The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: NorthEssexsmallholding on January 15, 2011, 03:06:35 pm
-
Is there a stocking density for free range laying hens? I do not mean their housing but the size of their free ranging area. Just looked on DEFRA's site but can't find anything.
Thanks
-
yes there is .... but can't remember what it is!
hang on, I'll be back .....
:)
-
i heard 9 per square metre but i have also heard 6 but i think both of these are too high i would say 4 per square metre is the most!!
-
Have a look on the Soil Association guide for poultry. It's very generous.
-
thanks will do.
-
As noted above, Soil Association standard 20.7 allows flock sizes in
excess of 500 birds – up to 2,000 laying hens or 1000 meat birds if
further conditions are met. In addition to a demonstrably high level of
management, hygiene and welfare, producers must also comply with
standards on ranging distance. These ensure that colony size is limited
by the amount of pasture within a certain distance from the poultry
house: for layers this is 100m.
The following example provides the ‘best case’ scenario for a static house
in the middle of a large field:
Approximately 3.14ha could be within 100m of a poultry house. To
allow for a nine-month rest between batches, this area will need to
be divided in half. Therefore the colony size must be based on
1.57ha. At 1,000 birds/ha this means the maximum number of
poultry that could be kept is 1,570 birds. If the static house were in
the corner of the only field to which it had access, the maximum
number of birds dictated by the ranging distance is likely to be a
quarter of this. This would mean the numbers are further restricted
to approximately 390 birds. However, this would default to the
permitted limit of 500.
If the house can be moved between batches and access allowed
right around the house for the full life of the flock it can be seen
that 2,000 birds could be accommodated.
-
Im trying to work out how much electric fencing I would need to create ranging for 50 hens. The stocking density is 1000 hens/ha.
Im thinking of buying 2 x 50 metres nets, which would create a 25m x 25 m2 =625 m2 which is 1/16 ha. That should be 62 hens for that area.
Does that sound an adequate free ranging area for those hens? 10 m2 per hen
-
It is 4 square metres per bird.
-
I've had 6birds contained within a 50m electric net- area 12.5m x 12.5m and to be honest they wore the area out in a matter of a weeks last winter when there was no growing- yet during the summer the grass overtook them in the same area. It might be an idea to either half the number of birds you are considering on the 1/16ha or rotate them on two areas each 1/16ha- these should help keep the birds healthier that if they were kept on one area all the time.
Declan
-
rotating the birds on half the area is a much better way of managing the ground and healthier birds
-
I've had 6birds contained within a 50m electric net- area 12.5m x 12.5m and to be honest they wore the area out in a matter of a weeks last winter when there was no growing- yet during the summer the grass overtook them in the same area. It might be an idea to either half the number of birds you are considering on the 1/16ha or rotate them on two areas each 1/16ha- these should help keep the birds healthier that if they were kept on one area all the time.
Declan
So you think 30 birds on 25m x 25 metres is more realistic?, I was planning on rotating it.
-
If that is the total area you have available then yes- you might be able to bump up the density a little bit as the first area will get a rest when you shift to the second.
-
4 meters perbird is not free range. if you want to keep free range birds the give them free range. why do you want to keep 50 layers. your not going to make a profit off there eggs at that number. we are paying twice as much as we earn at the moment. even in summer we don't break even.
-
4 meters perbird is not free range. if you want to keep free range birds the give them free range. why do you want to keep 50 layers. your not going to make a profit off there eggs at that number. we are paying twice as much as we earn at the moment. even in summer we don't break even.
I did not say I was going to stock them at 4 m2 per bird. I am merely discussing options on here, and I will have around 15 acres of pasture to rotate them on. You cannot compare your situation to mine, if you are on the Shetland isles, I'm in a different part of the country.
-
steady on there folks!
NorthEssex, the Freedom foods website might have abit more info...
-
15 acres :love: :love:
i would die for that, I'm stuck with a small garden & a huge passion for hen keeping.
So long as the birds are happy & healthy thats the main thing.
NES - you could easily have 50+ on 15 acres, though don't expect a massive, if any profit. i make a loss on egg sales, what matters is you enjoy what you are doing
-
i was not having a dig. it really does not matter were you are unless is purely an hobby the cost of producing will out weigh any income. unless you have a very cheap feed supply then it really does not matter were you are. we pay £7.50 PER BAG or £330 per ton. we use about 20kg per day and roughly 5 kg of flaked maise so another £2 or so.
if your going for 50 plus birds and intend to sell then you will need to be registered with the egg marketing folks and with enviroment health. the may be bothered if you keep the birds in runs and then claim that they are free range.
if your keen to do it good luck but its a lot harder than you think to make a profit. we are paying 66 quid a week on food and making roughly 20-30.
possibly the best option is to get various coloured egg layers and try and make a premium. we charge £1.20 per 6 to the shop they sell them at 170. there is a limit that people will pay for a few eggs.
anyway good luck. don't forget you will also need to cull out your flock and factor in the replacement costs every 18-24 months. and your boxs and labels and other paperwork. then you will need a candler and scales.
-
It might be easier to make a profit if you add value to your produce (e.g. egg mayo or pickled eggs) but trying to make a profit selling eggs on their own is like peeing into the wind & missing yer boots, especially with the feed prices.
-
I was just going to say that! Also dont forget to factor in the produce you never have to buy again such as
Lemon Curd, Mayonaisse, sandwich fillings, Scotch eggs, custard, quiches all that baking etc etc etc.
One strict rule we have on our croft is that if it does not pay for itself get shut, we dont run a charity, everything must earn its keep.
-
yup thats why we are reducing the numbers back to around 6 layers and the other pure breeds. may think about increasing the turkeys instead.
-
point taken shetland Paul, the feed costs are very high although Ive been quoted nearer £200 ton from someone who buys in bulk and sells it on. But you are right in what you are saying, I will probably look at getting a lot less and sell the eggs locally and see how it goes. Thanks for the advice.
-
hi
we have 15 birds and get on average 10-12 a day (they seem to moult at differing times so egg production stays the same. we sell to family and friends in the village and at work and they always go. In fact could probably sell more but just my luck they'll stop buying if we got more!!!!!!!!
we make enough to cover feed and extras but only start breaking even after 5 months if including the cost of the birds...... we don't mind that because we think of them as working pets.....(emphasis on working :) )
Mx
-
In fact could probably sell more but just my luck they'll stop buying if we got more!!!!!!!!
yes, I found that!! ;)
no,it just takes a while to settle out, as you said.