The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: LeeHambone on May 19, 2019, 06:58:30 pm

Title: Poultry production query
Post by: LeeHambone on May 19, 2019, 06:58:30 pm
Hi all, long time lurker, first time poster (I think)

My other half and I are hoping to have a small holding within the next year or so and I was pondering a few ideas including producing poultry on a small scale for local sale. Forgive me for asking though, what can you, or do you have to do officially with any by-products like feathers, internal organs etc presumably you can't just bin what you can't use..?

Thanks in advance

Lee
Title: Re: Poultry production query
Post by: macgro7 on May 19, 2019, 08:21:18 pm
Just checked on the gov website - you are supposed to pack them and give them to a company that will make sure they will be incinerated.

I'm planning to do pastures poultry properly too. Hopefully very soon  :fc:
Title: Re: Poultry production query
Post by: bj_cardiff on May 19, 2019, 08:56:01 pm
Hi Lee, someone who knows more will be along in a while I imagine.  I would say that anything small scale would usually be prohibitive when selling to the public because of the red tape and set up costs. Its one thing killing, plucking and storing a bird for your own consumption but when its intended for sale its a totally different matter.
Title: Re: Poultry production query
Post by: macgro7 on May 19, 2019, 10:12:31 pm
Not really. It's actually fairly easy and doesn't have to be expensive. All you need is a small building/container with plastic walls + plucking machine + scalding machine + killing station + stunner + chiller + gutting table
It's all doable and you can get good return
Title: Re: Poultry production query
Post by: bj_cardiff on May 20, 2019, 06:50:32 am
Not really. It's actually fairly easy and doesn't have to be expensive. All you need is a small building/container with plastic walls + plucking machine + scalding machine + killing station + stunner + chiller + gutting table
It's all doable and you can get good return

What about inspections, food hygiene ratings, commercial fridges/freezers and refrigerated vans if delivering? With all of the kit mentioned above I wouldn't really call that small scale either  :-\
Title: Re: Poultry production query
Post by: macgro7 on May 20, 2019, 07:52:11 am
By law it's called " small scale" up to 10,000 birds a year! You are allowed to slaughter that many on farm.
Title: Re: Poultry production query
Post by: LeeHambone on May 20, 2019, 07:11:13 pm
Thanks for the replies. Good to know there are companies that can take it. Can you freeze it until disposal?