What Comes To Mind First?

Cute?

Playing Hide and Seek?

Looking for insects to eat?

Trying to get away from the heat of the Sun?

Ruffled feathers: Sign of unhealthy chickens. They are not grooming themselves and just sit and be sad.

Much just like humans, you don't feel like fixing up when you are sad and sick. You will like to curl up in your jammies and stay away from the hustle and bustle of life.

We found this chick far from the group. And looks like he had been sick for quite sometime as his groupmates are all big and rowdy! That batch had been moved to the holding area for the harvestable batch and when the vacated ranging area was being tidied up to be able to rest...they found him :( He may have survived even if he wasn't part of the eating group, because he was able to subsist on grass, worms and insects.

Watch out for chicks or even ranging chickens that are sad and have ruffled feathers. They will need to be segregated and will need TLC.

Ready To Range For Profit

The brooding stage of chicks is the most important phase of growing. This is the make or break in their growth's takeoff.

1) Heat - the light in brooder cages are not there for them to see. They need the heat from those bulbs keep them warm and comfortable. If they feel cold or too warm, they don't eat nor move around. They push against each other to get air or to get warmth. They should be comfortable in their surrounding's temperature.

2) Space Requirement - They need to play and move around easily. With proper space requirements of 1ft/bird, they have the room to mingle, exercise and eat without having to wrestle for space.

3) Feeds and Water - Adlibitum feeding means they always have feeds in their feeders. They eat all the time and they need that to make them strong for their ranging days. Have clean drinking water all the time.

4) Beddings - These keep them warm and dry. Make sure it is always clean. Yes your Sunshines are strong and disease resistant for the most part...but you have to exercise biosecurity and proper poultry management.

5) Vaccinate - We personally do not vaccinate, but check if you need, depending on your location and neighbors.

6) Observe - Keenly keep an eye on them. You will understand your flock when you are intouch.

Most people are afraid of brooding, or fail in this area. Most difficult and important 3weeks. Proper brooding is the cheapest way to successful raising of your Sunshines.

Some people have seen this opportunity of livelihood. They are good in brooding. Less time and space is needed before they harvest :)

They brood and sell their ready to range Sunshines at a profit of course. The customers are more than willing to do away with the brooding. Downside is you can't be sure how the 3weeks were done...feeding etc. Trust is a factor.

Tiny Tugagao's Prized Sunshines

Tiny was the 1st winner in the text contests over Agree sa Agri, aired over DZEC.

Doc Rey,
I'm sending to you video and pics of my sunshine chicks, taken on their 22nd days.
They are being ranged here in Marilao, Bulacan.
Thank you very much.
Happy Holidays!!

Tiny Tugagao

Planning Our 2nd Batch Of Parent Stocks

Our group met tonight and agreed on the timing of our importation of the 2nd batch of Parent Stocks, that will produce the Sunshines.

Tried and tested strain is what we will bring in. The growers who have been ordering from us since April up until mid October have been familiar with the growth rate and the taste of the F1 chicks we had been making available. Consultations with our regular clients reiterated our October decision to go with the genetic company that has a wide customer base world wide for the free range chicken industry.

For the visitors during Agrilink 2007, the world's largest choice in colored breeders, announced their comeback in the Philippine market and now in alliance with us.

In April, we went with another genetic company because at that time our preferred supplier had unfinished business with the former client. There were no other choices.

Now in October, we are both free to do business with each other. Some things are better delayed. You see a larger picture when you step back and study.

Tried and tested strain from the genetic company that is the leader in the free range chicken industry

Please bear with us during the transition period. We all know it will be worth it. We have seen and tasted the end product.

St, Mary's New Rangers in Cebu Mountains

See how excited they are to be free. They are really meant to be set on the range, let loose to forage and play around. Happy chickens give us good tasting meat :)

They also got their first batch of island borns, see the photo of the new day olds.....as the importeds are set out, the new batch goes in :)

SunField

He says that will be the brand of their chickens. Sun Field nor Sunfield?. Neither am I sure if it will be sold as roasted chickens or just dressed to consumers.

Catchy name, and nice signature too that they use when posting in the PCARRD forums:

SUNFIELD Chicks
All Natural Old Fashioned Home Grown
FRESH PASTURED CHICKEN

Right time at the right place!

A Hobby Farmer in Guimba

Yesterday's side trip took us to Guimba, Nueva Ecija.

No exact address, just a specific Barangay was given. It was OK, thinking that I can call when I got to the Barangay. For some reason, no cellphone signal!

The talent of a salesman is put to work :)

We were greeted at the driveway by an unused dressing machine. Hobby Farmer used to grow the white broilers for his lechon manok business. He found it taxing and better to just get the dressed chickens.

Now he says the caring for the Sunshine Chickens brought a family activity for them, and he doesn't need to spend as much time caring for the Sunshines as the white broilers.

This time, he hopes he will have use for his dressing machine again in about one month.

Heat was pleasanty on my shoulders :)

Am sure everyone goes through mountains of trials.

We get short on manpower, when you have to sacrifice closing a branch some days instead of allowing it to be manned by someone not equipped to be helpful to clients. It can't be enough just to be able to punch cash register. Losses from operating costs have to be smiled off :)

Then you have to catch the plane that has your imports....nap before meetings....then rush to the hatchery to check on day's hatch. Pack, count, print invoices while answering phone calls and texting, that is also while you have a client in front of you.

Quick nap again before you send off deliveries, then go straight to AANI for two more meetings.

The break and relaxation came when you were set for the 8hr trip back to base in Isabela.

I loved the weekend that just passed :) Truth is....the sunshine brings me joy. Can't call it work.