Worm Out Stress

When we visited the 2nd day old chicks in Natividad Farms, last Valentine's Day, we were shown that they were given worms already for food. In their natural habitat, mother hen really hunts for worms to give to her chicks. This was in supplement of the chopped bamboo leaves with brown rice that Jojie Lim prescribed to them.

Even then, you can see the Sunshines loved the worms, although they were two day energized then.

Five (5) days later, as we were commenting and observing the chicks eat and what they ate....Ed Fajardo said that we should hear their sound as worms are brought to them.

Watch and let me comment later :)

Geezzzzz....I wasn't prepared for this! As the Natividad boys came with their trays of worms...the Sunshines literally BUZZEDDDDD and jumped all around! You saw and heard it yourself.

They brought in 1kg at that time of worms. Retail value of about PHP1000 :) But remember, this farm went into Sunshines to get rid of their worms.

The hosts were so happy and proud about the chicks' behavior. Am sure you will be too...unless you are a veterinarian or a poultry man hahahahhaha

STRESS in capital letters! They really bump into one another. Maybe a new game of Bump Chicks will be developed after getting inspiration from this.

Doc Rey didn't tell them outright DON'T....he suggested that the chicks numbering 200, be given about 2kgs of chopped worms in the fermented feeds. If chopped, that way the chicks have no need to be excited with the wiggly, live protein. If chopped, they can be relaxed eating their high protein diet and Natividad Farm's vermi is rid of the over production.

Originally I titled this as Worm Bank...owing to the amount of worms in this farm. But, the stress it brought to the chicks was the point I wanted to bring out after reviewing the video.

Stressful matters may be turned out to good...if properly handled :)

Trio With A Purpose

Very rare that people who are busy and are all over the Philippines doing seminars and farm visits can get together. That is like Andry and Doc Rey. Their schedules are hard to fit them to be in one city.

Add to that a 3rd person, Ed Fajardo of Natividad Farms who is so passionate about what he does. These three (3) men can talk forever about their work and dreams. Guess who out talked in the group? :) You can tell by the mouths that were captured. Two were laughing...one was...doing the "A, E, I, O, U"s hahahahah

The hosts were very gracious to Andy and Jojie Lim, Sisters from SUSI Foundation and Doc Rey and I. Can't get enough of the fresh and clean salad greens.

Ed was excitedly showing off the ranging area. Hey, we were there just last Sunday, the 14th. The photo shown was dated the 18th. Last Sunday there was no grass, no plants, nada. They replanted and they have become established fast and growing rapidly. Thanks to the worms.

They are now preparing a new ranging area already as they forsee several batches. Natividad Farms is very happy with the way their Sunshines are doing, that the vegetable men are now chickeners. They have temporarily forgotten their lettuce. More like they are experts in that field already and new things interest us :)

Well...behind successful men are hardworking ladies. That is Jojie with the babies.


We stayed there for so long. Much like a family lingering in the hospital's nursery. Where was I? Taking the photos.

We are scheduling a new trip...this time in time for observing the ranging area with the new inhabitants.

You should go and visit Natividad Farms. It will reiterate the fact that you can dream, do and survive.

Eyes Teach

That isn't a grammatical error nor wrong spelling. But it does have a double meaning, come to think of it as I type now :)

What do we want to point out here?

1) Cages, which doubled as brooders, need no permanent walls. Nets were used to safeguard from predators. Nets are also easy to lift or to unfold as needed. It was convenient to free them Sunshines on the range.

2) The range has to be rested now and rotated as there was no grass anymore. That was taken about over a week ago and the flock was transferred to the waiting area for harvest. It is located towards the gate, where it is more convenient to harvest as far as logistics will be concerned.

They run to where the grass is..or whatever is left.

3) There is a fence. Not too high, about 6ft tall, and material used was a net. They have a short wing span and can't fly that height. They respect barriers :) They don't force themselves and break the division.

4) Oh no...that flock wasn't responsible for the "putak-putak" sound. That is from the layers that was ranged near by. It was laying time for them and they were noisily doing their thing.

5) Did you notice that the lower portion of the fence was darker? It was reinforced. Over the years, the common complaint is the chickens are able to escape because of holes in the lower portion. Most times, those holes are made my rats and the chickens find those small holes and work their way to freedom :)

Doc Rey decided to have the lower portion have cyclone wires and reinforced by plastic screens. The net will suffice for the top portion...of course for aesthetics and ease, you may have net from top to bottom.

Eye Level

Look at the grass as they way they see it :) Note how alert and excited they are....it is obvious in their eyes.

See how happy they are when the brooding cage is opened and they are let out free to range for the first time!

Look how they go through grits and pebbles. Don't worry. That is good for them. That gets into the gizzard and those grits are the ones that grind what they eat.

These preparations for an instructional video is making us more sensitive to the needs of the chickens and the neophyte farmer. Much just like this blog and the seminars we do, it is geared for the lay person who has to start from ABC. The video will be appreciated more. As we try to make it easier for you, we are observing the chickens more...thus we are learning other new things too.

Education never stops. We continue to learn from one another...and from the Sunshines. Observe.

Mother Hen

I saw this pic while surfing.

Did you notice that the feathers are standing and sort of spiked? She seems to be alarmed or furious! Maybe the photographer came too close :)

Mothers are naturally and generally very protective of their offsprings. In this case the chicks are well protected. The hen takes them under her wings to keep them warm and/or when the chicks need protection.

How do we keep them protected from predators in artificial brooding? Screens, nets, metal sheets etc to keep predators off their cages.

Natural Brooding

When Ed Fajardo of Natividad Farms showed us what he has printed on free range chicken, I saw that he has several pages from this blog :) and he had attached some pics he "googled images".

This pic is a nice one that shows natural brooding. Explains WHY we need the proper temperature when brooding. The chickens naturally have a slightly higher temperature than humans, and the chicks from day1 to day21 need the warmth while they are still developing their protective feathers.

Notice the space. They are not crowded and have their own areas :)

All over this website, we can't reiterate enough how important brooding is. Please take time to read and make copies.

Mother knows best. In artificial brooding, we learn as much from the mother hens and approximate it as closely.

Passion

When we got an inquiry for day old chicks from Natividad Farms, we were fully booked at that time. They made inquiries and studied other options. We were referred to them by Andry and Jojie Lim and because of the referral, I was under the impression that they have knowledge already on taking care of chicks. Finally we made bookings...the series of questions and phone calls that followed led to conclusion that the chicks will be handed to eager first time chickeners.

The day before we make the delivery, we learned that what they know was based on readings and no actual experience yet :( We were supposed to go visit with Andry and Jojie but that meant several days later....w/c might make it too late and we regret.

