Think Simple

The most asked when we displayed these Sunshine Chicks during Agrilink 2008, "What are those things for their water, mineral blocks?"

No sir/mam, they are stones, nothing more. Plays an important role though. In that picture, they actually need more stones for their waterer.

When day old chicks get to you, they are thirsty. They will rush to get their drink. In the process they get too excited and almost bury their heads in the water. We don't want that to happen, as they will get wet and will feel cold. When they chill, they will bunch up amongst one another to get the heat they need. They will end up pushing against one another and trampling on some chicks :(

Just this morning, on the way to work, I was telling Doc Rey about the question if the stones were mineral blocks or vitamins :) He shouldn't take it for granted that small matters need not be explained. What is natural for a veterinarian/farmer will be greek to a budding farmer.

Think simple, think practical. That was all our forefathers needed to do to survive and eat.

Keep In Touch

They started with 10 Sunshines to try. Then loaded 300 towards the end of September.

During Agrilink 2008, we had the pleasure of meeting them and discussing about marketing.

Nice to market new growers. You learn from one another and then they step on their own little by little. Never ending as new groups come into the picture and you guide them again :)

They took this video of their brooding house. That always happens, the Sunshines are camera shy first an run around when you take their video from inside the brooder!

Very important to keep in touch. Videos are helpful. Seems the walling is high if done on all four (4) sides. They might not be getting enough fresh air? If you will notice, the flooring are bamboo slats, so fresh air comes from below.

Opening Up A Store

First came the name: About 4weeks ago or so, the name ORGANIKASYON was toying up in my mind. From way back, I had a bond with PURVEYOR, so I used the tagline PURVEYORS OF WHAT IS GOOD FOR YOU.

At that point, I just had labels printed, but nothing concrete yet. Except that products I opt to sell and carry will have my labels. Things and food I will want to use myself. That is my focus!

Two weeks back, I jumped on the opportunity of this corner space with parking, right across SM Fairview. Been very busy with shows, but now after AGRILINK 2008 over, I can sit and visualize my store.

Finally, my store. I can direct wholesale/retail clients to a store. We can serve them 24/7 for pick ups by the wholesalers. I can sell what I want to consume for myself. I can stay put and focus on my niche market :)

Am so excited to spruce up the place with my kind of interior designing. Shop for freezers. Best thing is plan ORGANIKASYON's merchandising.

Will keep you posted when we are ready to open our doors!

How To Take Care Of Your Sunshine Chicks

During last week's Agrilink 2008, I was able to sit down a while with Louis Perrault of SASSO and assessed the new improved lines' acceptability.

Several factors make us smile:

1) The market loves the new colors: We are using a pure heavy farmbreed. Our Sunshines are now in dark brown-red with stripes, brown, greyish and black. Our favorite is the dark brown-red with stripes. This favorite grows to have black feathers with brown-red burgandy tips. The eyes....they have burgandy eye liners....yes, like Cleopatra!

2) Slow developing chicken: That is what the market likes. No rush, no pressures....and leads to a....

3) Great tasting grass fed chickens: Well SASSO isn't the industry leader for nothing.


HOW DO YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR NEWLY HATCHED SUNSHINES?

The following is our new guide for Philippine conditions, based from the average growths from raisers. Some growers have done better than this table.

Poultry raised on open grass are high in beneficial fats and other factors that lower cholesterol and greatly reduce degenerative disease in the consumer! Eating large proportions of living green plants, while foraging for insects and seeds and myriad other natural commodities that science hasn't identified yet, and with minimal need for medication, grass-fed animals create more vibrant health than other poultry. Moreover, the meat and eggs are incredibly tasty compared to general market chicken.

1. Better Food. Substantial increases in nutritional value of pasture poultry, particularly in Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Vitamin A, and a significant decrease in total fat.

2. More Satisfying Flavor. Poultry raised on pasture, in fresh air and sunshine, taste superior to confinement raised poultry. Naturally raised poultry has a firmer texture and more satisfying "gamey taste".

3. Lower cost entry. Small-scale and limited resource farmers can start a profitable farm enterprise for a fraction of the cost of conventional, integrator-controlled poultry housing.

4. Fertility and Pasture management. Moving poultry across the pasture is a way to spread manure and fertility without using excessive equipment or labor.

5. Multi-Cropping. Poultry can be used to scavenge crop residue, and hog down weeds and grasses in multi-crop fields being used for horticulture and floriculture.

Getting started with your Sunshine Chicks (first 21days)

ALWAYS KEEP SURROUNDINGS AND PENS DISINFECTED AND CLEAN

Housing of Birds: Secure from predators, i.e., rats, cats, and dogs. Fencing wire may be buried below the surface to prevent any of predators from getting to the birds. You need light, heat, and water. As for temperature, birds (four weeks of age or older) are best suited for 70^oF. Important to have shaded areas. Location should be well drained. Lay rice hull or wood shavings for absorbent flooring. Good choice for bedding materials during the wet season is sand, because it allows for excellent drainage.

