Free range multi tier, the EA and an NVZ!

[Buckwheat]

I have just found this site, thankfully, and need some advice on starting up a free range multi tier business, Not me!!, the boy!!
We are in a NVZ, Defra and the EA say the max hen per Ha is 320!! to comply.
Can anyone tell me how many hens range during the day, I need to nip this in the bud and have the answers to the inevitable questions

 

[7610 super q]

Not many.....

 

[wilber]

I have just found this site, thankfully, and need some advice on starting up a free range multi tier business, Not me!!, the boy!!
We are in a NVZ, Defra and the EA say the max hen per Ha is 320!! to comply.
Can anyone tell me how many hens range during the day, I need to nip this in the bud and have the answers to the inevitable questions

You will need to provide for 16000 birds over 20 acres. That is the freedom foods standard and the EA are well aware of it with the amount of sheds going up. Saying that your Planning Agent should know all the answers and be able to advise accordingly.

 

[Buckwheat]

You will need to provide for 16000 birds over 20 acres. That is the freedom foods standard and the EA are well aware of it with the amount of sheds going up. Saying that your Planning Agent should know all the answers and be able to advise accordingly.

We will talk to the Consultant next week,but, looking at the compliance figures for the NVZ,max limit is 170kgs/Ha and they say 320 hen's max per/Ha, its just a bit confusing

 

[Buckwheat]

This is what I have been looking at.

 

[wellingtonfarmer]

I have just found this site, thankfully, and need some advice on starting up a free range multi tier business, Not me!!, the boy!!
We are in a NVZ, Defra and the EA say the max hen per Ha is 320!! to comply.
Can anyone tell me how many hens range during the day, I need to nip this in the bud and have the answers to the inevitable questions

Have you seen the state of the free range egg industry ‍

 

[Buckwheat]

Yes it's a bit of a mess at the moment isnt it. This is early stages for us and just wanted advice from the folk who know the business, this NVZ will no doubt put the mockers on it though.

 

[pellow]

do these multi tier units catch the muck or does it all fall through to the bottom?

 

[Buckwheat]

I believe they have belts that catch the muck and then conveyor to a trailer

 

[pellow]

I believe they have belts that catch the muck and then conveyor to a trailer

I expect if you can find some ground not in an NVZ to spread your dung you will be able to keep more chickens?

 

[wilber]

I expect if you can find some ground not in an NVZ to spread your dung you will be able to keep more chickens?

It will be something the consultant will be looking at as these are all planning pre-requisites. worse case scenario would be you would have to provide more accerage for the chickens to roam or as above find more ground for the muck management plan. It will all be quite in depth and your planning consultant should do the math and advise accordingly as they will have to tick all the boxes for the EA for it to pass planning.

 

[Billboy1]

Do you have neighbours that will take the muck ?

 

[Buckwheat]

Do you have neighbours that will take the muck ?

We do, but most are in the NVZ!! We will have to make more friends haha

 

[Buckwheat]

I expect if you can find some ground not in an NVZ to spread your dung you will be able to keep more chickens?

That could solve the issue, will look into that one thank you.

 

[Buckwheat]

It will be something the consultant will be looking at as these are all planning pre-requisites. worse case scenario would be you would have to provide more accerage for the chickens to roam or as above find more ground for the muck management plan. It will all be quite in depth and your planning consultant should do the math and advise accordingly as they will have to tick all the boxes for the EA for it to pass planning.

Thank you. I hope the 320 per/Ha can be addressed with more land, the last thing we need is the EA breathing down our necks for none compliance.

 

[Buckwheat]

Think this will be a non starter, just found this from Defra!

Defra has announced changes to the designated Nitrate Vulnerable Zones – and the total designated area has been reduced by about nine per cent.

The decision could bring welcome relief to free range egg producers in those areas affected by the changes. Many egg producers could have difficulty taking advantage of increased external stocking density allowances because of rules enforced in the NVZs, which were created as a result of the EU’s Nitrates Directive and which are designed to reduce nitrogen pollution from agricultural sources. Under the rules enforced in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones, the nitrogen your chickens deposit on the land is limited to 170kgs per hectare per year.
https://www.farminguk.com/news/Nitrate-Vulnerable-Zones-reduction_18506.html