Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
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Organic poultry farms utilize a vast array of innovative systems, from completely free-range
backyard flocks to vast aviary-style barns that house thousands of birds. When establishing or
adapting poultry facilities, it is important to consider what the overall poultry management plan
will be. Consider the following elements regardless of what type of bird you may grow:
• What will be your production style? Free-run? Pastured? Multi-species? Movable
housing?
• How will you distribute fertility (manure)? On range? Composted?
• What flexibility do you want? Seasonal? Integrated with other production?
• How do you want to use your labor? Will the system be labor intensive or capital
intensive?
• What kind of environment do you want to provide the birds? Human friendly, bird
friendly, or a compromise?
• What other locational and site-specific issues should you consider? Drainage?
Predation? Land (soil) base?
• How will feed be purchased and stored? What rodent and insect control measures
do you need?
• How will you collect and pack eggs? Transport and slaughter?
• What laws affect your operation, birds, labels?
• How will you sell your product?
These questions are particularly important for those who wish to establish a sustainable,
profitable enterprise while adhering to organic principles. An excellent resource for reviewing
your options is ATTRA's publication “Sustainable Poultry: Production Overview” by Anne
Fanatico. This article covers alternative poultry production systems and provides important de-
tails for how to make these systems work. All of the systems covered can be used for organic
production, and many are already in use by Northeast farmers. In order not to repeat the in-
