Tell me about organic layers....

[Jimdog1]

Hi, thinking of converting 9000 free range layers to organic. What are the pitfalls?

 

[7610 super q]

Max 2000 birds per shed ? ( soil association )
Contract ?
How far from an organic packer ?
Red mite ?
Expensive feed ?

 

[Jimdog1]

Can use diamataceous? Earth for red mite I think. I have a packer keen for eggs. Would not be SA to begin with. You had birds to SA standard?

 

[7610 super q]

Can use diamataceous? Earth for red mite I think. I have a packer keen for eggs. Would not be SA to begin with. You had birds to SA standard?

Yes, did it for 10 years, finished in 2013.

 

[Jimdog1]

Hmmm. 9000 birds free range going to be uneconomic soon. Not sure I want to be responsible for tens of thousands of birds so just looking at options. Thanks for your replies.

 

[Jimdog1]

Hmmm. 9000 birds free range going to be uneconomic soon. Not sure I want to be responsible for tens of thousands of birds so just looking at options. Thanks for your replies.

 

[7610 super q]

Been out of the game for a long time, but we used to make about £10 / bird profit. We had 4000 birds, so made a living. Times have changed now I suppose.

 

[Jimdog1]

Love the 10 series btw. What's the plough on the back?

 

[7610 super q]

Love the 10 series btw. What's the plough on the back?

Beeson.

 

[7610 super q]

From the archives....

 

[maen]

Been out of the game for a long time, but we used to make about £10 / bird profit. We had 4000 birds, so made a living. Times have changed now I suppose.

Been out of the game for a long time, but we used to make about £10 / bird profit. We had 4000 birds, so made a living. Times have changed now I suppose.

Sadly, without a formula price or a fixed price per dozen you will end up doing it for cost. Or like the pig industry at less than cost.

 

[Jimdog1]

From the archives....

They looked great. Ranging well. Wish my ranges looked that tidy.

 

[Jimdog1]

Sadly, without a formula price or a fixed price per dozen you will end up doing it for cost. Or like the pig industry at less than cost.

Hmmm. Not sure about formula pricing. Miss the low's but equally miss the night's.

 

[Jimdog1]

Sadly, without a formula price or a fixed price per dozen you will end up doing it for cost. Or like the pig industry at less than cost.

Hmmm. Not sure about formula pricing. Miss the low's but equally miss the high's

 

[maen]

The lows will kill you!

 

[Jimdog1]

The lows will kill you!

Ok. Did it kill you?

 

[ski]

9000 standard becomes 6000 organic.(9 per sq m to 6 per sq m) Less work egg packing. No wormers, and if you're range has had standard free range for some years then it's going to be 'dirty'. Could you retail your own eggs - I think if you could retail a good chunk that may be a game changer. Difficult decision in my book. Which cost areas / issues that will make your 9000 uneconomic?

 

[Jimdog1]

9000 standard becomes 6000 organic.(9 per sq m to 6 per sq m) Less work egg packing. No wormers, and if you're range has had standard free range for some years then it's going to be 'dirty'. Could you retail your own eggs - I think if you could retail a good chunk that may be a game changer. Difficult decision in my book. Which cost areas / issues that will make your 9000 uneconomic?

So, 3 x 3000 bird mobile's. Relatively high labour requirement. For free range the sky is the limit regarding flock size and is becoming a race to the bottom imo. For SA organic max 2000 flock size so maybe future proof business. Accept that SA are a complete ball ache. Time is the limiting factor for self marketing - maybe when children are a little older could be a possibility. Thank you for your reply.

 

[ski]

PM me if you want a more in depth discussion. I am thinking about similar things.

 

[Jimdog1]

PM me if you want a more in depth discussion. I am thinking about similar things.

Hi, couldn't pm you for some reason?