about six weeks, depending on my schedule and the weather, I pull the house outside, take out the “tumble board,” and let the poults out. The last two years I set the house up in the ram paddock with poultry netting around it (to keep the sheep from destroying the house to get the feed as much as to keep the turkeys in). This year I decided to take the house to a new spot, a half-acre corral fenced with woven wire that is used for lambing in the spring and as an alter- nate paddock for the ram in the early summer.

Once the rolling house comes outside I create a small pasture with a double layer of poultry netting, which is not electrified (but can be if needed). I open the flapped door and put a 6”x6” block on the ground as a front stoop. A few brave individuals will come out the first day, but it will take a few days for everyone to ven- ture out. The first few nights I go out at dusk, and there are always a few hearty/confused birds snuggled together outside, but with a quick wrist and a long handled fishing net I can get them all settled inside and close the door for

12 American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 53 Turkeys... from page 12 I move the feed outside at some point, as it gets crowded inside the house as the birds grow. If it is ing they are a bit contained. I think there should be warm out the turkeys may start to roost outside (the enough growing matter, if the rains keep up, for the 15 house has a ledge by the hitch that they like) but they poults in this year’s flock. can be herded in if predators are an issue that year, and will get re-trained if reminded. Last year I did try taking away the electro netting and letting them “free-range,” but At butchering time I can the first night found the entire go out in the early eve- flock of 24 happily nestled in the ning and put a helping of neighbors alfalfa field, under the feed or some kind of barbed wire fence and 200 treat inside the house yards from their house. So much (they love boiled eggs) for loyalty! I was able to herd and know that after a them all back to the rolling half hour or so everyone house, which they calmly will be inside, roosting, jumped into, and reset the net- if it is near dark. I can ting the next day to keep them then just close the door within a reasonable area and and either catch the safe from any predators. Last birds and place in the year I moved the rolling house back of the truck for and netting every week or so to transport, or drive the keep the grazing fresh. This year house off to wherever I I am letting the woven wire want it to be. keep them more or less “home” Turkeys love to forage and expect to move the house very little. There are several reasons I really like this rolling house set up. First, I can easily take the house wherever I want the turkeys to be. The birds seem to appreciate having Norton Creek Press one consistent “home” their entire lives, and it saves me 36475 Norton Creek Road, Blodgett OR having to move them out of a brooder. The house is tall 97326 enough that they can’t roost on top, and so their next best choice is the roosts inside. I’ve had turkeys really http://www.nortoncreekpress.com destroy tarps by roosting on top of four foot high pens. This is not only expensive, but means that they have limited shelter when it rains or gets cold. It is also Success With Baby Chicks harder to catch the turkeys if they are roosting outside, (2003) by Robert Plamondon 155 and I worry about the owl getting them. I did raise them pages, $15.95 inside closed pens for several years, which works, but it means more daily work and I do think the birds enjoy being able to range relatively freely. My system now works well because I have not had heavy predator pres- The Dollar Hen (1909) sure, that could change quickly at any time. by Milo Hastings 250 pages, $18.95 So, now turkey production here on my farm is pretty simple. If I decided to raise more than a couple dozen in any one year, I’d need to build a bigger house, I guess, but I sure do like the way it works now. I hope this in- spires you to keep creatively thinking of ways you can Genetics of the Fowl (1949) simplify your own farming life! by F. B. Hutt. 590 pages, $44.95

