Woodland Egg Production

[Anonymous]

Hi Can any one offer advice please,I am in the process of setting up a small holding of which Woodland egg production will fill part of the functional need,I have a Hazel coppice with standards that I hope to run a small group initially for egg production locally .Any advice on numbers per acre/breed and any available recognised costings or even better someone who is already doing this would be greatly appreciated.I am from an agric background Regards (or any links on the forum already covering this,I am looking through)

 

[foxy]

Very much depends on what level of supply you hope to achieve, are you looking at a commercial set-up or just supplying a village at the farm gate?
Lots to consider, a commercial set up would require going through Defra in the first instance,lots of information regarding regulations there. Some commercial breeds are more suitable to free-range, eg. columbian black tails.
Stocking density I believe for free range is 1000 per hectare..so that is something to work on.
A good book is read is "free range poultry" by Katie Thear, she will certanly get you started.
Couple of links:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/Smallholders/index.htm

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/layer?lang=en&topicId=1082226462

 

[Anonymous]

Thankyou only small set up for farm gate shops etc can comply easily with codes of practice etc,was wondering if any one had any links to successful Temporary Agricultural Dwellings applications that relied on poultry for the functional need any link to planning apps would be great will check your links out Regards Groundhog