Online Course Teaches Profitable Pasture Poultry 

Online Course Teaches Profitable Pasture Poultry  If you want to learn about pastured poultry production John and Betsie McAuley say they can teach you without you even leaving your farm With more than 20 years experience they offer live webinar courses online to cover everything from setting up your operation to development of a marketing plan As apprentices with guru Joel Salatin in 1996 the couple learned the basics to start their own North Carolina operation on rented land They took a break when land issues arose but returned to poultry production three years ago on a farm they purchased The McAuleys have raised as many as 6 000 birds in a year which they direct market “The reason we started doing classes is that I’ve gone to farm courses where people have to leave their farm That’s hard for many farmers to swing I felt there was a need to do online courses so farmers can learn what they need without having to spend time away from the farm ” John says “What we focus on is doing a production type model to meet the demand – how to bring birds in and out of the brooder set schedules for processing infrastructure and getting the most production out of the pastures It includes the basics of the Salatin’s system and takes it further to maximize birds and revenue per acre ” The course is offered in six 2-hr sessions Tuesdays 8 to 10 p m Eastern that often extend longer because of Q&A he says Each session spring and fall is limited to 25 students so that there is time to answer everyone’s questions Cost is $250 “The goal is that when they go through the course we expect that with no prior experience they can go into production at the end ” McAuley explains The McAuleys share what they know that has allowed them to produce close to $40 000/acre in sales with their pastured broiler business With participants from across the country the discussions cover many variables from shelters in high heat areas to adjusting for cold and wet weather McAuley also emphasizes planning for year round sales to keep customers stocked at all times At Healthy Hen Farms the couple sell frozen chickens They also spend 2 1/2 times more for feed that is soy-free and non-GMO because of their market demands As parents of six children one other thing is important to the McAuleys “One thing we talk about a lot is how to integrate children in the operation and how to set it up to make it child friendly ” he says Check out the website to find out more about the next online course set to begin Oct 4 Contact: FARM SHOW Followup John and Betsie McAuley Healthy Hen Farms 4265 Fairport Rd Oxford N C 27565 ph 919 435-4484; www chickenpeople com; info@healthyhenfarms com

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