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13 American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 53 Delehanty... from page one says. He has three hired hands that help in the field to move the 120 pens each day. “We have to learn to use Find the Right Scale our brains rather than our brawn,” he concludes. Figuring out the scale of production that works for your farm is one of the keys to success that Tom has identified. “Pastured poultry can be profitable,” Tom The Production System notes, “but it is not for the light-hearted. It is difficult Many of you may have heard about Tom, as he has be- to do and takes a lot of work.” Tom adds that there is come a little infamous for raising his birds in “yurts” or plenty of demand for quality pasture-raised products, “churts,” his custom-built round rebar supported pens. and he feels very optimistic on the industry overall. Tom experimented with several pen styles and materi- “The key to success is to standardize your systems so als before settling on the yurt, an eleven foot oval three that you are efficient and can train others to do what feet high. The pens are constructed by bending rebar you do. Make everything simple, and as tough and in- around a jig, welding it together and covering with destructable as possible.” chicken wire and a 24-mil woven plastic tarp attached with hog rings. Each pen has a four by five foot door on top for access, and costs from $200-$300 to build. Tom Tom also feels that his success comes from running a says that he decided to build circular pens after he no- very low overhead operation. “We don’t have any fancy ticed that predators tend to concentrate their damage in equipment,” Tom laughs. “If I have 10% of my gross corners. It is also important that trebar tends to dig in yearly sales level invested in my equipment I’d be sur- and stand 70 mph winds. He has been happy with the prised.” He runs old tractors and jury rigs systems. design and has used it for over ten years (with many of “The more machinery you have, the more time you his current pens that old!). spend fixing things,” he emphasizes.

I ask Tom if that means that he is investing more in labor, as that is the efficiency argument of mechaniza- For brooders Tom has found that older used trailer tion. He really doesn’t think so, but instead says he has homes work best and he has 4- 50x 10 foot gutted trail- worked on setting up systems that are simple, efficient ers in a square courtyard setting that allows you to and effective. For instance, the pen systems he now drive a tractor and trailer between them. These trailers runs can be moved (fed and watered) by two people in have electricity and he uses infared gas heaters and a minute each. “It takes 15 minutes to move 15 pens,” he tarps on one end of the trailer for maximum heat for new and younger chicks in cold weather. These trailers can brood up to 1000 chicks for up to 3 weeks or more and with wood and paper shavings make great shelters for brooders. Chicks are moved to the outside “churts” from 2 ½ - 3 ½ weeks old, when the weather allows, until finish and stocked at 50 per shelter in the field. When they were at peak production Tom’s crew stocked 60-65 birds per pen, but Tom has noticed that the care and the growth was much better when there was only 50 per shelter. “It took me awhile to figure out what was most efficient,” Tom notes. These kinds of observations and modifications are what Tom feels makes the difference between success and frustration or failure.

Feeders hang from the yurt top and hold up to 30 pounds of feed. Tom says that he got rid of bell waters and instead uses flat pans for water, as it is a lot easier. He cuts blue plastic barrels, short for youngsters and deeper for older birds, with the higher ones holding about seven or eight gallons of water. They are filled two to three times a day, if necessary. “They are so much easier to work with,” Tom notes. One of his simplicity innovations!

Tom has about 140 pens on the farm, with about 120 moved daily on pasture. About 500-600 chicks come in per week, with about 6,000-7,000 birds on the place at any one time. There are currently seven employees on