Brooding the Birds: By practice, use one (1) watt per bird for heating bulbs. It is better to use several bulbs in smaller wattages (ten 10w bulbs, four 25w bulbs), rather than using a 100watt bulb when you brood 100 chicks. Temperature should be 70 to 75oF with the temperature at chicks’ level to be 95oF during the first week. The area assigned to these chicks should have some flexibility such that they can move through a range of temperatures (95 to 75oF). Monitor the birds for signs of stress; for instance, if the chicks are scattered around the area and chirping loudly, chances are they are hot; conversely, if you notice the chicks all huddled together in one area, they are likely cold . They should be comfortably scattered, moving around. That is your basis that temperature is right. The temperatures given are just guides. USE YOUR EYES to monitor them. At the end of Week 1, begin dropping the temperature by 5oF per week until you reach 70oF, and then try to maintain that temperature.

Water and Feed: The most neglected and overlooked nutrient is water. What appears to be a bowl of “clean water;” may contain millions of bacteria. The bacteria will stress the digestive system of the bird, such that it will not grow at the rate believed to be their potential. The waterers and feeders should be cleaned routinely daily. Leave under the sun to disinfect. Best to have two or three sets of equipments so you can disinfect/clean properly. Fresh water needs to be supplied everyday to insure healthy birds. During the periods of extreme heat, there is an increased risk of microbial growth.

We suggest using probiotics/vitamins in their drinking water, and adlibitum feeding of chick booster for the 1^st 21days, prior to ranging. Make sure feeding trays are NEVER EMPTY. Medicate only when necessary.

Vaccinations: Day 7 - B1 B1; Day 14 - B1 La Sota

Ranging, Day21 onwards, till slaughter: Segregate by net, compartments for ranging area around their pen. That way, you are able to rotate ranging areas. When you rotate, the manure fertilizes the land and you move to another ranging area so as not to deplete a small section. You may also want to use movable pens, so they have fresh grass everyday and litter will not be a problem.

Let them range freely in open air, eating grass, insects, table scraps, or what is abundant in your area. Feed adlibitum even when they are already on the range. Have feeds in feeders, so they will be able to eat at will. Give probiotics/vitamins everyday in drinking water (optional).

You may get the marketable weight at 49-63days. For best tasting chickens, slaughter at 85-90 days. RAISED FOR MEAT & EGG PRODUCTION, NOT FOR BREEDING

AGE (days) WEIGHT (grams) FCR

21	485	1.37
28	725	1.61
35	935	1.79
42	1192	1.94
49	1499	2.03
56	1767	2.19
63	1976	2.36
70	2167	2.5

Solraya’s Sunshine Chicken – Grass fed, free ranged, naturally grown, raised w/ a lot of sunshine and fresh air…for a healthy back to basics lifestyle. http://solraya.blogspot.com info@solraya.com (0917) 847-2639; Mla (02) 417-1800; Solano (078) 326-7860; Santiago City (078) 682-3758

Agrilink 2008

I only had time to take pictures when I was fixing up booth early before the opening, so no photos of the real life of the Agrilink 2008. Such a pity to miss documenting it...but it stays in us :)

Remember my post on thought balloons? How I was segregating my thoughts and calendars in my own "thought balloons" to sort of give comic relief and allow myself to see through a child's eyes? I had no idea yet how I was to spruce up the Sunshine booth. Then, it dawned on me...BALLOONS! Why the choice of colors? Those are the colors of our new improved Sunshine lines :)

As soon as the guard allowed me to enter World Trade Center, I prepped the booth. Then two men were walking up, talking, then stopped at their heels. I guess the booth was effective as an eye catcher :) I didn't know the man in barong, but the second man in t-shirt..hmmm...I realized after a couple of seconds was Sec. Arthur Yap. Soon after, Doc Rey arrived and started talking with the two men. Wehehehhe...it was much much later that he realized it was the Secretary of the the Department of Agriculture.

He will remember our unrehearsed booboos as he walked through with Pres GMA and stopped by our booth and explained to her about the Sunshines. They took pictures with the Sunshine chicks display.

I tell you, those scenes made the Secretary rememember Doc Rey, as he greeted Doc Rey as he was having coffee again later, "bata, madami ka na bang benta?". Doc Rey again didn't recognize him as he was now in barong :)

Louis Perrault, GM for SASSO arrived also. Dinner was a good time to unwind and have laughs outside work.

Next day, there was this man talking/laughing with us about our booboos with the Secretary (oh he was the other man in barong). I asked Pol Rubia who he was...Lydon Tan was the name.

Agrilink 2008 was so busy for us. We had an indoor booth under the French Pavilion, and an outdoor booth under the Friends of AANI tents :) Our outdoor staff was so busy with the retail sales of Sunshines and dressed chickens. It was so cute that people would inquire if the vacuum packed chickens were available. I guess that's our trademark now. Good decision to have a big freezer full for Oct 9-11.

Very successful! Not just in terms of sales. I will say far more than just income.

See you in my next thought balloons.

"Sec Yap, see you in Isabela"!