BACKYARD CHICKEN SCHEMES
Instructor: Judy Hogan, Hoganvillaea Farm, Moncure
October 16, Saturday, 9 AM-4 PM. CCCC, Sanford, Civic Center
Farmer Hogan will introduce students to backyard or urban chicken care: appropriate facilities, chick care, nutrition, litter management, laying, egg sales, and killing as needed.
With limited space and experience, plus a sense of humor, raise a small flock of happy chickens. Hogan shares her learning curve on basics, chicks to healthy eggs and meat. Topics include: Everything wants to eat chickens, Spoiling your chickens and why, Outwitting your not so dumb chickens.
Students will gain confidence in starting and maintaining their own small backyard chicken flock, have a handle on potential problems, solutions, and additional resources.
Judy Hogan of Hoganvillaea Farm is a sustainable farmer whose main goal is self-sufficiency and growing her own food. She began raising White Rock chickens in 2003, and she sells extra eggs, vegetables, fruit, herbs to restaurants and individuals. She’s a member of Carolina Farm Stewardship Association. A published poet, free-lance writer, and creative writing teacher, she writes for Chatham County Line and lives in Moncure.
For more information: Judy Hogan, (919) 545-9932
Cindy Horrell Ramsey, Lee County Continuing Education, CCCC. (919)775-2122, x7790
Showing posts with label pastured poultry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pastured poultry. Show all posts
7/02/2010
Big News from CFSA (Carolina Farm Stewardship Assoc.)
Local Food to the Rescue: Joel Salatin Comes to North Carolina
by Fred Broadwell
CFSA was honored to host influential farmer and activist Joel Salatin as he visited Pittsboro, NC yesterday. Joel started his day with a brief stop by the CFSA office where staff filled him in on CFSA activities. Roland McReynolds then escorted Joel to Piedmont Biofuels and CFSA member Doug Jones' Biofarm, where Joel learned about Piedmont's biodiesel production and Doug Jones' season extension and variety trials work.
At 4 PM, a group of fifty CFSA farmer members and friends gathered at Cohen Farm for a CFSA member exclusive pasture walk with Joel. Cohen Farm, owned by CFSA members Murray and Esta Cohen, is a longstanding organic farm with 40 head of beef cattle, pastured hogs, heritage chickens and organic hay production. While standing in the middle of a gorgeous pasture, Joel enthralled the crowd with his provocative discussion of farm management, using the Cohen's farm as a case study. Joel described in detail his mob grazing techniques, putting 350 beef cattle in a small area with four foot tall grasses and moving them daily, on a six month rotation. "My neighbors think I'm nuts! But it works." Joel believes that the mob grazing forces the cows back into their natural behaviors -- they eat more aggressively lest their neighbor eats a plant first. "The cows don't just eat the ice cream and ignore the spinach." To Joel's pleasure, this has been leading to better plant biodiversity in the fields.
Following the herd, he deploys two chicken tractors with 800 birds each, commenting that it takes just as much time to handle a large flock as a small one. "We need to build in efficiencies on the farm." At a minimum, he recommends one chicken per cow to complete the mob gazing system.
When asked about liming and seeding, he said that he had never sown a seed or put out lime in thirty years. He said that proper grazing and letting the grass grow tall will build soft and rich soil; management is the key problem, not the soil ph. He's not opposed to some soil amendments and does purchase greensand, but doesn't see that as the place to start. Joel talked extensively about fencing and preferred to buy or lease land with no fencing in place since so often it is in the wrong place. "No straight fences!" he extolled. "Let the fencing follow natural pathways and good access points."
When the discussion moved to water, Joel suggested investing money in ponds and building them deeper and bigger to make a farm more drought tolerant. "We are stewards of the land and it is our duty to honor the land by making it resilient. Water is critical."
When asked about shade, Joel extolled the virtues of portable shade devices and described his equipment, joyrigged from old wagon chassis, piping and shade cloth. His equipment is made to withstand strong winds, which is important. One of his devices, he said, can provide shade for up to 100 head of cattle.
What about predators getting his chickens? For flock protection from ground predators, Joel strongly suggested well-trained guard dogs, whether exotic breeds or mutts. "Start them young." For aerial predators, he likes having a goose -- just one goose per flock has worked for him.