Continued

14 American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 53 Delehanty... from page 14 from the beginning. Four women come in for two days a week to do the processing and packaging. The 3 field the farm, plus Tom and Tracey and some help from workers bring the birds in on processing day and bleed, their children, Griffin (11)and Shayna (15) who both scald and pluck the birds. All offal from the processing love to exhibit poultry at the fairs, winning the is composted on-farm, and the Environmental Depart- County and State Fair for the past few years. The kids ment even brought out their compost guy to help set but have learned to not do too much work on the that up. He now buys Pollo Real chicken too! farm unless they get paid well! The three field work- ers are full time, and get paid $400-$600 per week. Tom says that it can be a challenge to get good help, Pasture and Feed but that he is regularly pleased with his crews. “The The pasture is made up of planted perennials and annu- better job you do to standardize your systems, the als; a combination of organically grown chicory, white better your crew will do,” he notes. “You need to hire clover, millet, wheat, rye and the local bindweed and someone that will treat the birds the way you do.” kocia. Feed is ground on site using an International grinder/mixer. Tom currently buys organic grains from Five years ago Tom switched to a nine-month system, around the region, but hopes to work toward growing as he felt that it just wasn’t working to raise birds in more of his own grains. Feed is augered into a gravity the New Mexico winter. “It can get down to 10 de- box and hauled out to the pasture, where it is stored in grees at night,” Tom reflects. “It is hard for pastured 55 gallon blue drums laid on their sides. Cut out lids are birds, especially the industry ones, to grow when it is attached with belt strapping, and used to scoop feed that cold.” Birds are now on the ground from April into the feeders after the pens are moved. These feed through New Years.. “The change was also a sanity barrels are filled up 3 moves in front of the mobile shel- thing,” Tom claims. He adds that every farm should ters. The water is supplied with a ½ inch black line plan a production break, to gain perspective as much across the middle of the field and ¼ inch micro tubing as anything. “Rest the farm, rest the farmer,” Tom that moves up and down the fields with the birds. Wa- summarizes. ter holding is in blue barrels on their sides with an opening cut out to dip buckets in for the birds. They are usually low when the shelters are moved and watered, All processing is on-farm, in what is now a USDA the barrels are moved behind the freshly moved shelters inspected processing plant. The plant was built to for easy access to the water again. specifications for the state, and Tom operated under a state license and inspection for many years. But, the USDA took over all processing in New Mexico this Tom has hopes of at some point doing large scale year, and the plant is now USDA certified. “The sprouted grains to complement the ground feed. He was USDA has been understanding and we are able to started on that path a few years ago, but found he didn’t work with them,” Tom says. There have been other have good help at the time and has put it off till maybe State regulatory agencies now involved that did not next year when he plans to eventually develop the idea. know the farm existed, such as the Environmental Solid Waste Bureau. “When the Environmental Solid Tom is very conscientious about what is going on with Waste Bureau found out we’d been here for fifteen the soil on his land, and has noticed a huge increase in years they were really surprised,” Tom says. “I said balanced soil fertility, and large organic matter develop- that if they hadn’t heard about us that we must be ment over the years. Socorro, New Mexico only receives doing something right.” Pollo Real has never had a about 8-10 inches of rain per year, but Tom does not violation or complaint with any of their products Continued

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15 American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 53 Delehanty... from page 15 chase the quality organic pastured birds. They now sell fresh birds at the Santa Fe Farmer’s market twice a have to water his poultry fields all summer because of week and sell from the farm. They don’t sell to any the high organic matter. He actually has to brush hog stores, but do sell to several gourmet restaurants. Tom down the fields to keep the growth low enough for notes that the Ranch has never had a walk in freezer or nutrition and movability. He believes that pastured refrigerator, only two trucks with refrigerated units, poultry should be placed on your very best ground on and has always sold only fresh birds. your farm, as it is truly a soil production model. As a matter of fact Tom states that “his wealth is in his soil production” and has plans to have a truly holistic Tom sums up his marketing strategy this way: “You model developed with birds rotated with crops to pro- need to put barriers between yourself and the big guys duce high quality food for humans and birds within a - to differentiate your product.” Their “Pollo Real” label few years. emphasizes organic production, gourmet French ge- netics, hand-cared for, pastured and never frozen poul- try. Whole organic French broilers sell for $5.25 per Quality Birds pound, and Cornish Cross organic birds sell for $4.25 In the past several years Tom has become a real convert per pound. Tom says they could sell as many as they to French Label Rouge genetics, and now about 80% of want to produce, as the customer base continues to his broilers are French birds. He notes that the French grow. birds are thriftier, better graziers and the added tex- ture and flavor have created a serious customer base One innovation created when Tom and Tracey down- that loves them. “We grow the French birds out to 11 sized 5 years ago and went to direct marketing has to13 weeks,” Tom says. “People just can’t get enough of been a poultry CSA. Customers pre-pay $400-$500 them and are totally committed along with the chefs early in the season, during the lull time from who promote them January to April. This sets up their account as well.” He is cur- for the season. The CSA members are able to rently very happy come to the markets anytime they want and with chicks from pick up whatever they want, whether it is a JM Hatchery in pack of breast, legs, quarters or whole chicken Pennsylvania, but is or 10 or 20 chickens. Pollo Real gives them always keeping his 10% off of the retail price listed on market eyes open to who is signs and allows them first dibs on eggs, tur- doing what with keys, ducks and guinea. Their purchases are colored genetics. listed on the CSA sheet for the day, tracked They also breed and by their last name and what they purchase. raise 500-1000 heir- The info goes into the computer, with each loom turkeys at Tom’s French “Label Rouge” Birds purchase deducted from the member’s run- Real Chicken ning total, and a record produced for them to Ranch, which sell to CSA members and customer or- view each week. ders. Tom believes in breeding your own birds as much as possible, like 50-100 years ago the farmers were the breeders. Pollo Real also directs markets their turkeys, Tom says that the CSA has “been a salvation to the guinea and ducks. farm.” The main advantages he notes is the cash needed to start up their business each spring. Even though you may have the land, infrastructure, processing, distribu- Customers would buy more poultry, including year tion and sales in place, the start-up cost until produc- around if the farm produced them, as these old breeds tion for feed, labor and chick orders can be $50- of birds have flavor and texture that is incomparable to $60,000. The great added bonus to this form of CSA for the industry birds. pastured poultry producers is a committed customer base that spreads the greatest word of mouth advertis- Marketing Direct to the Customer ing. Pollo Real has limited its CSA to 200 members One of Tom’s keys to success has been the develop- over the last 2 years to allow enough for the retail sales ment of a large and loyal customer base. In the early that are needed for a balanced business model. The years, the Ranch developed a lot of consumer recogni- CSA has cemented a base that Tom believes would tion for their “Pollo Real” label. As commercial organic support his farm and family through anything. When chickens became available and Tom and Tracey real- their accounts are low most all of the CSA members ized that they couldn’t make money selling chicken to add monies to their accounts throughout the season. stores, they found that the customers were willing to They also love visiting with the family on market days. follow them wherever they needed to go to still pur- Continued on page 18

