Pastured poultry resources |
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The American Pastured Poultry Producers Association
www.apppa.org
Great info and members get access to a producer-only online group.
ATTRA www.attra.ncat.org/livestock.html#Poultry
Publications on pastured poultry, and many other appropriate technologies for rural areas.
Yahoo Pastured Poultry group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PasturePoultry/
Housing ideas:
www.goodearthorganicfarm.com/eggmobile.htm
www.brokenb.com/Equipment.htm
www.range-eggs.com/hoophouse.pdf
www.range-eggs.com/pasture_hover.html
Food supplements, ration recipes, and pasture seed blends: www.fertrell.com
Equipment:
Pre-fab, portable “Chicken Inns” and a wide selection of hoop houses www.farmtek.com
Basic chicken and egg handling gear
www.mcmurrayhatchery.com
Electric mesh fencing
www.kencove.com/ShopItemIG/php?item=Electric+Net+Fencing
Economical source for egg cartons:
www.eggboxes.com
Be aware, the two cases of egg cartons they have shipped us appear to be seconds. About 5% of the pulp cartons were unusable and only a few of the rest will make it through more than one use (a downside if your customers return boxes to you for reuse, but not so much of a concern if you don't get them back anyway). The foam ones we got have thin spots here and there, but appear to be usable (and reusable) for the most part.
www.eggcartons.com
H as somewhat higher prices, but lots more selection. If you want solid, reusable egg cartons you might want to spend a little more upfront. We haven't ordered from them, but other folks we've spoken to have been pleased with what they received.
There are a number of good hatcheries, the two I’ve dealt with are:
McMurray Hatchery
www.mcmurrayhatchery.com
Day-old baby chicks (shipped nationwide) – a wide selection of heritage breeds, modern egg-laying hybrids, and meat-type hybrids.
Moyer's Chicks
www.moyerschicks.com
Day-old baby chicks (shipped nationwide) or started pullets (for pick-up, or delivered in the Mid-Atlantic region) – one variety of broiler chicks and two varieties of hybrid brown-egg layers that are performing well on pasture. Our started pullets are coming from Moyer's Chicks: they are local for us (though they ship millions of chicks nationwide every year), we have talked to a number of pastured chicken farmers who have had great results with them over the years, the hatchery is a strong supporter of the pastured poultry movement.
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