After the pasture walk on Wednesday evening, Joel spoke about food issues to an overflow crowd of 300 at Central Carolina Community College. He complimented the college on its sustainable farming program and new Natural Chef program (cosponsors of his visit.) Joel then gave an engaging hour-long talk on the perils of our industrial food system and how it is affecting our health, our communities and our rural landscape. When asked whether sustainable farming could feed the world, he brought up the events of the 1940s. Just when composting and a profound biological view of farming was emerging, World War II hit with its massive investment in bomb-making. Chemical fertilizers, cousins of bomb-making materials, received a massive subsidy from the government. It is just now that biological farming is finally catching up!
CFSA thanks Joel for visiting the Carolinas and appreciates the support of the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, CCCC and an anonymous donor for making his visit possible. We also want to thank the Cohens for opening up their farm and Angelina's Kitchen for refreshments.
by Fred Broadwell
CFSA was honored to host influential farmer and activist Joel Salatin as he visited Pittsboro, NC yesterday. Joel started his day with a brief stop by the CFSA office where staff filled him in on CFSA activities. Roland McReynolds then escorted Joel to Piedmont Biofuels and CFSA member Doug Jones' Biofarm, where Joel learned about Piedmont's biodiesel production and Doug Jones' season extension and variety trials work.
At 4 PM, a group of fifty CFSA farmer members and friends gathered at Cohen Farm for a CFSA member exclusive pasture walk with Joel. Cohen Farm, owned by CFSA members Murray and Esta Cohen, is a longstanding organic farm with 40 head of beef cattle, pastured hogs, heritage chickens and organic hay production. While standing in the middle of a gorgeous pasture, Joel enthralled the crowd with his provocative discussion of farm management, using the Cohen's farm as a case study. Joel described in detail his mob grazing techniques, putting 350 beef cattle in a small area with four foot tall grasses and moving them daily, on a six month rotation. "My neighbors think I'm nuts! But it works." Joel believes that the mob grazing forces the cows back into their natural behaviors -- they eat more aggressively lest their neighbor eats a plant first. "The cows don't just eat the ice cream and ignore the spinach." To Joel's pleasure, this has been leading to better plant biodiversity in the fields.
Following the herd, he deploys two chicken tractors with 800 birds each, commenting that it takes just as much time to handle a large flock as a small one. "We need to build in efficiencies on the farm." At a minimum, he recommends one chicken per cow to complete the mob gazing system.
When asked about liming and seeding, he said that he had never sown a seed or put out lime in thirty years. He said that proper grazing and letting the grass grow tall will build soft and rich soil; management is the key problem, not the soil ph. He's not opposed to some soil amendments and does purchase greensand, but doesn't see that as the place to start. Joel talked extensively about fencing and preferred to buy or lease land with no fencing in place since so often it is in the wrong place. "No straight fences!" he extolled. "Let the fencing follow natural pathways and good access points."
When the discussion moved to water, Joel suggested investing money in ponds and building them deeper and bigger to make a farm more drought tolerant. "We are stewards of the land and it is our duty to honor the land by making it resilient. Water is critical."
When asked about shade, Joel extolled the virtues of portable shade devices and described his equipment, joyrigged from old wagon chassis, piping and shade cloth. His equipment is made to withstand strong winds, which is important. One of his devices, he said, can provide shade for up to 100 head of cattle.
What about predators getting his chickens? For flock protection from ground predators, Joel strongly suggested well-trained guard dogs, whether exotic breeds or mutts. "Start them young." For aerial predators, he likes having a goose -- just one goose per flock has worked for him.
After the pasture walk on Wednesday evening, Joel spoke about food issues to an overflow crowd of 300 at Central Carolina Community College. He complimented the college on its sustainable farming program and new Natural Chef program (cosponsors of his visit.) Joel then gave an engaging hour-long talk on the perils of our industrial food system and how it is affecting our health, our communities and our rural landscape. When asked whether sustainable farming could feed the world, he brought up the events of the 1940s. Just when composting and a profound biological view of farming was emerging, World War II hit with its massive investment in bomb-making. Chemical fertilizers, cousins of bomb-making materials, received a massive subsidy from the government. It is just now that biological farming is finally catching up!
CFSA thanks Joel for visiting the Carolinas and appreciates the support of the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, CCCC and an anonymous donor for making his visit possible. We also want to thank the Cohens for opening up their farm and Angelina's Kitchen for refreshments.
10/17/2009
9/03/2009
Boycott Industrial Eggriculture
http://www.grist.org/article/2009-09-02-the-cruelty-of-industrial-egg-riculture-plus-a-tasty-recipe-for/
8/28/2009
Guinea Babies!