16 American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 53 Current Poultry Research

Altering poultry sex ratios Researcher can tell difference between egg types Chickens, like most animals, typically produce equal num- bers of males and females. But this natural sex ratio doesn’t A New Zealand researcher has developed a tech- always work in the poultry industry’s economic favor. A nique to identify the difference between eggs from University of Georgia researcher is working on ways to caged hens and those from free-range and organi- skew the chicken’s sex ratio to help the industry streamline cally-raised hens. It is believed to be the first time production and make more money. For the broiler sector of that eggs from different farming systems have been the poultry industry, the females are less profitable. On distinguished by using isotope analysis. The system average, male broilers weigh half a pound more than fe- can have potential within the egg industry to avoid males at market age, and they eat 5% less feed. However, in mis-labelling. the egg-laying sector, the females are prized over males, obviously, because males can’t grow up to produce eggs. Karyne Rogers, of Geological and Nuclear Science's National Isotope Centre in Lower Hutt, New Zea- Kristen Navara, a poultry scientist with the UGA College land, compared different brands of off-the-shelf eggs of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, is trying to from cage, barn, and organic farming re- determine how to control avian sex ratios. Navara has re- gimes. Using isotope analysis, she found almost all cently studied skewed sex ratios in hamsters and humans the eggs could be differentiated by relating the car- in relation to day length. She is now looking for the mecha- bon and nitrogen found in the egg to the hen's diet. nism that can control the ratios in poultry and finches. This was possible as diet directly reflected the type She’s using hormones, particularly corticosterone, to find of farming environment where the hens were raised, that mechanism. Injecting female birds with a burst of cor- Dr Rogers said. ticosterone just before ovulation produced a sex ratio skewed toward males, or 81%. She believes she can flip the Different foods ratio to favour males or females using hormones or aggra- ''Free-range and organically farmed hens normally vates, which stop the secretion of corticosterone. Research have access to a wider range of food sources than results could be available in 6 months. caged hens, such as insects, vegetation or organic feeds, and this changes the isotope fingerprint of It is important to note that no chickens used for food are their eggs,'' Dr Rogers said. given hormones. Navara’s research is only using hormones to discover the mechanism. “Broilers are not treated with The findings, recently published in the Journal of hormones. “So far, the hormone injections seem to work, Agricultural and Food Chemistry, showed isotope but what we want to do is find the mechanism the hor- analysis was a potentially useful technique for iden- mone is working through and then produce a non- tifying eggs from different farming regimes. The re- hormonal treatment for the birds. That is the optimal way search was performed on egg yolk, albumen and egg to go,” she said. Source: University of Georgia Continued on page 18

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17 American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 53 Research, from page 17 Delehanty, from page 16 membrane to see which egg compo- Tom summarizes the Ranch’s markets: two farmer’s markets per week nents gave the best information generate about 80% of the sales, with 20% of those sales being CSA, and about the hen's diet. the remaining 20% the restaurant sales.