We lost no time and asked if we can go visit today, less than 24hrs after delivery of day old.

From the time they were monitoring us on the way, setting a meeting place for driver to meet us to guide us along the way, to the hats (to keep you comfortable as you walk around) that was handed to us the moment we came down from the van....

See that Sunflower???? I felt the good vibes....we knew this was a great New Year and Valentine's Day...to meet and spend time with passionate natural farmers!

The brooder was like walking into a hospital's nursery and into an incubator. You enter an ante room and you close the front door first so you lock out whatever...or so you lock in what is supposed to be inside :) Just like watching Flash Gordon when I was a kid...you get to digest the fusion of natural farming and conventional SOPs. All these are better seen and experienced, than read about.

A visit to the farm was really an awesome experience. Aside from the cleanest farm (you'd think you were in Singapore ahahahha) we have ever seen that is all Filipino, the delicious buffet that included the freshest salad just picked.

The owner, Ed Fajardo, was the most engaging host! After all that walk and kwentos, we were so starved....oh by the way, we didn't have breakfast yet when we drove there. We thought we can make a quick stop but traffic got us side tracked. We looked forward to devouring the buffet.

You know what stopped us???? Ed's story about his mother teaching them that when invited to a dinner table, you refuse thrice...3X!!!!!! Then you smile and accept invitation but get a small amount of food. He was telling us all these as I was gobbling my salad and getting two servings of my Buko Pandan! Geezzz...I could have ate a lot more.

Next time I go there...I have to repeat this to Ed. It will be an anecdote about Natividad Farms...named after the Fajardo matriarch.

You have to go there. We will bring our Sunshine growers to go visit....it is an eye opener for determination, ambition and passion. It does bring you somewhere.

Every space is utilized. You see a vegetable manufacturing processing line. No wasted area. No garbage as the banker in Ed makes everything work for him. Your trash is his need.

It all started with African Night Crawlers. Then he had to find how to get rid of the fast reproduction. How? Get Sunshine :)

Go look for the brand of Natividad Farms in naturally raised products. Now vegetables. I assure you, the most loved, cleanest and sweetest vegetables. The farm is run efficiently. Who said a farm has to be thought as backyard endeavor?

Soon, naturally raised Natividad chickens :)

Relations That Work

Means that we collaborate, we work individually, and work with one another....and we are all hard workers :)

It is rare that we get to sit down with friends and still do our jobs. The trade shows offer that kind of opportunity. Most times we are all miles apart, but the shows centralize us.

Doc Rey enjoys day2 of INAHGEN 2010 with Rene Almeda of Alaminos Goat Farm and Mr. Zac Sarian of Manila Bulletin :)

Can you guess what's next?

1st Day, INAHGEN 2010

Unbelievable 1st day! Normally, 1st days are the slowest. The exhibitors have time to go around as their chance, being quiet time from ribbon cutting till about 2pm. Not yesterday! It was so jumpy....but productive. That is what I like about INAHGEN, it is a focused trade show. They don't sell booth space just for the heck of sales :)

You have today and tomorrow to check it out. We are at booth #106, Solraya's Sunshine Chicken.

INAHGEN also gave us a seminar slot. Full packed :)

For those who missed the seminar, don't feel bad. We are still able to do a more extensive seminar when there are no constraints on time. Check our seminar schedules that we keep updated.

Incidentally, another thing I love about doing shows: We get to meet our blog readers :)

Mag-Agri Tayo

We shot some episodes for Mag-Agri Tayo last month.

Today we get a call that it will be shown in three (3) successive episodes of Mag-Agri Tayo. It is shown over NBN Channel 4, every Saturday, 9-10am.

Watch us starting Feb 6. Then 13th and 20th, for segments on free range chicken.

AANI Hour

Today is the intro for AANI Hour over GNN Destiny Cable. It will be aired every Thursday, 10-11am.

For the intro, they will have the President and Vice President, Mr. Zac Sarian and Eng. Pol Rubia respectively, of AANI.

Surely, it will be guesting people in the know in agriculture in the next weeks.

Colored Range Broilers Plus

We are adding a new line to our Sunshine colored range broilers, dayold chicks.

In April, aside from our existing line, we are introducing a whitish chicken with red and blue markings. We didn't phase out any strain we were carrying, as they had proven well.

Why did we add the white, red and blue? Add that our company colors and Sunshine yellow....you get the colors of our flag! That idea came after the order was made :) We discussed with SASSO for product development and new strain to introduce that will match the Philippine needs. They suggested this basing on performance and the penchant of Filipino eyes' for color.

Aside from the new broiler strain, don't forget our Starshine too...to be launched in April.

IFEX 2010

Booked for IFEX 2010 :)

This is the 3rd year we are joining IFEX. Looking forward to joining this event organized by CITEM. They are very supportive and it inspires entrepreneurs to do better.

See you at World Trade Center, May 6-8. As usual, our regular growers are most welcome to come market with us.

New All

February is Chinese New Year, Valentine's, Ash Wednesday, People Power Day...that's what my calendar said.

Today, we spent the first hours in Fairvew. Bidding the location and structure that was our base for so many years. No, we are not losing it because we had to close shop nor our business. We just had to make a business move that will make us stronger and make us enjoy our passion more.

We have way to lease out our location to Jollibee :) :(... The rest of the property will be taken over by a supermarket chain. The lease proceeds is understandable to simple minds, that it will make our passion with Sunshine Chicken, doable and not just profit oriented.

Organika, our meat shop will remain at the Regalado side. Right across Regalado gate of SM Fairview, we will also continue to hold our monthly 4th Sunday seminars there.

This afternoon, we went to our proposed new location. A property at the Araneta Center. 8th Ave, very near P. Tuazon. Very close to the provincial bus stations. Accessible by the two lines of trains. We are really happy with this new location.

Building soon...so we can serve you there better :)

Again, the move is for the better....we didn't close to remain as such...closed one and will open better :)

Tomorrow, we got o SMX Convention Center to prepare for INAHGEN 2010....see you there!

Laughter

It is different when shared with friends....and you really have a good, loud, laughs about an incident that you all find funny. It may be a silly thing, but it is funny when woven with other experiences as a group.

When not in a gelled group...your smiles or sneers are exaggerated to assimilate laughter ahahahhah.

We have in our company Andry and Jojie Lim :) Doc Rey was tasked yesterday to introduce Andry as main speaker. Geez.....Doc Rey went on and on...I guess that is how it is when introducing a friend as you know a lot about the person! He went beyond that...he started talking about IMO, FPJ etc. Maybe the audience didn't notice it, but Doc Rey may have forgotten that he wasn't the speaker but just the introducer.

