Notes and documentation from a wannabee silvopastured poultry operation on a 3 hectare farmstead in Rønnebæk, Denmark 🇩🇰
💡Inspired by Impeckable Poultry @ Planton Farm in Shropshire, UK 🇬🇧
Wanna go back to the Farm Log?
Fred’s Farm LogGOK nok = close to “Godt nok”, which means “Good enough”.
We ask: What is really good enough for raising healthy happy hens in a way that supports the land and local biodiversity while making a living wage from it?
Status
Currently in planning mode, starting with a tiny prototype flock in a repurposed old horsetrailer out on pasture, while preparing to plant trees like cherry and pawpaw. Right now we are:
- Looking for the right dual-purpose breed(s)
- Finding the right equipment
- Building the prototype housing
How to raise hens in the most natural way possible in Denmark? Healthy hens, healthy humans, healthy land, healthy economics
- Letting the hens be hens
- Natural group sizes, social life and playful foraging behaviour
- Giving them plenty of space and fresh grass every few days
- Dual purpose genetics, both eggs and meat
- Let’s not kill all the males at hatching and instead sell them for meat later
- Let’s make a new dual commercial model with gok nok (good enough) profits
- Focus on quality
- High quality lives = high quality produce that taste great
NOTES:
A collection of Work-in-Progress notes
Fencing and Housing
We think we’ll start with a 2 x 50m electric fencing around the old horsetrailer. Purchasing options: Electric netting: https://farm-shop.dk/shop/mobile-elhegn/flytbart-hoensehegn/
https://elmaterial.dk/shop/864-gallagher-elhegn/ (a bit expensive)
https://www.landogfritid.dk/landbrugsartikler/hønsenet-starter-sunpower-kit--komplet/1764517?srsltid=AfmBOopknfmgYtVoRXxOkh3jq21rWQt064NWjr1RI6_BcH1IyaVRO_Zw (looks like OK option)
Advice from Clare Hill: - Much more practical to buy 4 x 25m fencing, otherwise it’s a hassle and harder work
Housing
Equipment
Watering options: https://miljoefoder.dk/fugle-og-fjerkrae/fjerkrae/vandautomater/
Chicken breeds
Looking at what breeds are locally available. Dual purpose. We would like to have a few different types of eggs in our mix + birds that can also be sold as meat in the future.
Links:
Bang.dk De kan også levere (ved Rønnede)
Hønsegården.dk Ved diget 9 Skibby Åbent for salg i weekender kl 11-13 Pris for høns kr: 100-250 alt efter race
Practical Operation
Seasonal
- Considering to dial down activities to bare minimum in Winter
- Only keeping a small breeding flock from November to February
Daily
Sales
For now, we are just going to produce for our own consumption + some family/friends Where do we sell in the future? To who?
At what price?
How do we reach our customers?
Chickenomics
What does the economics of the operation really look like?
Profitability & Unit economics - How to improve? Cash flow
Overall ROI and Break-even