Effective verification tool Conclusions Dr Rogers said the technique held Tom is very enthusiastic about the future of pastured poultry in the U.S. considerable promise for the egg He sees huge demand for the high quality products we produce and says industry as an effective verification that “pastured poultry is just coming into its future.” tool to guard against mis-labelling. ''The next step is to seek industry Tom sees us succeeding as farmers by experimenting and using trial and funding to work directly with egg error to determine the scale of production what works best for our fami- producers to further refine the tech- lies and our farms. Once we have determined the scale, we need to work nique so it can be fully tested and on standardizing and streamlining systems so that if we don’t want to do applied in the industry.'' all the work ourselves, we can teach someone else to do it. He emphasizes that to succeed you shouldn’t have all different kinds of pens and feeders etc.- find out what works best and duplicate it so that you can easily show someone how to manage it. “The work should be worthwhile and These research summaries were first pub- fun.” He says. Think Simple! lished at www.worldpoultry.net

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18 American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 53

GRIT SCRATCHINGS

Suggestions on dealing with mites vinced that the real trick is catching the ducks at the right on laying hens : stage. Telling whether they have bad pin feathers is possible I have very good luck with the following: while they are still alive. Then they have to be scalded and I spray the areas the mites are in and the nest plucked correctly. I'm a firm believer that more agitation in boxes and roosts with Eucalyptus Essential Oil the scalder with very precise digital temp control and (you can buy NOW brand Eucalyptus oil in bulk time does more good than just about anything including all on sites like vitaglo.com). I then sprinkle them the scald agents in the world. with clove powder - I buy this in 1 pound pack- ages from MountainRoseHerbs.com. That usually Ascites (“Water Belly”): does the trick and the coop smells lovely! From Jeff Mattocks of the Fertrell Company: Ascites can cause death in your broilers, and is connected to From Don Brubraker of the Fertrell Company: I them getting wet and chilled, causing a hypothermia- like have been recommending a dust bath made from condition. When this occurs the brain signals for additional 60% peat moss, 30# wood or coal ash, 10% DE. oxygen, causing the heart to pump faster. This wears down The box needs to be at least 8 inches deep and large enough for your number of birds. You can the right ventricle heart valve, causing a back pressure from also use multiple boxes. The farmers with hen the liver. The result is that the liver will secrete plasma into houses use 4# sulfur per ton. the abdomen, resulting in water belly and heart failure. To confirm that you have death from Ascites, open one of the Waxing Ducks fresh carcasses up to see if there is any fluid in the abdomen. From Greg Gunthorp: You will see pinkish purple skin on a freshly deceased I had several people ask for me to share my experi- bird. These symptoms would confirm Ascites. The fluid may ences on waxing ducks with an electric turkey only be visible on a recently deceased bird, as the liquid will fryer. The electric digital controlled turkey fryers reabsorb into the body flesh while aging. seem to do a really good job of controlling the temp and heating enough wax. I had to get a sec- Looking for Something? ond one to keep up. Two kettles for us keep up with about 2 ducks a minute. I didn't have any Have you heard About Craig’s List, the electronic “want luck with the wax I bought off the internet and ads”? Karen Black, of Oregon, offers this advice: I have been instead had to beg our local duck integrator to sell using SearchTempest (www.searchtempest.com) to quickly me some of their wax. I'm not sure what the dif- check Craigslist sites near me (it'll also check eBay if you ference is but their wax works. It looks like the want). Anyone who has used Craigslist will find the search secrets are: temperature control of the wax, keep- options identical. The neat feature is a "where to search" ing water out of the wax, putting enough coats of option that lets one search 25-4500 miles (or even any- wax on the duck to make it thick enough, letting the wax cool properly before pulling it, and re- where) from your zip code. I can check the six Craigslist moving the wax with pressure towards the duck areas within 100 miles with one search. I've found numerous rather than just pulling the wax off (so you are farm items this way. using the wax to help grab the feather rather than just relying on the wax). I set the thermostat on Publication Available on 200-225 degree. I dunk the ducks in the wax for Small-Scale Poultry Processing about five seconds, then dunk them in a tub with constant running cold water, then redunk them in A new Iowa State University Extension guide is designed to the wax for another five seconds then leave them help small-scale poultry producers in Iowa figure out poul- in the tub of cold water until my wife and daugh- try slaughter and processing regulations. Iowa Poultry ter are ready to remove the wax. I reuse the wax Slaughter, Processing, and Sales Guidelines for Small-scale by straining the big feathers off the top and run- Producers ning the remainder through cheesecloth. (Be (http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/ really careful with hot wax!!!!!!!!) I'm still con- PM2068.pdf) (PDF/4.5MB)