Much later in the day, after the seminar, the moment we got inside the car.....we all had to have our boisterous laughs about that incident.

We proceeded to our farm and since it is their first time to come to Santiago, it was again another healthy exchange of info and insights. Both Andry and Doc Rey are brooding batches now and they were comparing growths since they are adapting different brooding styles.

Doc Rey is based on scientific poultry management for free range...while Andry uses the Korean technology.

Three full days with friends...tomorrow we all travel back to Manila. Long trips are enjoyable when laughs are shared.

With people you are comfortable with, you are not ashamed to ask seemingly dumb questions. The Northern Luzon and Mindanao offer different foods and sceneries. What one takes for granted, awes the other.

They can't over the fact that on the road to Isabela, they met unending number of trailer trucks, hauling rice to go to Manila.Andry and Jojie are so captured by the vastness of the rice fields all around....as far as your eyes can see :) Over dinner, when we brought them to Generao's Bangus Grill that serves Sunshine in their menu...they never had Sinampalukang Manok, chicken in soup soured by Tamarind. I suggested to them to try to use Batuan to sour their soup. It is abundant in the Visayas.

A Woman Dressed In Sunshine

Been feeling sick and today being a number coding day for me, I thought I will relax till lunch before we make a trip to Santiago City.

I get a text at about 9am from the US, to get them a Cory Swatch....what was that again? I don't remember ever owning a Swatch. I love watches, but the automatic or mechanical windings for me please. I searched the internet and saw that you have to reserve blah blah. Today's outing for the watches had been fully booked already...weheheheh sounds like Sunshine Chicks :)

The title of the book that goes with the Cory Aquino Swatch.... "A Woman Dressed In Sunshine".

It was enough reason for me to get a set for myself. Pick up Feb 08.

Fast Food

Since we started moving out of Fairview, hardly had I been there. Had to go there briefly yesterday and the few seconds I was out of the van to get to the office was disastrous. When you are like some of us...the ones that get allergy at the sight of dust...then you know how it feels to breathe even a speck of those killer fumes.

I felt so bad that it kept me off a scheduled appointment last night. I needed hot soup and thought about just buying from a chinese restaurant...but then...I thought about all those additives.

Roasted chicken packs in my freezer...hmmm...it was 7pm but I have to feed this nasty nose of mine. Did I have enough time?

Took out a pack from the freezer. Set it inside my glass saucepan....I am without help so my cookware is the one the goes from stovetop, oven, to table, to ref/freezer, to microwave and back to table. You end up just washing one piece :)

Got about 4 cups of hot water from the dispenser into the saucepan with the frozen roasted chicken. Sliced up one red onion. That's it, and boiled it. Once boiling, I took a handful of elbow macaroni and placed it in the pan. Cooked uncovered for about 8-10mins (followed instructions on the label). Added chopped onion leaves for color. That't it!!!!

Why no seasonings? The frozen pack was of a roasted chicken. So it had all the flavors it needed already.

If you don't want to eat the meat with your soup, it will make great chicken sandwhich or salad.

This was quick and doable. But, if I had my way and time...I would have done this on simmering temperature. Still low fire, slow cooking....to really have the juice ooze out in its own sweet time.

BTW...yes, I felt much better....remember Chicken Soup for everything. Chickens must have something...and the warm vapor is good for the nasal congestion.

Next Batch Of Info Ads

We are now preparing a new batch of information ads.

Basing from your frequently asked questions, we will come out with a series that will help everyone.

Thank you for the support :)

Natural Farming In Santiago

Region 2 will be lucky for the opportunity to have Andry and Jojie Lim, advocates of the Korean technology of natural farming.

WHAT: Seminar of Natural Farming (rice, vegetables, pigs and chickens)
WHEN: Jan 26 and 27, 8am-5pm, two (2) day seminar
WHERE: Northeastern College, Santiago City, Isabela
WHO: Andry Lim
FEE: PHP500 for two (2) days

I have sat in several seminars of Andry and he is most entertaining and educating. Very charismatic speaker and thinks from a layman's point of view as he is not an agriculturist too by education :)

In their farm in Davao, Andry and Jojie raises Sunshine Chicken on a regular basis, supplying family, friends and a NCCC Mall's supermarket. Aside from the chickens, they supply vegetables and pork.

Farm visits in Santiago City are being scheduled too in relation to the seminar.

Very good value for you to join. See you there.

Road Tours

Preparing our road tour schedules. January and February are for seminars and trade shows.

We kick off our trip in March with extensive visits to our homebase and bailiwick...Northern Luzon, Cagayan Valley :) We will be with some of our agri friends and journalists who want to take that route with us and experience the agriculture movements in this place.

Have you seen the ritual of Pinikpikan? It is slowly beating the chicken to death. Blood clotted, it is slow cooked with some aged pork. I have eaten Pinikpikan several times, but haven't seen the ritual too. It will be interesting. Some may scream animal rights and abuse....but then, this is part of the culture of the Cordillera Region and is accepted as part of the heritage.

Cordillera folks had been very discriminating in what they use for their ritual of Pinikpikan. Sunshine Chicken passed it for its raising qualities and taste imparted :)

So we go Isabela onwards.....

Learn AANI In Antipolo

AANI Urban Farm in Antipolo will host a seminar on Raising Sunshine Chicken.

WHAT: Raising Sunshine Chicken , from day1 to harvest
WHEN: Feb 13, 2010, Saturday, 2-5pm
WHERE: AANI Urban Farm
WHO: Doc Rey
FEE: PHP500

Please contact AANI for reservations, at (02) 497-2755 or text us at (0917) 847-2639.

Nice place for you to go visit as it is a working urban farm. Pesticide and chemical free, you get the freshest and sweetest vegetables and fruits from farm to your table.

AANI Urban Farm is located very near the Masinag Market at the junction of Sumulong Hway and Marcos Hway. From Marikina, you turn right to Sumulong from Marcos Hway. You will see a Shell station on your left and the subdivision across that is where you enter. I think the subdivision is named Kingsville.

INAHGEN Seminar

The organizers of INAHGEN 2010 have allotted Doc Rey for a talk on Feb 3, at 5:30pm, Seminar Room #4.

Nevertheless, we will be fixing the booth in such a way that we will be able to accommodate multi inquiries so we may have one on one talks.

Agree To Agri

Mag-Agri Tayo!

That is the name of the program over NBN, that shot Doc Rey yesterday for a series of segments on free range chicken. Much like a seminar on air.

They said it will be shown sometime mid February. Will post details here :)

HAMsarap!

Don't forget the tasting of our HAManok. The one packed for me by APDC was meant to be shared with our DWWW's Kaunlaran sa Agrikultura.