Farm Up's guinea fowl finally were able to hatch a brood: two days old, tooo cute for words. Now to see if Mom Nature and the adults have success in raising them; after all, this is not Africa. . . wish us luck!
More Sustainability Workshops, Chatham Co.
Details on all these events and MANY more can be found on Cooperative Extension's Growing Small Farms website at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/chatham/ag/SustAg/calendar.html
September 12, 2009: Hidden World of Nutrition Workshop from 1:00-4:30 pm in Pittsboro, NC
September 19-20, 2009: Carolina Farm Stewardship Association's 4th Annual Eastern Triangle Farm Tour from 1:00-5:00 pm
October 1, 2009: Pastured Poultry Field Day starting at 5:30 pm at Owl's Nest Farm in Pittsboro, NC October 18, 2009
Piedmont Biofarm Pepper Festival from 4:00-7:00 pm in Pittsboro, NC
Debbie Roos, Agricultural Extension Agent Chatham County Center
North Carolina Cooperative Extension
919.542.8202debbie_roos@ncsu.eduwww.growingsmallfarms.orgtwitter.com/GrowSmallFarms
September 12, 2009: Hidden World of Nutrition Workshop from 1:00-4:30 pm in Pittsboro, NC
September 19-20, 2009: Carolina Farm Stewardship Association's 4th Annual Eastern Triangle Farm Tour from 1:00-5:00 pm
October 1, 2009: Pastured Poultry Field Day starting at 5:30 pm at Owl's Nest Farm in Pittsboro, NC October 18, 2009
Piedmont Biofarm Pepper Festival from 4:00-7:00 pm in Pittsboro, NC
Debbie Roos, Agricultural Extension Agent Chatham County Center
North Carolina Cooperative Extension
919.542.8202debbie_roos@ncsu.eduwww.growingsmallfarms.orgtwitter.com/GrowSmallFarms
6/22/2009
5/25/2009
3/31/2009
Workshop, On-Farm Poultry Processing
Animal Welfare Approved and Wild Turkey Farms invite area farmers to participate in a training and education session for anyone interested in on-farm poultry processing Poultry Processing Workshop Friday May 8, 2009Wild Turkey Farms in Salisbury, NC9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Funded by a grant from Animal Welfare Approved and built by Wild Turkey Farms, this mobile processing unit (MPU) will give area farmers the ability to process poultry on-farm, avoiding transport stress and providing an economical alternative to custom slaughter. The unit will be available to Animal Welfare Approved farmers as well as other area farmers, subject to availability.
Techniques on humane slaughter and safe handling will be addressed as well as composting processing waste. We will also talk about the legal and food safety aspects of processing under the 1,000-bird exemption. Workshop leaders include Andrew Gunther, Animal Welfare Approved Program Director, Lee Menius of Wild Turkey Farms, Brian Rosa of the NC DENR Division of Pollution Prevention and a representative from the NCDA&CS Meat and Poultry Division.
To register for the free workshop, please email Emily Lancaster at Emily@animalwelfareapproved.org. Deadline for registration is April 30, 2009. Directions and workshop details will follow registration confirmation.
Funded by a grant from Animal Welfare Approved and built by Wild Turkey Farms, this mobile processing unit (MPU) will give area farmers the ability to process poultry on-farm, avoiding transport stress and providing an economical alternative to custom slaughter. The unit will be available to Animal Welfare Approved farmers as well as other area farmers, subject to availability.
Techniques on humane slaughter and safe handling will be addressed as well as composting processing waste. We will also talk about the legal and food safety aspects of processing under the 1,000-bird exemption. Workshop leaders include Andrew Gunther, Animal Welfare Approved Program Director, Lee Menius of Wild Turkey Farms, Brian Rosa of the NC DENR Division of Pollution Prevention and a representative from the NCDA&CS Meat and Poultry Division.
To register for the free workshop, please email Emily Lancaster at Emily@animalwelfareapproved.org. Deadline for registration is April 30, 2009. Directions and workshop details will follow registration confirmation.
