Tell me about organic layers....

N&L Smith

Member
Livestock Farmer
Hi, thinking of converting 9000 free range layers to organic. What are the pitfalls?
We have 18000 organic birds in flocks of 3000 we converted our last free range shed last year we are with OFF who are very good to work with.
Biggest draw back for me is the price of feed atm I'm pricing round and £470-£500 seems to be the average. Also worming is difficult as if you worm them your supposed sell your eggs as free range for a couple of weeks. We give them a big dose at the start of lay before they are actually organic and this usually sees them thru the flock. But apart from this I think organic is great a lot nicer environment in the shed with less birds. Less eggs to lift. Less feed to put in and the organic Market seems to be going strong atm.
 

Jimdog1

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Devon
We have 18000 organic birds in flocks of 3000 we converted our last free range shed last year we are with OFF who are very good to work with.
Biggest draw back for me is the price of feed atm I'm pricing round and £470-£500 seems to be the average. Also worming is difficult as if you worm them your supposed sell your eggs as free range for a couple of weeks. We give them a big dose at the start of lay before they are actually organic and this usually sees them thru the flock. But apart from this I think organic is great a lot nicer environment in the shed with less birds. Less eggs to lift. Less feed to put in and the organic Market seems to be going strong atm.
Thanks for the reply. Are you on a tracker?
 

N&L Smith

Member
Livestock Farmer
Thanks for the reply. Are you on a tracker?
No problem. We never have been in the past but we are starting a new contract next flock and the packer said he would try and move egg price as the feed price moves but that Is just verbal nothing official.
 

N&L Smith

Member
Livestock Farmer
No problem. We never have been in the past but we are starting a new contract next flock and the packer said he would try and move egg price as the feed price moves but that Is just verbal nothing official.
Also feel free to pm me if there's anything you want to know.
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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