Why did I want with them? Perfect crowd. Mixed ages. Mixed cultural and marketing targets. Most were men. They are all agriculture people who are so used in being served such and these. One is even into meat processing/production.

Ham is such a basic thing, it is everyday food...but you tend to hate seeing it after Christmas is it is a staple those days. So I chose to have it taste tested a week after New Year :)

We didn't coat it in sugar . In three (3) separate platters, the 2kg ham held its own. Even when pale compared to commercial hotdogs etc on the table, it sat quietly and regally there. I grabbed one as soon as I can so I can taste first, how this ham was. OMG...ang sarap, honest super. Everyone said it was so good. I believe this group because we are constructive with one another. They enjoyed it more knowing it was preservative free.

It will do good for sandwhich, salad, eaten solo....very pinoy, we had it with rice. Wiped out...ham..after Christmas?

Have added ther HAManok to the production schedule.

2nd Round

of taste testing :)

The 1st round had 2 age groups. My age and the older and experienced ones. The older ones liked the garlicky Vigan type and the spicey Italian and the sweetish skinless. My age group wanted the spicey Italian, found the Vigan and herby type bland, but they want that developed as the interesting taste is there, but you know...masarap but may kulang? Doc Rey liked the skinless and the patties...same as the APDC taste panel.

I think it was the mass pinoy taste buds. They didn't like the herby type. But then, I am targetting a niche market. The ones that have higher notch in taste buds and want to eat healthy.

2nd round was last Friday...my age group again but diverse as we invited two (2) discriminating men hahahhahaha. One was involved in a company for layers and pig production.

I brought out the 1st batch of herby that APDC and Doc Rey didn't really want as the herbs were strong on their taste. THIS IS IT my friends now say, strong taste not bland. I knew it, that was why I kept the unwanted batch as it suited me. The Adobo was really appreciated too. The Blue Eagle men liked all, and discussion was focused on the health benefits, since one of them is all too knowing of how commercial animals are raised :(

No help. I prepared it myself. Brought out my electric grill and just set it to cook a few minutes before they arrived. Thank you for cellphones. Having guests is less stressful as you are prepared at the right time. Wine flutes, several chilled Reds, cheeses

Thank you to my friends who washed up after. I don't get jumpy when they come over.

Now we are preparing to go into production of our Sunshine Sausages.

Extensive & Entertaining

Yet...thinks like a dummy :)

Not too long ago, I got a call from someone who does contract growing for commercial white broilers, for a large food company.

He said his interest has been picked when he saw the colored chicks in the last Agrilink 2009. He asked, researched and read around.

"Of all the pages and websites about free range chickens, yours is the most extensive and entertaining to read...there is humor" I have to take a bow in gratitude :)

I added that... "I also hope that the point of view of a layman who doesn't know anything in poultry management is obvious. Like learning from the eyes of a dummy". He said YES...pretty obvious since he knows poultry...but the layman's point of view makes things easier to understand and to believe. It doesn't have hifaluting terms and description that makes it hard to comprehend nor believe as a doable project .

And yes, I talk about the ups and downs. Just like my favorite Christmas series that just ended... there were no right nor wrong characters. Their character development even when bad, stemmed from something real and credible. And the bidas and goodmen, were not all good and perfect....everyone and everything was portrayed as real. No perfect 10s, nor flunking 1s here. Remember Kramer vs Kramer...same. No one among the divorcing couple was right nor wrong.

Geezzzzz.....am getting so engrossed in my characters!

I am thankful for people finding us real educating...and gives them smiles too. I am a frustrated script writer, really! It is people like you who motivate me to learn more to be able to write about my passion.

Be Proactive

Enjoying a walk through the new ranging areas being developed, to exercise. Boots on...as I just almost sprained an ankle walking through an empty lot with a lot of vines...in Metro Manila!

Check now on the next brooding house for next week's loading. Same mistake about the rat proofing, so that has to be redone.

Nice edible borders in this ranging area. I can taste the sweet juices of pesticide free veggies :)

I am always harassed by caretaker's wife on how to protect her vegetable plots from the rangers...enclose them in net. I think she doesn't want to believe me. Last week we sent to the bodega some used poultry wire. She decided for herself that this is what will work for her! See how she used Ipil-ipil for posts. Hope it grows too, so it may act as shade in the new ranging areas.

True and honest. The nets will work...old ones are useful as well. Chickens are not like goats, pigs nor cattle. They won't force themselves through barriers, come what may. Chickens are easy to deal with. Once they hit walls, even if flimsy, they turn elsewhere :)

Why do you think we recommend nets as range separators or fencing?

Don't Take For Granted

You always have to check caretakers, even after you have tried to teach them (granting that you know what you are doing too). We made a quick trip today to check on brooding this week in a new developed area. New caretaker too, so Doc Rey wanted to see how he followed...

Can you spot the mistakes from here?



Ok good. He has his hammock there. Radio playing...I forgot to tell him to tset it to the radio station where we broadcast our info ads in Isabela...that should be his audio bibles :) I take the radio was for him, and not for the chicks.

Maybe now at closer view, you can?

Maybe you can't tell too? Common sense in brooding is not really common sense to a non knowing like me also.

Since I have some knowledge already after all the seminars, farm visits, and listening to Doc Rey...this is what I can tell:

1) Infrared bulbs were sent to be used. What was sent was 150w each and I sent six (6) pcs. We were brooding five hundred (500). He just used four (4) all in one side and had incandescent bulbs on the other side. I heard Doc Rey asking him (his way of teaching the how and the why) if the chicks last night were bunched under the red bulbs and not merrily walking around.

2) The rat protection is better when there are no corners where there may be a tendency to group and they can get crushed. Doc Rey reminded him that he was told to make that in an Oval shape. Ideally round, but it will be difficult to go around the pen with a big circle in the middle.

3) There were no standby heaters. There were drums outside and the ricehull were ready in sacks too. He should have had them ready and staged on pedestal hollowblocks (w/c were sitting quite far so it will be difficult to put together incase of a power outage in the middle of the night).

Aside from the above, these I heard from Doc Rey:

1) Set the basin feeders near the heater bulbs. If it is cold, they will want to stay near the bulbs and of the food is far, they won't go to eat.

2) Set the drinkers horizontally instead of vertically. Again, set it under the bulbs. Same concept. Make food and water accessible to them even when the temperature is low.

As I was studying picture now as I used it for the topic....it dawned on me that it will be better it the grouping was divided into two (2) or three (3) of those iron sheets. That was, the caretaker goes around the groups, changed the water and cleans out basins with out stepping on beddings. Maybe that was the reason caretaker opted to set the waterers and basins near the edge...so he can easily reach out.

