Are eggs a good bet - part 4

Provided by New Zealand Lifestyle Block, incorporating Growing Today, magazine.

In the final part of our series on running your own small flock poultry farm, we look at tips for keeping your birds alive, and dealing with the dead.

There is an old saying 'where there are livestock, there will be dead stock' and while we all try to avoid having dead stock, it is an inevitable outcome, especially when you are dealing with high numbers of any animal.

In commercial poultry, the mortality rate of birds in cages is about 2% during rearing (0-18 weeks) and 2% during laying (19-60 weeks). Chickens reared in a barn have a slightly higher mortality (2.5-3%, 0-18 weeks), barn layers higher again (5%, 18-80 weeks) and out free-ranging you will get mortality percentages about the same (5% or more, 18-80 weeks), depending on the number of predators in your area, such as hawks.

Growing Today's poultry expert, Sue Clarke, has worked in the commercial poultry world for over 25 years, and says even before petrol prices got as high as they are in 2008, it was still more efficient to kill off old layers on-farm and bury them rather than to transport them for processing. The meat on an 80 week old bird is a mere 300-400g and by the time it is transported to a facility, plucked and processed, it's not worth the effort.

So the disposal options for the small flock owner are Trade Me (for small numbers of birds), or turning your culls into something useful.

One way to solve your disposal problem is to make chicken compost. Put dead birds into a compost barrel, and turn every day. This is a good way to dispose of carcasses (if you have any) on a weekly basis (assuming you mortality rate is similar to that of a large scale farmer).

To create good compost out of a chicken carcass, you will need one part carcass to three parts carbon (sawdust or straw is best); fill the barrel to half-full, then turn slowly, once a day. You will probably need to add water to get a good compost. Squeeze a handful of composting material in your hand - it should stick together as a ball, but not drip water. If it's too dry, add some water.

If you have leftover birds and wish to cull them, the easiest solution to disposing of the bodies (and making a good compost to boot) is to create a pile or windrow.

You will need a 30cm base of an absorbent carbon-based material such as sawdust, woodchips or even poultry litter from your shed/hen house. Place a layer of carcasses, then another 20cm of carbon and alternate until a final cap of carbon material - try to make this 25cm thick, then use a cover to keep odours as low as possible. You may need to cover it with wire mesh if you have high pest numbers (rats, cats, dogs). A good pile will be 45-55% water, so water it as you create the pile. You will know when it is wet enough by doing the squeeze test (as explained previously). Continue this test over a few weeks, watering if required. A good pile should reach 54ºC-66ºC - use a long thermometer to check.

After three weeks, the pile can be turned for faster decomposition, or can leave it. However, turning it will introduce oxygen, which then creates a second heating, helping kill off any viruses present. Continue composting for a further 3-5 weeks, by which time all you should find is the odd feather or bone. This will be excellent compost for either your garden or farm.

This article was provided by NZ Lifestyle Block, incorporating Growing Today magazine.
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