Started Reading "Pastured Poultry Profit$" - Joel Salatin

[bigredfeather]

I started reading this last night. WOW! So much great info and interesting story behind Joel. I couldn't put it down. I made it to page 70, then my eyes got tired, so I had to quit. I will probably have it read by the end of the weekend. Anyone who raises broiler should make an attempt to read this. It is a very good book. After reading the chapter on how big production places process their birds, I will never even think about eating one of those nasty things again. If it ever gets to where I can't raise broilers, I will quit eating chicken.

 

[The Chicken People]

I will put this on my list of books to read!

 

[bigredfeather]

Quote:
Our library didn't have it on hand, but they were able to get it in less than a week.

 

[the simple life]

I ordered his book Everything I Want to do is Illegal through our local Barnes and Noble bookstore recently and the only reason I did not order the one you are referring to is because I was afraid it was for big chicken producers and not backyard enthusiasts.
I figured you would need some acreage. Since you have the book what are your thoughts on that?
I read Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollen and he dedicates a big chunk of his book to Joel Salatin's methods, he spent a week on his farm and wrote about it.
I learned what goes on in those commercial poultry places as well as feedlots from that book and I will never ever by meat from anyone but this local organic farm I found, they have have 122 acres and the cows are all grass fed and processed using the Temple Grandin system, then of course I will just raise all of my own chickens from here on out.

 

[bigredfeather]

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This book is intended for anyone raising broilers. He actually suggests starting with less than 100. His model is for all sizes of producers. He even writes about people in town raising them. He said if you have a yard w/ green grass, you can raise broilers.

 

[Brunty_Farms]

I second the book... it's like a bible when you get to any level of production.... have a question... go find the answer in the book.

Honestly I wish he would write an updated version becuase a lot has changed for his farm and his buisness. One example is marketing... because he doesn't market everything on farm anymore. I honestly believe that marketing is the key to anyones sucess, as how can you be sucessfull if you can't sell your product?

 

[bigredfeather]

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That's where I'm at right now. I know I can raise them at a cost that favors profitabilty, but I need to find an outlet. I am in the process of finding buyers before Spring. If I can find one, I am going to test it out. I guess the worst thing that could happen is that I have a freezer full of great chicken. Ideally, I would like to sell a good bit of them on a pre-order w/ deposit method. I guess I have a few months to get everything figured out.

 

[petrelline]

Joel Salatin's book is absolutely the bible for anyone raising meat chickens, not big producers at all. And its such a fascinating read its interesting even if you're NOT raising meat chickens -- there are parts I wanted to type up and send to some of my city friends ("Look! Look how horrible commercial chicken breeding and processing is! This is why you should buy my chickens!"

)

But I agree that the book needs badly to be updated. Salatin's farm has grown incredibly huge since the book was written, and I know he has changed a number of his methods. (I think I read somewhere that he's not even using the tractors for which he's known anymore -- the farm uses mostly electronet now.) Salatin's marketing methods -- printed newsletters, phone calls -- also seem kind of quaint now that we have the internet.

But Joel Salatin is worth the hype, and his books are absolutely worth reading. Keep in mind that he self-publishes his books, so he makes real cash if you buy the actual book. If you can, buy the book, give something back to the man for his knowledge and the tremendous value he's given to us all in writing it down.

 

[bigredfeather]

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Yes, after reading chapter 3, I was thinking the same thing. If you were to print that out and let people read it, I think there would be many who wouldn't buy from a big producer. I got sick to my stomach after reading it, and thinking about the amount of chicken that I have eaten over the years that come from such horrible facilities practicing disgusting processing. The upto 40 rinses of bleach water and several inches of fecal matter at the bottom of the cooling tanks was the worst for me.

 

[Buster52]

I read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and the next day I was shopping for a farm. I read Pastured Poultry Profits and the next day I bought a experimental meat flock. He really does make it seem as though anyone can do it. And it is very inspirational. My favorite chicken book ever.

I will be meeting a recent Salitan Polyface apprentice tomorrow night and I'll ask him about the chicken tractors and the prospect of an updated version of PPP. I'm almost positive Joel still uses tractors for his meat birds. It's his layers that are behind the electric poultry netting.

I'm very excited about meeting Grady, by the way. I will be picking this kid's brain until late in the evening. What an opportunity for him to have spent an entire year under Salatin's tutelage. How fortunate for me he lives just a few miles from my home.