Oh well.....we will be back later at the farm to eat freshly picked veggies. I will discuss that with Doc Rey :)

Join Us In Facebook

Since you may be busy in your own FB accounts, you may want to take a break and join us there.

Sunshine Chicken has a page :)....no, its not part of FarmVille.

Seminar Series

A weekly TV program had tapped Doc Rey to do a series of segments on free range chickens.

It will be like a seminar as it will give him more time to expound on topics, rather just a run through interview.

We tape it all in one (1) day, but the segments will be broken up to screening several weeks.

Thank you to a near by backyard grower. He allowed us to shoot in his farm.

Sunshine Surprise

I was just on the phone today w/ the schedules for our sausages, when I decided to surf and read online newspapers.

SURPRISE! I was motivated to act more :)

FarmVille On Real

For those with Facebook accounts, am sure you know what Farmville is. Everyone is at it...ok...almost everyone.

For us FBers who are real farmers, we watch with awe. If the zeal and passion you guys have in planting, harvesting and helping your cyber neighbors are translated into the real world...WOW, we will not be hungry and we will not need the imports.

Agriculture is what we should fall back on. Food is basic. No, we are not saying that we should ALL go into farming....we need a balance. But as of now, agriculture is looked down on and that maybe the reason that a lot of people may have the passion for it, but are discouraged by society. Tsk tsk tsk

When tending to Sunshines, we get a lot of feedback that it brings bonding to family members.

Hahahhahahha...same with Farmville. I know of some couples who are hardly on speaking terms, moreso not on one another's Facebook account as friends. But because of Farmville, the need to have neighbors to stay up on the game...they included one another and now help each other tend their plots.

It even made me peep at Farmville for the first time today. Cute, colorful, enticing....I didn't want to start on this now. I have heard how some people do wake up at dawn to harvest their crops in cyberland. I have a real farm that keeps us busy! Take the trip with us :)

As my FB status earlier said " Go eat Healthy! Grow your own food...or buy from us :)"

Thank You For Day1

They say that the first day is a snapshot of what is to come...then I will love 2010!

1) Got a call from a TV program's production staff. They want to interview us and if we can go to a grower to shoot farm.

2) Orders for dayold chicks poured in.

3) Someone was interested to carry our Sunshine Sausages :)

4) Food chain reminded us to start delivery.

There are kinks:
5) A group trying to con my staff into paying for shipments that arrived during the holidays. They tried to collect customs tax payments and brokerage fees. They stopped when they were asked to call moi :)

6) We closed several deals :)

7) A writer called to interview by phone re: Sunshine Sausages!

Now, we have to chicken up logistics to foresee coming days.

All our work for marketing will benefit our growers. And you. wink wink...read on.

Inahgen Is Coming

Almost a year ago, we booked our space for INAHGEN 2010 here.

Today we get the email for exhibitors' meeting. I have forgotten about the Feb 3-5 show at SMX....but welcomed the announcement. I had been happy with the way the previous INAHGENs went and looking forward to joining this trade show again.

Our growers are welcome to join us in the booths and market their products.

See you: INAHGEN 2010, booth #106 (near boar auction), SMX Convention Center, Feb 3-5.

Happy 2010!

We have so much to thank for in 2009 :) A lot of work and new ideas kept us busy. Not that we want 2009 to end, but more of lets go ahead with 2010!

Promising days ahead for all of us.

What Are You Doing Today?

Last day for 2009. By midnight this morning, we were still at the hatchery. There was no vacation from orders, besides, what we load now are for January orders already.

Friends sent me inputs about names for my sausages.

Was at the embroiderer this morning, to check if uniforms can be done. Mass and dinner later.

Tomorrow...

I just asked about today...

Let tomorrow be tomorrow. Take a break :)

A supplier asked me the other day when my next order is...I replied "take a sandy break".

So Sage, Sausage

So sensible, so wise.

It was a perfect time to bring out the sausage platters that we had developed from the Sunshine Chickens.

Why so? We were in the company of family and friends.

1st stop: In Santiago City, Isabela. Family on Doc Rey's side had the usual Christmas party. Served on the drinking table for pulutan. I didn't think it will be rated well and delicious as we centered on taste buds of the Metro folks. The men liked it.

Next stop: Last night's Cheese and Wine with my forever friends from Maryknoll high school yet. For a cross section, we invited my mother's best friend in her 70s, and Mr. Zac Sarian of Agriculture Magazine. It rated very well with Tita Pilar and Zac. I gifted Father Mon, our parish priest, some sauasages and fresh eggs last week, and Tita Pilar said that Father Mon raved about it infront of other parishioners.

My 20yr old son, Rocky, also joined the group. He is a health buff and watches his diet so well. His likes was taken into consideration when we developed this.

My friends...oh they will always be critical to a fault...but its always for the good of everyone :) They all said it was great, but lacking in blah blah black sheep hahahhahha. But, no negative reactions...,.,which means it was so good already, knowing them!

I was prepared with my camera, but as always in good times, I forget to take photos!

Discussion centered on the reasons for developing the product. It started with planning for value added products aside from the dressed chickens. Brainstorming about other business ideas, beyond the raising...where else and who else can earn from the endeavors? The clamor for healthy products. The segment of the ready to cook food had to be looked into.

Repeat. We had APDC of BAI develop these so sage sausages for us. We were both equally ecstatic about reinventing meat processing without preservatives.

I texted Salve of APDC first thing this morning to congratulate her as it met the taste buds of the cross section of our target market. It faired well with all ages and cultural slices.

So sage...it has a nice ring! I should use it as branding! ...what do you think?

Ready For 2010

Fully booked for the past months, so steps had been made and we are now ready to serve the additional demand on our dayold chicks and dressed chickens for 2010.

For January, we are hatching 2x a week.

Thank you for believing.

Noisy Morning

Am not complaining about the festivities..it was fun yesterday. So good to have down to earth laughter, no politicizing, no put on smiles :)

This morning I was on the phone with a friend and I asked her how her 25th was...she replied "silent night". Let's look at it as no fights, no frills...but quiet and peace for them.

So today, first hour at work....we get orders already for roasted chickens for the next days. Advance orders as they didn't want to take the risk of not getting any. The ones who grew for their own tables came back today for dayold chicks as the proof was served for Noche Buena.

If you raised today, you will have good clean Sunshines for Valentines, graduations, Easter....

You should plan ahead.

Gauge

This season was a barometer....and it showed good signs.

Sunshine had been around for 2 1/2yrs now. Initially, it was all educating the tastebuds, and the psyche of farmers and consumers. Others are just copying, following and reaping from our work, but that's ok. We strive and reinvent ourselves...they have lots to ape :)

By September, October this year, the sales of dayold chicks have been record breakers. We were happy for the growers and excitedly waited for the outcome of the December harvest from the backyard farmers. The ones who will serve the chickens on their tables...and the ones who's neighbors and family will await it as gifts.