3/15/2009
2/04/2009
Anyone Can Do It
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Modern-Homesteading/Raising-Chicks.aspx?utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email
1/21/2009
Pastured Eggs and Vitamin D
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Relish/Pastured-Eggs-Vitamin-D-Content.aspx?blogid=1508&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email
11/10/2008
4/04/2008
Heritage Turkey Taste Test
Subject: Heritage Turkeys Prove Superior In Flavor
For Immediate Release
Heritage Turkeys Prove Superior In Flavor
Pittsboro, NC:
On February 25, 2008, approximately 70 food professionals,chefs, food writers, and food connoisseurs gathered at Ayrshire Farm in Upperville, VA, to participate in a blind tasting comparing one industrialand eight heritage varieties of turkey. The purpose of the event was to give a fair and parallel comparison of nine varieties of turkey to determine which, if any, stand out in flavor.
This unique event was conducted blind, with each turkey variety cut into bite-sized pieces in covered dishes at numbered stations. Numbered toothpicks and scorecards were provided to aid in evaluating the turkeys. Additionally, whole, roasted turkeys were placed on a table, with their corresponding number, so that appearance could be appraised as well.
The turkeys were scored based on flavor, texture, tenderness, smell, and appearance. After tasting the turkeys, the enthusiastic crowd was asked to vote fortheir favorite number before the varieties were revealed. Each of the nine turkeys had supporters, but when the tally was over all eight of the heritage turkey varieties came out ahead of the industrial variety - a Butterball.
The clear winner in this historical tasting was the Midget White turkey, with second place going to the Bourbon Red. The top two favorites each received nearly twice as many votes as any of the other turkey varieties.
The heritage turkey varieties tasted were the Royal Palm, Chocolate, Slate, Narragansett, Bronze, Bourbon Red, Midget White, and Black. Heritage turkeys are noted for slow to moderate rate of growth and are considered rare by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. All but two of the varieties - the standard Bronze and the Butterball - had been grown on Ayrshire Farm, fed organic feed, and raised and processed humanely, following Humane Farm Animal Care's standards.
This event was the largest comparison of turkey varieties to date and was an opportunity for several of the turkey varieties to be "boarded" onto the Slow Food USA Ark of Taste - a designation recognizing unique culinary flavors and traditions. Invitees enjoyed being present at an Ark boarding,and heartily endorsed the worthiness of the Slate, Royal Palm, and Midget White turkey varieties.
Turkey Tasting - An Historical Event was produced through a partnership ofthe American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, Humane Farm Animal Care, SlowFood USA, and Ayrshire Farm.
For more information on the turkey varieties, placings, hosting organizations, or turkey facts, visit:
http://www.ayrshirefarm.com/tasting/turkey/
Don SchriderCommunication DirectorThe American Livestock Breeds ConservancyP.O. Box 477Pittsboro, NC 27312(919) 542-5704editor@albc-usa.orgwww.albc-usa.org THE AMERICAN LIVESTOCK BREEDS CONSERVANCY, founded in 1977, is a non-profitmembership organization working to protect over 150 breeds of cattle, goats,horses, asses, sheep, pigs, rabbits and poultry from extinction. It is thepioneer organization in the U.S. working to conserve heritage breeds andgenetic diversity in livestock.
For Immediate Release
Heritage Turkeys Prove Superior In Flavor
Pittsboro, NC:
On February 25, 2008, approximately 70 food professionals,chefs, food writers, and food connoisseurs gathered at Ayrshire Farm in Upperville, VA, to participate in a blind tasting comparing one industrialand eight heritage varieties of turkey. The purpose of the event was to give a fair and parallel comparison of nine varieties of turkey to determine which, if any, stand out in flavor.
This unique event was conducted blind, with each turkey variety cut into bite-sized pieces in covered dishes at numbered stations. Numbered toothpicks and scorecards were provided to aid in evaluating the turkeys. Additionally, whole, roasted turkeys were placed on a table, with their corresponding number, so that appearance could be appraised as well.
The turkeys were scored based on flavor, texture, tenderness, smell, and appearance. After tasting the turkeys, the enthusiastic crowd was asked to vote fortheir favorite number before the varieties were revealed. Each of the nine turkeys had supporters, but when the tally was over all eight of the heritage turkey varieties came out ahead of the industrial variety - a Butterball.
The clear winner in this historical tasting was the Midget White turkey, with second place going to the Bourbon Red. The top two favorites each received nearly twice as many votes as any of the other turkey varieties.