19 American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 53 Events of Interest

Sept 18, 7pm. Selling Meat Straight to the Consumer Workshop, Wooster OH. Free. More info at 330-202-3537 or [email protected]

Sept 26: APPPA Processing Field Day, at Eli Reiff’s, Mifflinburg, PA. For more info see p 21

Oct 10-13 Community Food Security Conference, Des Moines, IA. Learn about local food projects from all over the coun- try. (503) 954-2970 http:// communityfoodconference.org/13/

Oct 23-24 Mid-Atlantic Grass Finished Livestock Conference, Staunton, VA. In- cludes tour of Joel Salatin’s farm. $300. 434-292-5331 http:// www.files.vaes.vt.edu/SPAREC/Brochure- Mid-Atlantic.pdf

Nov 13-15: American Livestock Breeds Conservancy Annual Conference, Ra- leigh/Durham NC. Www.albc-usa.org or 919-542-5704

Dec 3-5, ACRES USA Conference, St Paul, MN. 800-355-5313 www.acresusa.com

Dec 4-6 24th Annual Sustainable Agri- culture Conference, Black Mountain, NC . 919-542-2402 www.carolinafarmstewards.org/

American Pastured Poultry Producers Association PO Box 87 Boyd, WI 54726 www.apppa.org 888-662-7772

20 American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 53 APPPA FIELD DAY! Join Eli Reiff, APPPA staff, board members and members for a hands-on educational field day.

Saturday, September 26 Mifflinburg, PA 10am-3 pm

Tour Eli’s diverse operation and try hands-on processing using his mobile processing unit in the Eli’s Mobile Processing Unit morning. Enjoy a delicious pastured chicken lunch. Spend the afternoon learning from a panel of experienced pastured poultry producers and visiting the exhibit booths. You will learn: ♦ how to safely and quickly process chickens ♦ about different models of pasture pens, in- cluding those for layers ♦ “best practices” from experienced producers

Pre-registration is required. Use the form below, or download a registration form at www.apppa.org. Email [email protected] or call 888-662-7772 with questions. Field Days are great for learning

APPPA Reiff Field Day Registration Form Name(s) of Attendees: ______

Address (street) ______

City, state, zip______

Phone______email______

Fee: $40 per person (APPPA Members) # attending ______x $40= ______$45 per person (non APPPA member) # attending ______x $45= ______

Join APPPA today! $80 for field day and membership ($40 value) # joining & attending ______x $80= ______Upgrade to pro-plus for only $20 more _____x $20= ______

TOTAL DUE/Enclosed ______

Registration will be limited to 60 people, and on a first-come first-served basis. Walk-ins will not be allowed if the field day fills with pre-registered people. Please mail this form with a check made out to APPPA to: APPPA, PO Box 87, Boyd, WI 54726 We will send a map with your confirmation.