Very good reviews. It snowballed to dressed chicken sales. Our rotisserie chicken earned new customers and orders from the regular ones ballooned, crediting to their family gatherings. Our Sunny staff was so busy that we decided to close the rostisserie outlet today.

Orders for dayold chicks and dressed have poured in, after the harvests and the gifts of Sunshines on the table.

We are now ready to introduce our sausages with no chemicals nor preservatives. First, we serve it today with relatives. Next week, we serve it to my critic friends with cheese and wine. My best gauge after all are my friends...they tell it as it is :)

We roll it in the market very soon.

Planting Trees

Five (5) yrs ago, we developed an area of 1hectare. First we did was dig half of the property to elevate the other half. It used to be a ricefield and the area was soggy. So to get dry land fast, we made the property higher. The soil we got from the dug up area went to the half that we planted with trees. We were prepared to be patient as the the soil was wasted and overused. We agreed to let the land rejuvenate on its own.

The holes were made into fishponds. We also plan to build poultry buildings on top so we can have more sustainability. Waste from the poultry can feed the fishes.

Now at 5yrs old, we have productive fruit trees. We harvest vegetables. Fish is fresh. Our table is almost filled by our farm.

No spraying of chemicals here. Our mango trees have started to flower...and we will keep it that way til fruiting....naturally. Grow your own food!

How to Monitor

I have written several topics on the monitor ( you may want to use the "search" button). Remember how I wrote also about eventually graduating to sturdier housing. Sure, let's start small and cheap and grow with the business. We also did. So now we are building notch higher.

Because of the demand for the dressed Sunshines, we have to grow some to make sure the supply and quality is met. Everything fell into place as we are now developing another 3hectares in the farm and have more room to play and rotate ranging areas.

I took these pictures yesterday and when reviewing today for filing, Doc Rey got a bright idea on including building expenses in his seminars. Since he has just received receipts and paid labor, he has a good grasp of expenses.

He now thinks like me....a lay, dummy, non-technical mind. We have developed the seminars from my point of view....I hope it had helped you too :)

The foundations are now cemented, strong and posts are weather proof. See the wood to be used? We saved them from an old beach house in Cavite that we demolished. The beachline was eating it up and we thought that instead of losing it to the sea, we can make good use of the wood. This is great material as time and salt had aged it well. As always and in all cases, foundation is most important.

It gets the morning sun. You know how we expose babies to the morning sun for the vitamins we get and the health benefits? Of course it is good for all too! It also dries up the pens, the natural way :) The wind directions in your property is also taken into consideration. We oriented the side that the wind won't run into the roofs. The resistance with the wind can let the roofs fly away.

Notice also that the buildings are not too high to fight the wind, but not too low that it is difficult for the caretaker to clean. Keep in mind that we need to make it easy for the caretaker to feed and clean around. If it is convenient and easy, plus the fact that he should love what he is doing...then it won''t be work.

Don't worry about predators...yes, it still needs to have steel matting all around. Maybe we won't have that budget for now, then we can have poultry wire or green plastic screen as walls.

See the dog? He is there now to get used to the new area to guard.

Your range fences, are ideally nets.

Breakast At The Farm

Yesterday, we had to pick up our eggs for the week's delivery to Manila. The demand had doubled, maybe it went as gifts. This batch was the last delivery for the week.

As I went egg hunting, we dunked some in boiling water and came up with one of the best breakfasts one can have...no need for salt. The freshness was all it took.

That's a good new idea. Business of cooked eggs....soft boiled, hard boiled, poached, sandwich filling etc.

Merry Christmas!

I had written back that a supermarket chain contacted us to sell dressed Sunshines. Felt elated that we didn't offer to them, but they seeked for us.

Christmas rush made us forget that...or maybe...we didn't want to do the December rush for that as we had been on the planning for 2nd Q of 2010 already.

Today we get a call that they had been waiting for a delivery and we can start whenever and what branches we wanted.

So....in 2010, we will be available in SM Supermarket :)

We will select the branches first where we can do personal retailing.

Busy Chicks

We are looking forward to having Jojie and Andry Lim (natural farming in the Philippines fame) in Santiago City, Isabela end of January.

Perfect that we are fixing a new location of 3hectares. Good time for them to comment as it won't be just Sunshines there. We will integrate farming to feed ourselves in the coming days, from rice to fruits.

Andry will do seminars and I will post details here.

Protocol

I had been hearing a lot of this "protocol" term from natural farmer, Jojie. Whatever usage the word has, it still connotes ways and means, propriety and decorum.

Yesterday, there was an impromptu meeting of three (3) childhood friends. I haven't seen them in like more than 30yrs! Childhood ways never leave you and just get louder when thrown in that company. We picked up and its as if we have always seen one another. I brought another friend with me, and she fitted right away :)

One of us got a text from another childhood neighbor too, that the father of another neighbor passed away. We decided to go.

We got there to an empty room. Just Boying, our friend, who also just got there. He was so surprised to see us, out of the basketball courts and not eating BBQ from the grocery. His sister was there. We felt we were all in Philam and hanging around in our corner Kalachuchi tree!

I remember their father working with UN or something foreign post. At that age, we were more interested in the food stuff the homecomings were sending to our corner in the banketa. Now we were served korpek from Brunei, Chocolate Cake that the Sultan of Brunei loves....the stories were not interesting, it was the eating and cheap thrills of being together.

As we were making kwento amidts the giggling, she came home from her tour or Brunei and was now protocol officer. At that point still small talk for me...the kropek was good.

A lady in a cane, who just sprained her ankle, walked in. She was introduced as Ambassador XXX of XXX. Ok, a new face. Good looking gentleman walks in. Introduced as Ambassador YYY of YYY, whom she replaced as protocol officer. Ok, so they were very friendly and nice. Geez....I am no smiling and chika chika person. Next ones to walk in were all introduced as Ambassador so and so....At first you think it was a joke. It didn't dawn on us that YES they were really our Ambassadors. And YES, they are so amiable and nice. Greeting us. Us, the noisy kids. But she was so personal and enjoyed introducing her childood neighbors.

This isn't a norm at wakes. I didn't even get introduced to all my sister's friends during our mom's wake. Neither did I do that to her.

But then...of course they are protocol officers. It is a way of life for them. It was so nice to see them in a big bunch in the element of being friends also. They were not there for work. They were like us, just a step higher as they were prim and proper in their laughter ahahahhha.

Signing out....we thought HOW? Do we go around everyone again and say proper goodbyes?