The heritage turkey varieties tasted were the Royal Palm, Chocolate, Slate, Narragansett, Bronze, Bourbon Red, Midget White, and Black. Heritage turkeys are noted for slow to moderate rate of growth and are considered rare by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. All but two of the varieties - the standard Bronze and the Butterball - had been grown on Ayrshire Farm, fed organic feed, and raised and processed humanely, following Humane Farm Animal Care's standards.
This event was the largest comparison of turkey varieties to date and was an opportunity for several of the turkey varieties to be "boarded" onto the Slow Food USA Ark of Taste - a designation recognizing unique culinary flavors and traditions. Invitees enjoyed being present at an Ark boarding,and heartily endorsed the worthiness of the Slate, Royal Palm, and Midget White turkey varieties.
Turkey Tasting - An Historical Event was produced through a partnership ofthe American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, Humane Farm Animal Care, SlowFood USA, and Ayrshire Farm.
For more information on the turkey varieties, placings, hosting organizations, or turkey facts, visit:
http://www.ayrshirefarm.com/tasting/turkey/
Don SchriderCommunication DirectorThe American Livestock Breeds ConservancyP.O. Box 477Pittsboro, NC 27312(919) 542-5704editor@albc-usa.orgwww.albc-usa.org THE AMERICAN LIVESTOCK BREEDS CONSERVANCY, founded in 1977, is a non-profitmembership organization working to protect over 150 breeds of cattle, goats,horses, asses, sheep, pigs, rabbits and poultry from extinction. It is thepioneer organization in the U.S. working to conserve heritage breeds andgenetic diversity in livestock.
3/06/2008
Local Poultry Processing Plant
Wednesday, April 2, 2008: Grand Opening Ceremony and Tour
for the new
Chaudry Halal poultry processing plant
Siler City 2:00-5:00 pm
Program begins at the Carolina Stockyard Auditorium
260 Stockyard Rd., Siler City
919-742-5665
Participants will rotate through educational programs and a tour of the new plant.
Opening Comments:
- Chatham County Center of NC Cooperative Extension
- NCSU Extension Administration
- NCSU Poultry Science Department
- Growers' Choice
- American Livestock Breeds Conservanc
- NCDA&CS
Educational Program:
- Grower Guidelines for Poultry and Fowl Processing, Debbie Roos, North Carolina Cooperative Extension and Judy Lessler, Growers’ Choice
- On-farm Biosecurity, Dr. Donna Carver, NCSU Extension Poultry Veterinarian
- Tour of new poultry plant
Please RSVP by calling Cooperative Extension at 919-542-8202.
for the new
Chaudry Halal poultry processing plant
Siler City 2:00-5:00 pm
Program begins at the Carolina Stockyard Auditorium
260 Stockyard Rd., Siler City
919-742-5665
Participants will rotate through educational programs and a tour of the new plant.
Opening Comments:
- Chatham County Center of NC Cooperative Extension
- NCSU Extension Administration
- NCSU Poultry Science Department
- Growers' Choice
- American Livestock Breeds Conservanc
- NCDA&CS
Educational Program:
- Grower Guidelines for Poultry and Fowl Processing, Debbie Roos, North Carolina Cooperative Extension and Judy Lessler, Growers’ Choice
- On-farm Biosecurity, Dr. Donna Carver, NCSU Extension Poultry Veterinarian
- Tour of new poultry plant
Please RSVP by calling Cooperative Extension at 919-542-8202.
3/02/2008
They Really Are Better
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/2007-10-01/Tests-Reveal-Healthier-Eggs.aspx
12/21/2007
Urban Chickens
"Chapel Hill native Greg Bell began his foray into urban poultry as a peeved neighbor. In 1999, he was alarmed to see that the family behind him had adopted a flock of a dozen chickens. Although he had kept chickens as a kid and knew them to be both quiet and clean, the proximity to his house of the feathered additions concerned him.
In the ensuing years, he now says, he never had cause for complaint.
"We heard them rarely and smelled them never," he told the Chapel Hill Town Council last month. He and his family now raise a small flock for health, environmental, humane and educational reasons.
more...
http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A163261
In the ensuing years, he now says, he never had cause for complaint.
"We heard them rarely and smelled them never," he told the Chapel Hill Town Council last month. He and his family now raise a small flock for health, environmental, humane and educational reasons.
more...
http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A163261
7/28/2007
Used Screen Door
Please look around and see if you have an old screen door you don't need. Local, small poultry grower is building a make-shift pen.
Call me, Maureen, 692-9413. Thanks!
Call me, Maureen, 692-9413. Thanks!
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