21 American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 53 ELECTRONIC

APPPA GRIT APPPA Membership NEWSLETTER NOW AVAILABLE Alabama 11 Nevada 1 Alaska 0 New Hampshire 4 Are you tired of piles of paper? Arizona 4 New Jersey 4 APPPA GRIT is now available in an Arkansas 5 New Mexico 1 “electronic only” version to Producer Plus members! California 35 New York 44 Colorado 13 North Carolina 9 To be removed from the paper mailing list Connecticut 5 North Dakota 3 and get information on the electronic DC 1 Ohio 33 issues, email Jody at [email protected]. Delaware 1 Oklahoma 4

Save paper, save us money, get the Florida 11 Oregon 13 same quality information! Georgia 8 Pennsylvania 79

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The APPPA “GREEN” BOOK Illinois 18 South Dakota 5 Raising Poultry on Pasture: Indiana 13 Tennessee 11 Ten Years of Success Iowa 14 Texas 31 Kansas 10 Vermont 4 The best APPPA Grit! articles from the first ten years gath- Kentucky 12 Virginia 29 ered under one cover. Over 130 illustrated articles, divided into Louisiana 7 Washington 13 fourteen chapters and fully in- dexed. Maine 9 West Virginia 9 Maryland 22 Wisconsin 36 1. Overview of Pastured Poultry 2. Brooding Massachusetts 9 Wyoming 1 3. Pastured Poultry Genetics 4. Shelter Designs Michigan 11 Puerto Rico 1 5. Day-Range Systems 6. Equipment Minnesota 14 Bermuda 1 7. Eggs on Pasture 8. Turkeys, Ducks and Other Poultry Mississippi 5 Canada 2 9. Poultry Nutrition and Health 10. Processing Missouri 28 Spain 1 11. Marketing 12. Record-Keeping and Insurance Montana 4 TOTAL 628 13. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly 14. Resources Nebraska 5 September 2009

$39.45 for members/subscribers, $34.45 with new or renewed membership/subscription. Use the order form on page 23 or order online at www.APPPA.org

22 American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 53 SIGN ME UP! PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY Check if renewal ⃞

NAME: FARM/BUSINESS NAME: STREET ADDRESS: CITY/STATE/ZIP: PHONE:

EMAIL: WEB:

If your mailing label is correct on the back of this form, just write “same” above. Please make any corrections as needed, inlcuding a current phone and email. Thanks!

Membership: (mark one) ⃞ $60 ProPlus ⃞ $40 Subscription ⃞ $200 Business Buy the Book! (See info page 22) ⃞ $34.45 new/renewal ⃞ $39.45 member price Total Due: Please send a check made to “APPPA” to PO Box 87, Boyd, WI 54726. You may also join or renew online at www.apppa.org. Please add me to the APPPA Network in Action ⃞ Please keep my information private ⃞

Hatching since 1948 Offering a large variety of poultry, equipment and books Goslings ◦ Ducklings ◦ Turkey Poults Commercial Breed Chicks ◦ Guineas Game Birds ◦ Bantams & Fancies Swans & Peafowl

FREE POULTRY AND EQUIPMENT CATALOG

P.O. BOX 129 GRATZ, PA 17030 (717) 365-3694 www.hoffmanhatchery.com

We participate in the National Poultry Improvement Plan selling only U.S. Approved, U. S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean Poultry

23 American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 53 PRSRT STD APPPA GRIT! PO Box 87 U S POSTAGE PAID Eau Claire, WI Boyd, WI 54726 Permit #203

Check above your address for your final issue number. If it is #53 or earlier, PLEASE RENEW TODAY! Go to www.APPPA.org to renew or fill out the form on pg. 23 and mail it in! 3 ways to get APPPA GRIT! - Producer Membership $60/yr:

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♦ Members-only Web site with back issues of APPPA GRIT!, marketing bro- chure, and a pastured poultry nutrition guide (can request a paper copy by mail), and more. Business/Partner Membership $200/yr: Support the production of healthful food, sustainable family farms, and humane treatment of animals and share YOUR message with people who are interested and ready to buy! Membership includes all of the above, PLUS a quarter-page ad in each issue of the APPPA GRIT! and a listing on our Web site. Subscription to GRIT! $40/yr : If you do not use the Internet or prefer not to become members

24 American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 53