Well....we remained ourselves and just said goodbyes and waved...much like after a game at the court.

Protocol is proper. It is designed and set in place for a reason. It is tried and tested over time. Let's learn from experienced ones. I have to reread Jojie's protocol for Sunshines. It is changing and being improved always. But that is reality....science dictates that there are basic things we do.

Juggle Bells

The time juggling is not about shopping. Seeing friends yes, that makes up for not getting material wants :)

What we are balancing now are schedules of hatching, importation, deliveries and seminars....yes, at this season and days when most suppliers are texting about their Christmas Season break and vacations....we are endlessly on the phone and emails.

For seminars, we took into account that some people are only able to attend during breaks.

HHWW

Its now what you thought... "holding hands while walking"!

My work in marketing takes me to working with so many people from different agencies and offices. Met a lot of great minds that inspire you. We always shun from walking into government agencies...but hey....there a lot of them who really do work hard and beyond the call of duty.

One such agency is the Animal Products Development Center under Bureau of Animal Industry.

Because of distance and schedules, I am late in the pick up for sensory analysis (taste test in simpler terms) of my requested products to be developed. We had scheduled already a date for processing but they want to us to do several taste tests before going final on volume quantities. Again, I had to beg off till Monday the 14th.

Today I get a text that since we have a schedule for production and they want to make sure also that the products pass the sensory analysis for both parties, I can pick up the products tomorrow. I had to reread the text message and confirm that "tomorrow" is a Saturday.

"Yes" was the reply. Thank you. Open your heart to good service of civil servants. They are there to assist.... "helping hands while working".

Natural Gifts

I am no gift giver during events. Treats I give go when least expected, but surely those will be items I will want to keep or use for myself.

Christmas is no hurried time for me because the traffic and shopping frenzy doesn't engulf me :) This week is different! Nope, didn't catch the traffic stress.

From a riceland that didn't use chemicals nor pesticides, just organic fertilizers, there was a good harvest. That was sometime ago. There will be new sprouts and fruits from that field. See how some people go through harvested fields? Its like picking up the leftover.

What we got are not leftovers from the previous harvest. These are the ones that grew after! This crop didn't even get any fertilizing. Just the rain, the sun and fresh air. From there we got about three (3) sacks. One for my sister, one for my mother's bestfriend and one for me. The thought of giving came because I had a good product to give. It just dawned on me later that it was timely for Christmas.

For neighbors, think I will give fresh eggs from our grass fed Sunshines. Now. Why now and not on Christmas? So they have time to use it for their special flans.

What else? Fruits from our farm, we really give that to Manila friends....on regular days, when no ribbons go around beating red lights.

HAManok

We had commissioned a group to develop chemical free ham for our Sunshines. Let me share with you our initial recipe. They are working on several sausages and patties, aside from the HAManok :) Great gift and business idea. No curing period needed :)

Again....the income is not just in the raising....look beyond the cages.

HAManok
I. Meat Material		Quantity
	Chicken , whole, dressed	1 pc
II. Brine Solution	for 10 kg meat)
	Water	1250.00 g
	Refined salt	180.00 g
	Refined sugar	2.50 g
	Smoke flavor	3.00 g
	Oil of Anise (1 drop)	.06 g
	Oil of Cloves (1 drop)	.08 g
	Maplein (2 drops)	.12 g
III. Dry cure mixture
	Refined sugar	35.00 g
	Refined salt	18.00 g
IV.COOKING INGREDIENTS (per kg meat)
	Brown sugar	150.00 g
	Pineapple juice	125.00 g
	Anisado wine	60.00 g
	Bay leaf (as desired)	at least 2 pc
	Cloves (as desired)	at least 2 pc
	Oregano leaves	few strands
	Water just enough to cover the meat
Processing
CLEAN	whole chicken
REMOVE	oil gland and neck
WEIGH	Cleaned chicken
PREPARE	brine by mixing cold water with other ingredients
BRINE	mix cold water with other ingredients
INJECT	20% (or 1/2 cup brine) per kg of meat using a brine pump
APPLY	dry cure mixture inside and outside the carcass. Let stand for
	overnight in the refrigerator.
WASH	Chicken with tap water, drain and tie with abaca twine or
	cotton thread to maintain the shape.
COOK	meat with cooking ingredients until tender
CARAMELIZE	by applying brown sugar applied on the surface by using blow
	torch or in oven
PACK	in paperlyne (plastic wrap) and store in freezer

Proud Hen

Cheap thrills for me.

The calls I got today that made me happy.... several calls from different Chefs. Chefs/foodies/baking school owners who are product endorsers for big food companies. They can't openly use Sunshines as they are endorsing big companies.

Why did they order today? They each got about 5-10 pieces, for their family's consumption and for giving away as a roast or ham that they will prepare themselves.

That is really a nice touch. Prepare your own gifts.

To Each Its Own Housing

The designs of housing/pens can be adapted from big ones to small ones. You may have it in concrete or in wood. Fixed and posted firm, or movable structures.

Depends on what is convenient and easy for you to handle. Your needs should be met so that it will be a doable project.

For me I like brooders that are in cages. It seems easier for me to clean and pullout trays that catch their waste. Brooding bulbs are for me so I don't need the heat from the beddings. Doc Rey wants litter type. He sees it more convenient to scrape the beddings in one big load. Also, he likes preaching about the heat and moisture sponge from the beddings used. For smaller scale, the most practical will be Jojie's Crib (search on that topic in this blog).

Housing on the range, I like portable pens, or semi movable ones. It gives me the flexibility to be fickle minded and ever changing and change locations....much like moving a loveseat and a candlestick around the house. I don't think its expensive to be constantly changing, as you learn and amend designs, materials and locations with time. You need to change anyway as it wears :)

Location: Brooders have to be near water and electricity source. Water is most important. I like it near the caretaker as he has to give 25hrs attention, 8days a week.....at least for 22days :) Ranging: Anywhere fresh, a lot of grasses, clean air....

When ready to slaughter, we move it near the road/driveway - transport logistics.

This Is The Monitor

There are some people that you like working with or socially. I am one person that the liking for work and socially has to go together. I can't just like you for work. If I was to work with you, I have to like you socially first. A pair we like is Andry and Jojie Lim.

Remember the monitor that I described as a lopsided "T"? As I was going through my Facebook, I saw this in Jojie's photos posted recently.

Maybe the frames that Andry used were ready made and didn't touch it as it may be intended for use again for other applications. If I was to build this now, I will not make it that tall, as Sunshines nor caretakers aren't that tall :) The free flowing air had been answered by the screened walls and monitor.

You need all the fresh air and sunshine to dry and disinfect naturally. Much like you ferment good fruits and veggies to fertilize your fruits trees and veggie plots...you need to give sunshine to your Sunshines!

