He better not be!!! Lol Then again, if they do go broody, I could give them these eggs to sit on instead of using the LG. But yea he's always making a bubbly clucking sound. He's quite the talker with the ladies.
NY chicken lover!!!!
- Thread starter peggym
- Start date
He better not be!!! Lol Then again, if they do go broody, I could give them these eggs to sit on instead of using the LG. But yea he's always making a bubbly clucking sound. He's quite the talker with the ladies.
You should check out Cobblestone Valley Farm in Preble. They are an organic dairy, but also have beef and pastured chickens/turkeys. As for cow size, there are some that are not full size. Look like minature Angus, but can't think of the name of them at this point (Dexter maybe?). Cows with calves and bulls typically are the most agressive, although there are exceptions. If you buy feeder calves to raise, then don't have to worry about momma cow or mister bull. Have you looked at grazing cattle, goats and chickens together? Or in a successive rotation? Cows would graze the best grasses, goats would clean up the less desireable grass/weeds/brush, chickens would be bug patrol and break down the manure piles. You would want a breed of chicken that is excellent at foraging and high production.
As for the prepared food angle, there is a new business in Ithaca, The Piggery. They have a farm in the country that raises pastured pigs. And then have the butcher shop right in Ithaca that completes the butchering and processes into specialty products along with the standard chops and bacon. Such as herbs and apples in sausage from neighboring farms. Maybe you could find someone with the cooking expertise or supporting product and work in a partnership? The Piggery did have a restaurant portion, but closed that down and reconstructed the building to focus on the butcher shop with USDA certification.
And then of course one factor to consider in all of this is our lovely CNY winters, blah!
I would love some of those ducksAOk stony I found ducks besides black runners I like.
Wow! That was most informative! TY! I would have thought that Syracuse area would be ripe for the organic egg market! It seems that there has to be some kind of creativity with this business. What about sales of extra eggs to local restaurants?
We haven't moved yet, but are putting together an infrastructure with buildings on land we purchased. We do have a barn and it was a working farm several years ago but we are in the repair process. Currently we have the 3 chicks in the bathtub in the house. It would be nice to get into poultry farming.
I agree with you on the closed flock. We hatched these from Ebay eggs and would do that again. This way we know the chicks are healthy, no exposure to sick birds. We were brain storming what to do with the eggs, sell hatching eggs, incubate ourself and sell chicks, cook the eggs and sell the finished food item at our farm store, sell eggs to a restaurant, or find local buyers in our community for finished food products, or even make dog treats. Sometimes it seems one has to think way outside the box to be sustainable.
I have 3 business plans developed, 1 for beef cattle but I'm not crazy about cows as they are large and scary. 1 for the mohair/wool/lamb/goat industry which would be really nice if it could be sustainable. 1 for poultry if we can get the numbers to come up right. Really, the numbers only come out correct when catering is added to the mix. We have to ask what people in our area will buy, and the answer keeps coming up prepared food. We aren't cooks so this is going to get interesting really fast! For poultry we do have a stream and pond so maybe ducks? Who buys ducks? Aren't they just for lawn decoration?
I've heard such good things about the orps, very nice birds. Will check out the site. Always good to see success! BTW do you like the marans personalities? I've read some mixed reviews. Are they flighty or nervous? Are those the brown egg layers? I thought of marans at first but then heard so many good things about the orpingtons. What would you do if you had the buildings and acerage? Any thoughts on structure modification or fencing? We have nice pasture, gorgeous flat fields that would be easy to fence off areas. Thanks for the info!
If you were to get into it, I think organic is the way to go. It's becoming more popular.
I went to an ALBC conference years ago and they had a lecture on marketing your product. There is a cattle the Devon I believe that is a bit smaller in size. There was food served at the conference from different breeds. There were cheeses too. Very good I might add. I brought some home and DW said the blue cheese was heaven. If you can go to a conference I'd recommend it.
There may also be a market for rabbit meat. I was once asked by my barber if I knew anyone who sold it. His uncle was looking for it. I don't recall seeing it at the Farmers market.
The breeds I find the best for me in laying are, my marans, Dels and I have a light sussex. My heaviest birds are my BR's. The sussex is the bird of choice in the UK for dual purpose I think. They did serve barred rock at the conference. I'm sure I made a fool of myself with my excitement to be there. Many people were very friendly and eager to help. Of course the organic Cornish Rock sells well too. I don't believe a heritage breed will give you meat and eggs enough. Production bird eggs are just as health. Don't be afraid to go with them. Hybrids are better layers in the short term and you'll want more eggs fast. There is no reason you can't keep two flocks or more for business and one coop of mixed breeds next to the house for home for pleasure.
Certainly your production birds are good for eggs, keep in mind that they are "terminal" birds. Good for two years at most and then dispatched. I have read that smaller flocks do better than large. 50 or less. Keep in mind that the more you have to do the less time you'll have to spend with your animals. Meaning don't be to concerned about how friendly they are.
I am not sure what the laws and licensing is for selling to restaurants. Since you are younger your at an advantage to build your business. Successful people are risk takers and you should not hold back. They've also failed a few times too.
Don't under estimate good marketing. I think some folks at the farmers market are at their max for what they can produce, and do have other markets for their stuff. The Manlius egg farm at the market also sells commercially. It's where we get the eggs for the school.
Morrisville has a good program for farming and marketing I think.
Keep in mind I'm retired and not up to starting my own business. If I had made the move when I was younger, I'm sure things would have been different. Don't be discouraged by what I said, just be aware of what's what. I'm one person and as you've seen there are those who've succeeded. I see no reason you can't be one of them.
I wish you well,
Did you know that Anne Rice's "Interview with a Vampire" was rejected a number of times before it was picked up and became a huge success? She was on CBS news.
Did you know that Mary Engelbreit had her art work rejected by the major greeting card companies? I'm sure there are more success stories, but you get the idea.
If you want the breeder info I have his farms page and his page on facebook. This is his farms page if no answer from him there i'll give you his personal facebook page in a pm. This is where I got my buff silkie eggs from.
https://www.facebook.com/aarronsbantam
JLaw, I do not do Facebook. I am looking to purchase Silkie Chickens. Would you
have the location? Is this place close to us? And would like you to post photos of your Buff
Chickens. Thanks Aria
- May 15, 2010
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Why do birds, if you look into Chicken Thistle Farm, they do a coop cast every week. They talk about the business end of operating a small farm. Plus lots of chicken and pig talk, which is always fun. They are 20 mins from me.
http://www.chickenthistlefarm.com
http://www.chickenthistlefarm.com
JLaw ~ Does he ship? He has some nice looking paints! I like that he has the bantam cochins as well.
He ships eggs and chicks I think. Lynzi777 I was pointed to him because the person you pointed me to earlier this year no longer does buffs but he raises them and has some of her lines there.
I meet him at Meadville,PA. 1.5 hour drive I didn't want to ship when it was that close.
Let me text him and see what of his information I can give out via here or pms.
Aria his email on his website is listed as "[email protected]" He is about 4.5 hours from me, that would be 5.5 from you, which is why I asked if he ships.
I did send him an email..maybe I'll get some chicks from him in the spring.
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