I remember hearing Doc Rey discussing about what side faces the afternoon sun and he was considering the wind direction. I am not into that data...but will inquire about those again and post it as another topic.

Where To Build?

Woke up real early as ground breaking for new pens....opportunity to walk at sunrise, taking in fresh air and donning my boots :)

Do we build pens at the end of the property? Midway near the caretaker's house? Or front near the road?

Good I decided to go as Doc Rey marked the ground for foundations already and it was at the end of the property.

I thought this way: brooders will be midway, close to the caretaker's house and near to the sources of water. Ranging pens will be set up at the front near the road. For one, the areas there are virgin...we have never used that area before. For two, easier to harvest and have holding areas near the road, where it is close to parking and the hauling vehicles can drive through.

We have to keep it simple and easy for work to be sustainable for manpower.

Next to plan: farm tools and implements to make work like play :)

Windbreakers And Shades

Have trees all around your ranging areas.

They act as shade and at the same time sways with the wind to give fresh air. Also acts as wind breaker :)

The curtain used acts as primary wind breakers for the building. It is not wrapped around the walls as that will prevent good air circulation. Wind breakers should be installed in such a distance that it catches the strong cold wind, but allows free flowing air.

Monitor

Quick trip to Isabela farm to check on new shelters being built. The trip is to monitor the construction and for a monitor constructed :)

Summer is approaching so the planning has to take into consideration that temperature....so monitors are in order.

For the lay and the non-technical person like me, the first time I heard that a grower installed a monitor in his Sunshines' shelter...I was like "wow"...I thought it was CCTV and cameras. He must love the Sunshines that much.

A monitor in poultry buildings means air outlet/ventilation :)

Last night I was listening to Doc Rey as he was giving instructions and drawing his several buildings. Don't let the term "several buildings" impress you. Shelters that are built with cement foundation, wood from a demolished old house, slightly elevated to plan against wet ground etc, nothing fancy, but fully utilitarian.

There was something about it that didn't seem fit for me. There will be two roofs side by side, the tip won't meet up there!? Like an lopsided "T". I had to butt in and ask to be briefed on the design. He looked quizzically at me as if I had to know that it was a monitor and it was for ventilation :)

Having been briefed and reminded about fresh air entering and allowing hot air to escape, now I know and understand the simple design of the open roof top and lopsided "T" design. Hey, how come the monitors I see on the large commercial buildings look like lofts? He said the lopsided "T" is the old and simple design in poultry management. The new loft designs (no relation to the furniture retailer) is a product already of intelligent architecture :)

Great that mind is activated by forced creativity when budget is constrained. We are all learning here. We need to find ways to make it easy for us and for them.

Why The Tests?

Blood tests are done to monitor the health and condition of the Certified Parent Stocks. Aside from us owners wanting to make sure they are healthy, the government, namely the Bureau of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture monitors to make sure they know the history of the flocks that are given local shipping permits.

They do testings at about 2months old and at 6months old when the local shipping permits will be applicable to that particular batch. When there is a problem on poultry in a particular area, records will show what were shipped to that area on a particular time. Records are very important. They can refer to the history of the breeders that shipped on the particular date of chick-ins.

Say hello to our September2009 batch. They eagerly awaited BAI's arrival.


There were looking as Doc Arlene and Hermie were preparing.


They patiently waited for their turn.

Be Nosey

For biosecurity reasons, we rarely go to the site of the breeders. The capitalization is no cough, so we try to keep the place clean to the best of our abilities.

Aside from marketing, documentations are part of my job, so government testing trips is one of my rare visits to the breeders.

It was a nippy comfortably cool morning. I thought morning still as we started real early from Manila. Looking at my watch it was towards noon already. Still cool. Sure, it is December. But aside from that, our buildings are surrounded by trees.

In today's blood testing by BAI's team of Doc Arlene and Hermie, they commented that our farm is one of the rare ones that has no odor at all....zero. It actually smells fresh. No flies too!

If only you can smell through photos....

And if you can see the multi colored butterflies....

You will know the place is clean :)

Industry Wide

Grateful that most of the regular growers started loading for the Christmas season as early as August and September. I remember posting about loading in August for the really matured taste of a slowly developed chicken :)

What came to us in September in terms of typhoons is known to all. Now, most breeder farms had been affected in terms of stress that translates to lower production, add to that the normal anticipated increase in demands for dayold chicks.....now the perceived shortage.

Several times I had been asked of the demand for Sunshine Chicks are that much? Thank you, it brought a smile to me. But, the shortage and increase in demand is industry wide....the colored, the whites....united colors of chicken!

The government, the respected agencies involved, and am sure all the bigger breeder farms are doing what they can to correct the situation.

We are one in doing steps to ease up the shortage/demand. It is not good for everyone if this continues. SASSO of France is one with us in making sure the demand is met.

Walking Around

I didn't want to discuss this beforehand, but someone said that it was written about in the newspaper about us developing products for the free range chicken...so better you hear it from me.

Immerse, be one, learn, walk around.

Product development is the same. You have to use your senses in all manners. We are so excited to be in the middle of developing products: Our hamanok, patties, bbq and sausages that comes - sweet skinless, Vigan style (garlicky), Italian (spicy, herbs) and Polish (herbs).

We have remained focused to our niche market. That is the group of consumers we are targeting here. The ones who want food seasoned with natural ingredients, no preservatives. Taste wise? I was my gauge :)

It took me several days also to search for the ingredients to be used. Walking around, asking, talking and tasting. We didn't scrimp. Its the quality that we are after, since we have to rely on the natural flavors to bring out the best.

We had to debone...and do we just sell the wings as is? Nope, now we have tried on a recipe for wings too :) I didn't want to get into the special cuts anyway. Too tedious.

Really excited about this. Now how to cook...broil, grill, turbo etc....healthy ways to do it.

Thank you to Animal Products Development Center (APDC) of BAI for being all agog with us.

How Did You Start Today?

We had a hospital bed that we decided to donate. My sister found the organization to give it to. They were supposed to pick it up last week....but surely its not lack of interest, but more likely short on manpower...it was taking them quite a while.

I offered to have the big truck deliver it. After Doc Rey made some estimates on the load, he said "let's do it".

I was glad we did. The moment he said so, we changed from night shirts to walking shirts :) and drove down E. Rodriguez.

Hate going to hospitals, but this was a different feeling delivering to one of the hospitals that Kythe Foundation works with.

Talking with the guard, while waiting for the coordinator, I learned about the foundation's work with children. You may want to know more too about Kythe Foundation.

They were so happy with our hospital bed and suction pump. You might have some materials you may donate :)